According to a post from 'Pattaya Update News' on Facebook, foreign tourists who do not have a valid international motorcycle license should watch their step. If they are arrested, they must pay a fine of 1.000 baht and they will not be allowed to drive further.
The rented motorbike/scooter will be parked and can be picked up by the lessor if he/she pays 2.000 baht. The police want to encourage the landlord to check whether the tenant has a valid driver's license. When renting a motorbike, the following documents must be presented:
- a driving license from the country of origin;
- a passport;
- an international driver's license.
At a police check, at least the international driver's license or a valid Thai driver's license must be presented. According to Major Arut Saphanon of the Pattaya Police, these new regulations will take effect immediately. Foreigners without an international driver's license can apply for a Thai permit upon presentation of a valid driver's license from their own country at the Road Traffic Office.
Quote article;
“The rented motorbike/scooter will be parked and can be picked up by the lessor if he/she pays 2.000 baht”
What is not clear in the article, what kind of driver's license do you need to drive around on a “Thai moped”, and what is a motorcycle and what is a moped?
Do you need a motorcycle driver's license to drive the scooters or is a car driver's license sufficient?
If this actually happens (which I doubt) then little will be rented anymore, because most do not have a motorcycle driving license, you can buy an international (car) driving license in the country of origin with your car driving license.
This has been discussed many times on this blog. In Thailand there are no mopeds of less than 50 cc. They are all motorcycles that can drive well over 100 km per hour. Also read carefully because it is clearly stated in the article how to act if you do not have an international driver's license.
Even then, it is not clear from the article whether an (international) car driving license is sufficient or whether it specifically needs to be an (international) motorcycle driving license to be allowed to drive motor scooters in Thailand.
If you have an international driving license made, for example at the ANWB, then all driving licenses you have will simply be listed on this international driving licence. Just like in the Netherlands, your driving license lists all the vehicles that you are allowed to drive. As mentioned before, you must have a motorcycle license to drive a moped in Thailand
“Foreigners without an international driving license can apply for a Thai permit upon presentation of a valid driving license from their own country at the Road Traffic Office.”
For the sake of clarity, a valid "motorcycle license" is meant here, so no moped license as known in the Netherlands, mopeds exist and are not known in Thailand, let that be clear for once!
Just get a Thai motorcycle license
1 day lesson then drive 350 baht and you are ready to explore Thailand on the motorcycle.
No, Pete, it's not that simple.
In my opinion, you also need to pass the theory exam, take the color test, brake test and depth or field of vision test, provide a health certificate from a doctor and provide a statement of residence address from the immigration office.
And what about Thai without a valid driver's license, I think they can make a bigger impact with that.
Hello . Is this driving license BE or does it have to be a motorcycle driving license??
For the umpteenth time: a motorcycle license.
Can you drive a motorcycle in NL with a BE driving license? Think logically…
Let's hope that the Thais are also arrested without a helmet and proper papers.
Otherwise it is pure discrimination on appearance!
Very good. And also easy to enforce and collect in case of violation. Police just go to check 100 meters after a scooter rental company.
When will action be taken against ALL scooter riders in the same way? So also Thai? That is of course a different cake.
It was time for action to be taken, and for the landlord to be held accountable.
You don't belong on a motorcycle without a motorcycle license.
What I miss in this article is, what happens to the Thai who drive around without a driver's license? I can assume that a seizure also applies to this:) I wonder what this will mean in practice or will there be selective checks, as is already happening now.
Yesterday there was a major check on motorcycles in Udon, one by one motorcycles were stopped for control, three points were checked, helmet, driver's license and insurance, happened to be nearby, watched this for a while, 9 motorcycles were now on the chain at the edge of the road, I've been seeing this more and more lately, but does it help!
Hans says.
Experienced in November 2017 with my 2 grandchildren.
They had an international driving license for car and moped.
1st time stopped by the police, they asked for driver's license, showed it.
The police did not understand the moped driver's license and took a photo.
Gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Arrested 2nd time, this police checked it and they, this is for a mopet and that is not allowed, they had to have a motorcycle international driving license just like mine
So fine, but they can continue driving for 3 days.
Fine 400 Th bath
Hans
there is no talk of insurance, inspection and tax proof yet!
I don't think it's normal. In the Netherlands you must also have valid papers. Hope they don't skip the check on thai drivers including alcohol check. Will be nice and quiet and safe on the road. Delicious.
There is still no clear answer about what is and what is not possible with a Dutch/International driving licence. I myself live in France where a Dutch car driver's license is also sufficient for a scooter / motorcycle with a capacity of up to 125cc - these indeed drive approx. 90-110 km per hour, just like the light motorcycles in Thailand and are, in my opinion, much safer than the slow variants that are carelessly overtaken from all sides. I wonder if this 125cc regulation also applies in Thailand!
If you have a Thai or Dutch motorcycle license (+ international driver's license), you can drive a motorcycle in Thailand. If you don't have it, you can't. What's unclear about that? Or do you not want to understand?
And if you don't have it, insurance won't pay out in the event of an accident. By the way, just for fun and learning:
many health insurance policies (for those living in Thailand) stipulate that covered amounts are only covered for 50% if medical treatment is required after a motorbike accident.
So: read through your health insurance policy…..
In my opinion, Thailand is not the same as France or China or Senegal. For Thailand it is very clear. They are motorcycles, so you need a motorcycle license. Do the police always notice when you show BE. Answer no, but the insurance does if you have had a collision and then the police will also wake up. Use your brain!!
Paying a fine of 1000 Baht for the lack of a motorcycle license is the smallest problem.
It will be different in the event of an accident that causes a lot of damage, and often also personal injury, because in the absence of the necessary driver's license many problems can arise with the insurance, which now rightly refuse to pay the damage.
And what about the whining and racing school kids on their fast souped-up mopeds with thin tires mounted around gold-plated wheels.
Last week in the news , a serious accident in which five people died and some were seriously injured .
It was a complete mess what you saw .
In my neighborhood there is an important connecting road at a distance of about 5 km as the crow flies .
And especially Friday evening I can hear the mopeds buzzing at home as if it were a swarm of bees.
And the police you don't see them as usual.
On the spot they confiscate the whole trade and the next day those spoiled boys can collect the mopeds again around ten o'clock, after a tracked excavator has driven over it a few times.
That's what I would do if I was in charge here.
There is only talk here in Thailand but nothing is done about it.
So not only tackle the tourist but also the Thai motorcyclists and school kids who whiz around without the necessary papers.
Jan Beute.
For a little clarity.
A1 may ride scooter 110cc and 125 cc, cylinder capacity. No more than 15kW power, with passenger.
A2 may ride scooter 150cc, cylinder capacity, Not more than 35 kW, with passenger.
A may ride anything from scooter to large 1000cc motorcycle, plus.
Class B for a car is therefore not a valid proof.
It is clear that the Thai are also apprehended
The first thing that is looked at is the Helmet, if there is a Helmet then the driver's license is asked, if there is also then they check whether the valid insurance sticker is on it.
But very often the Thai see the check in advance ( if it is not in the City ) and then they drive around or wait a few hundred meters before the check stops .
If you are caught, you can drive without a driver's license on the same day after payment (and if you are stopped again, just show the ticket. (If you get one, because the Thai often say when checking, the police need money for lunch)
Chris
Ps luck is: you only get 1 ticket if you don't have one of the 3 things (not like in Holland)
Well that's not so nice then, without a motorcycle license you can no longer drive a scooter.
That means that almost no foreigner can drive anymore because not many will have a motorcycle driver's license.
That means that all scooter rental companies can close the business.
Look, that 500 bath was never that bad if you just drove on again and showed with your paper that you were allowed to drive if you were still stopped.
Only I thought it was a bit of a harassment that they did that during the day,
look if they want to make it safer they have to check in the evening and at night for
drunk drivers cause the most accidents.
Dear when, Officially you are never allowed to drive a scooter without a valid driver's license, this was the case before, and is still no different now.
The fact that some scooter rental companies were not interested in this, or still are not interested, is simply due to the fact that they want to earn money, and in the event of any damage, collect the costs from the renter anyway.
It is even different when it comes to a real accident, which can happen to anyone in principle. because then even the insurance, in the absence of a driver's license, suddenly no longer pays anything.
The entire damage of the scooter, and any medical care of the injured, or in the smartest case, the maintenance payments of any relatives of the dead, will most likely be charged a farang.
I think that you will often think back whether a check was only harassment, and that you were allowed to drive on after a payment.
Even the paper from the police, with which you were allowed to drive after the payment, is worth nothing with insurance after an accident, so that you are left with all the costs and misery.
In my opinion, no one should drive such a scooter without a driver's license. Although I am convinced that many who think they can do everything better will understand this first, when the accident has happened.
Please note: you must show an international motorcycle driver's license …….not a moped driver's license. Scooters are 110,125 or 150 cc and therefore motorcycle license.
That fine is one thing… what hardly anyone knows is that scooters in Thailand are not insured for damage to third parties. In case of damage to third parties, you can pull the cut… and the farang is always wrong.
So even if a Thai on a scooter hits you, this Thai is not insured……..
If the landlord says that you are insured, then this is only injury insurance for the person on the scooter ... with this insurance certificate you can walk into the hospital (or be driven if you have a breakdown) and you will be helped.
Because we also lend scooters to our guests, I have thoroughly studied it and obtained a lot of information from the Thai owner of a motorcycle / scooter business who explained things to me.
There is talk of a WA insurance coming but it is not there yet........
Be wary and realize the risks………
You may ask yourself, would you drive in the Netherlands without a driver's license? NO so car or scooter / motorcycle makes no difference why would you DO it in Thailand. Is that so difficult.