New driving rules: Foreigners must take test in Thailand
DLT draft rules scrap IDPs for temporary Thai driver’s licences
No more shortcuts — foreigners in Thailand will soon be required to pass a written test to get a Thai driver’s licence, even if they hold a valid international permit.
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is tightening its rules with a new draft regulation that scraps the use of international driving permits (IDPs) as acceptable proof for obtaining a temporary Thai driver’s licence. Under the proposed changes, all foreign nationals will need to complete a written test, regardless of what licence they hold from abroad.
A source from the Ministry of Transport confirmed that the DLT is currently gathering public feedback on the draft, which outlines updated procedures for training, testing, and licence renewal for both Thai and foreign drivers.
The DLT stated that the aim of the new rules is to “align with international standards” and make the process more relevant to modern road safety needs.
“The changes are designed to ensure fairness and competency for all drivers, while also improving regulatory oversight,” the source said.
Key changes under the draft include:
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Temporary driver’s licences: International driving permits will no longer be accepted as valid evidence to obtain a temporary licence.
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Foreign licence holders: Foreign nationals applying for a temporary Thai licence using their existing foreign driver’s licence (for the same vehicle type) must now sit a written exam. Previously, they were exempt from both written and practical tests.
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Licence validity extension: For personal driving licences, the validity period will be extended from two years to five, but only for applicants who have previously held a Thai temporary personal licence that has since expired.
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No more IDP fast track: Even foreign-issued driver’s licences or IDPs under international agreements will not exempt applicants from the testing process.
All other provisions remain consistent with the DLT’s previous announcement in 2022 and its subsequent amendments.
If the draft is approved, the new regulations could significantly impact tourists, expats, and foreign workers who have previously relied on IDPs to fast-track their way onto Thai roads, reported The Nation.
The DLT has not yet confirmed when the new rules will take effect, but a formal announcement is expected once the public consultation phase concludes.
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stress is being who you think you should be……happiness is being who you are
pls explain what this has anything to do with the topic? Are you on Ganja? 😀 😀
This is comical when considering that the Thais are among the worlds worste drivers. This wont do anything to protect foreigners from a local driving like a maniac, running a red light or a drunk driver. Foreign drivers dont run red lights because they think that someone might be coming, locals do it because they dont think anyone is coming.
I can show you at least 20-50 FOREIGN drivers running red lights on RawaiRoad-Sayuan every day, in HiSeason even more. If you dont like the driving of Thaipeople, take the consequences and move your 6 back to your country where everything is better! Nobody is holding you back here
Total simp for the horrendously bad drivers here lol. It’s their country, but that doesn’t make their driving habits acceptable. Foreigners are not typically driving the WRONG way against traffic, or merging without zero regard for others.
That depends. It’s true that Thailand had a horrible traffic safety record, but a little bit of training and explanation that the chaos foreigners see is a lot more organized that it seems, and knowing the ‘unspoken’ rules is as important or more important than the written ones, it the ones you think you know in the West.
Ex: flashing headlights at your doesn’t mean I’m giving you the right of way, Or stopping to let someone in is dangerous because it’s unexpected, etc.
Haha, laat eerst de thai leren rijden, ze rijden 90% door rood, stoppen niet voor zebra overstekers, als ze dan toch stoppen voor een rood licht, stoppen ze allemaal op het zebrapad.
Super idea, btw how about the Advertisements for DRIVING LICENCE without showing up at Transport office, showing a health certification, Theory and Praxis test, people offering in FaceBook sometimes? I mean, how is it possible to buy a driving license without even showing up there, and why the Authorities not follow up and catch this people, they are dangerous in traffic to all of us, many never even sat on a motorcycle before playing Formula1 here because they can!
Is this going to apply to all tourists? If you want to rent a car or motorbike, you will have to sit a test???
Telling people to go back to their home is not solving the issue. Grant it you see tourist running headlights or not! Fact is if you look at the data there were over 14,000 deaths a year on Thailand roads, and only 3.5% were deaths with expats. I agree a bit with the licensing requirements, I have turned into the wrong lane a couple times and ran a red light, due to not understanding the light system in Thailand, so a basic knowledge test should be given. But Thailand needs to
Safer for everyone there is no inforcement of traffic laws in Thailand. People drive how they want and do not care about others on roads. Motorcycles do as they wish cutting in and out between cars, cars and big trucks pass with no regards to oncoming traffic. Most foreigners obey traffic laws when it comes to merging traffic, stop signs, passing, etc. Many people on Thailand roads, especially in the countryside do not hold a valid license.
Western driving rules are ill-suited for Thailand’s roads, which are filled with motorbikes and other non-traditional vehicles. To cope, Thai drivers have developed their own efficient techniques and norms. Rather than expecting Thais to conform to Western standards, it’s necessary for foreign drivers to observe and adapt to the local driving reality.
The sheer lack of self awareness and abundance of unearned pride, is truly impressive. This irony can not be cut, it’s just that thick. Comedic, even.
I got a Thai drivers license some years back. Had to take a writen test on the computer before going to the DMV then a practical test at the DMV consisting of a reaction time test with a break pedal and a depth perception test consisting of two white sticks in a box that you have to line up together with a line in the box. After passing they printed my DL and off I went.
Seen 1st hand – a majority of drivers in SEA buy their license (few 100 USD) with zero training. It shows…The few foreigners getting scraped up on scooters are not largely contributing to Thailand’s extremely high road fatality rate. It’s their laws, fair enough. But it really serves no purpose but to F with tourists and make money