Driving Licence MUST be carried at all times ?

[Pagey]

As Centermid says keep it under your bike seat like I do then you never forget to take it.

[Spitfire]

Taking such a belligerent stance with the cops in these sort of countries is not really a smart move, especially when you have actually broken one of their laws (OK, a minor one at that). In no way should you think "It's like this in Europe so why should it be different anywhere else." Don't let that superiority complex get the better of you as it will get you into trouble eventually.

Lucky to get off so lightly with such a disrespectful attitude towards the cop who was just doing his job.

Agree with the 'another nail in the farang coffin' comment....no wonder they think we are all such a effing joke. Bet that cop thought "Bloody farangs!"

[Dannie Boy]

As Centermid says keep it under your bike seat like I do then you never forget to take it.

I keep my licences in my wallet and whenever I go out in the car or motorcycle I always take my wallet as I either intend spending money, or could end up needing to for whatever reason, but agree that keeping the licence under the seat would also be a suitable option. As others have mentioned, it can also be used as a form of id. The OP's excuse of having been on the beach is like a colander............... neither hold water!!

[STEVE G]

I must admit that I sometimes use a scooter when I'm in Thailand and I don't have a valid motorbike licence from the UK or any other country. I don't do it a lot and generally only around the local area in Hin Lek Fai to pop to the local shop or whatever.
I've looked at getting a licence but it's not so easy, I can't do it in Thailand as I go in and out on tourist visas and I can't do it where I work in Europe as I'm not resident here. I could go back to the UK and do it but as I don't spend any time there the cost would be quite high, a course is about £800 combined with flights, hotel costs and lost earnings, it all adds up to several thousand pounds which doesn't make a 200 bt fine look too uneconomical.

[Phyton]

I got my Thai driver licence also with a tourist visa (in Cha-Am)- but only for one year. For 5 years they asked for non immigration visa.

[bsdk1960]

I got my Thai driver licence also with a tourist visa (in Cha-Am)- but only for one year. For 5 years they asked for non immigration visa.

I got a 1 years temporary in june 2013 in Pranbury and was told I could get a 5 years without
a problem even on a tourist visa so as usually I get a little confused again when I read the above ?

[Gérard]

I must admit that I sometimes use a scooter when I'm in Thailand and I don't have a valid motorbike licence from the UK or any other country. I don't do it a lot and generally only around the local area in Hin Lek Fai to pop to the local shop or whatever.
I've looked at getting a licence but it's not so easy, I can't do it in Thailand as I go in and out on tourist visas and I can't do it where I work in Europe as I'm not resident here. I could go back to the UK and do it but as I don't spend any time there the cost would be quite high, a course is about £800 combined with flights, hotel costs and lost earnings, it all adds up to several thousand pounds which doesn't make a 200 bt fine look too uneconomical.

Not showing a valid license may be only 200/400 bahts, but if you have an accident, it may cost you much more than £800.
I was hit from the rear by a mad minibus in 2013, broken arm and ribs for me, broken leg for my passenger. Both vehicles correctly insured, valid driving licenses. Police report correct, minibus driver wrong 100 %.
Total cost (hospital + motorcycles damages) about 500.000 bahts paid by the insurance.

I imagine that if I did not have a valide driving license, it would have been different.
All the more so if you are wrong !

[Dannie Boy]

I must admit that I sometimes use a scooter when I'm in Thailand and I don't have a valid motorbike licence from the UK or any other country. I don't do it a lot and generally only around the local area in Hin Lek Fai to pop to the local shop or whatever.
I've looked at getting a licence but it's not so easy, I can't do it in Thailand as I go in and out on tourist visas and I can't do it where I work in Europe as I'm not resident here. I could go back to the UK and do it but as I don't spend any time there the cost would be quite high, a course is about £800 combined with flights, hotel costs and lost earnings, it all adds up to several thousand pounds which doesn't make a 200 bt fine look too uneconomical.

Not showing a valid license may be only 200/400 bahts, but if you have an accident, it may cost you much more than £800.
I was hit from the rear by a mad minibus in 2013, broken arm and ribs for me, broken leg for my passenger. Both vehicles correctly insured, valid driving licenses. Police report correct, minibus driver wrong 100 %.
Total cost (hospital + motorcycles damages) about 500.000 bahts paid by the insurance.

I imagine that if I did not have a valide driving license, it would have been different.
All the more so if you are wrong !

I'm sure you are correct Gerard, so it would appear that the simple solution of getting a Thai driving licence (1 or 5 years) using a tourist visa is the best way forward.

[Gregjam]

It would be interesting to know how thorough the insurance companies are before allowing large payouts as mentioned in one of the posts. Do they check to see if the licence is based on a foreign licence, a proper test or just a tourist visa and reaction/vision tests at the licensing office. A local licence may keep the local plod off your back at a routine stop but are things a bit more thorough in case of an accident.

[GLCQuantum]

It would be interesting to know how thorough the insurance companies are before allowing large payouts as mentioned in one of the posts. Do they check to see if the licence is based on a foreign licence, a proper test or just a tourist visa and reaction/vision tests at the licensing office. A local licence may keep the local plod off your back at a routine stop but are things a bit more thorough in case of an accident.

I got over half a million baht (about half and half hospital bills and compensation) when I had an accident 4 or 5 years ago. The other guy in the pick up collected the whole hospital bill and coughed up the compensation even though...

... I don't have a driver's licence! Just got very lucky on many counts. I'm sure each case is different. Like most other things in this country.

[STEVE G]

I got my Thai driver licence also with a tourist visa (in Cha-Am)- but only for one year. For 5 years they asked for non immigration visa.

I got a 1 years temporary in june 2013 in Pranbury and was told I could get a 5 years without
a problem even on a tourist visa so as usually I get a little confused again when I read the above ?

According to the Thai Department of Land Transports website, you need a visa for a five year licence:

IN CASE OF FOREIGNER
RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENCE [BY YOURSELF] FROM ONE-YEAR (DRIVING LICENCE) TO FIVE-YEARS DRIVING LICENCE


HAVE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS AS FOLLOW

1. ORIGINAL ONE-YEAR THAI DRIVING LICENCE

2. PASSPORT WITH NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY)

3. ORIGINAL PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IN THAILAND CERTIFY FROM EMBASSY / IMMIGRATION BUREAU (VALID FOR 1 YEAR) OR WORK PERMIT WITH ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY

4. ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)
http://www.dlt.go.th/th/index.php?optio ... &Itemid=88

[STEVE G]

And according to the Phuket Land Transport Office, you need one for any licence:

The paper documents needed to apply for a driving license

Passport with non-immigrant visa (original, before the visa expires and photo copy.
Present resident address certified by the applicant's Embassy and photo copy or work permit or Immigration officer and photo copy.
2 photos 2.5 inches.
Doctor report of doctor treatment (not over 1 month).
For the driving license that a foreign government has given (the same type of vehicles that asking for the driving license) and it is not expired yet, the embassy can translate and guarantee the translating documents into Thai language.
International Driving Permit (convention on international road traffic of 19 September 1949) original and photo copy which is not expired.
http://phuketdir.com/pkttransport/

[pe7e]

ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)

Can anyone elaborate what these 5 diseases are?

[Dannie Boy]

ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)

Can anyone elaborate what these 5 diseases are?

I wouldn't concern yourself about the diseases - the clinics take the view that if your fit enough to walk into their clinic, you've passed the test and they issue the certificate!!

[Bristolian]

ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)

Can anyone elaborate what these 5 diseases are?

As far as I am aware, the certificate of 5 diseases states that you do not have
1. Leprosy
2. Tuberculosis (T.B.)
3. Elephantiasis
4. Drug Addiction
5. Third Step of Syphilis