Is International driving license really necessary

[xprtxpat]

Plan on renting motorbike (and wearing helmet at all times) for travel in and around Hua Hin, wonder if my USA car/motorcycle license will be ok or will I be fined for not having an international license.

[MrPlum]

I suppose it depends on how long you are going to be in LOS and whether it would cost you more to obtain the licence than to pay any fines, should you be stopped. When you see 10 year olds, helmetless, tearing up and down the roads, or 7 on a bike, 3 of them babies, the requirement to have a licence seems somewhat pointless. It's not so pointless if you were involved in an accident and insurance was involved. Then I would certainly suggest you be legal.

[Homer]

Plan on renting motorbike (and wearing helmet at all times) ...

Thai helmets are made to fit Thai heads. When I found one that was large enough front to back, it was so loose side-to-side that it wobbled. The helmets are manufactured to no known safety standard. Might be better off bringing a bicycle helmet from home.

[hhfarang]

It you are still in the U.S. you can get an international license in a few minutes just by filling out some paperwork and paying (used to be $10 years ago, probably $15 or $20) now at most AAA offices. That's what I did before I moved here and the international license kept me from having to take a written or driving test to get a Thai license.

It's cheap and easy so if you haven't left the states yet, call your local AAA office and find out about it.

[STEVE G]

The problem I've always had with international licenses is that they only last a year and for me, I can only get one in the UK at a post office which is not exactly convenient as I only ever go to the UK for weekends when post offices are closed.
As far as Thailand goes, technically you need one but I've never had a problem with showing a UK license. I do have an international license but it expired a couple of years ago and it's beyond me why they can't make them last longer.

[moja]

You can get a UK international license through the post from either the RAC or AA - they take about a week to come through. So as long as you have an address for the license to be posted to it should not be a problem.

[PeteC]

Google "10 year international driver license" There are companies out there who offer them and not expensive. I have no idea if legal but they look genuine, at least enough to convince an MIB. Pete

[STEVE G]

You can get a UK international license through the post from either the RAC or AA - they take about a week to come through. So as long as you have an address for the license to be posted to it should not be a problem.

That's good to know as they used to be only available from post offices or AA offices. I've just had a look at the AA website and they'll even send it to an overseas address for an extra £6.50 postage.
As for those ten year international licenses that Pete mentions, I've heard before that they're not technically legal in every country but as you say, they look the part.

[Korkenzieher]

@Homer - there are a couple of helmet shops along the railway road. Go in and keep trying them until you find one that fits. It only took me 3 attempts and I bought an acceptable helmet for 900 baht. The standards are OK - nothing is going to protect you from a 30 ton truck passing overhead (so to speak), but for the more usual impact issues against the road or another vehicle, they are quite adequate.

Thailand must be about the only country that doesn't seem to automatically accept national drivers licences. The international drivers permit is a pretty meaningless document - last time I got one, they asked me whether I wanted to ride a bike (since it isn't on my UK one) and just stamped the boxes they felt were right. As such, I have no problem with that - but it is hardly more reliable than the official one which pretty much every country (and I would imagine also vehicle rental agencies here) require. Interesting to know I can get one through the mail, but it must almost be worthwhile getting a Thai one through the (un)usual channels.