Do you need an international driving license to ride a scooter in Thailand?

Yes, legally, to ride and drive in Thailand you are required to have valid International Driving Permit (IDP) or a Thai Driving License.

However, the question your are probably more interested in asking is 'What happens If I don't have one?'. Riding a scooter here without a valid license is incredibly common, especially in tourist areas. If you sit by the moat on the Moonmuang Road and count all of the tourists riding by on scooters, I would wager that well over half of them do not have valid licenses. Of course, if you were caught riding or driving without a license in Europe, the UK, USA or China etc. you would be in a lot of trouble, however, in Thailand it's usually just a small fine. The police frequently set up checkpoints, often targeting tourists, with the aim of issuing fines to those riding without helmets or driving licenses. The fine is usually 500-1000b then they send you on your way (Still on the bike, haha).

In recent years the amount of checkpoints have reduced dramatically, and we rarely encounter them now. The last police checkpoint I have personally seen, was over a year ago. 

What Happens If You Ride Without an International Driving License?

So, should you have an International Driving License? Yes, you should. Will it be a huge problem if you do not? Probably not. We do recommend you have an international driving license or a local Thai license, though.

Below we have made a map that shows most of the common traffic checkpoints so you can avoid them!

Read more about fines and penalties for riding without a license and/or helmet.