Driving Licences and Scooter Rules in Phuket (2026)

Which licence you need

Thailand drives on the left. A foreigner driving a car or a motorcycle is expected to carry a valid licence from their home country together with an International Driving Permit, and the permit has to cover the vehicle class. Your car licence does not cover a motorcycle, so an International Driving Permit marked for motorcycles is needed to ride a scooter, and many people ride without one.

Some licences, such as those from certain ASEAN countries, are recognised under an agreement between member states. Check your own country's position with the Department of Land Transport.

An International Driving Permit is normally valid for one year from issue, so a long-stay resident who keeps renewing it every year is not a long-term solution. Residents usually convert to a Thai licence.

Getting a Thai licence

Foreign residents can apply at the Department of Land Transport office in Phuket, usually with a valid home licence or International Driving Permit. Typical requirements include your passport and visa, proof of address such as a certificate of residence from Immigration or your embassy, a medical certificate, passport photos, and a short physical test and a road-safety session. Some offices require a non-immigrant visa and do not accept a tourist visa, and requirements differ between offices, so ask before you go.

A draft rule reported in 2025 would stop an International Driving Permit counting as enough proof for a temporary licence and would require foreigners to pass a written test. Check whether it has taken effect before you plan your visit. Appointments can book out, so book early and bring originals and copies.

Helmets and checkpoints

A helmet is required for the rider and any passenger. Police run checkpoints on the main roads and near the busy beaches, and they check licences, helmets and insurance. Reported fines for no helmet range from 500 baht to as high as 2,000 baht under a safe-roads campaign, and fines for no licence or the wrong class are charged separately and can add up at one stop. Amounts and enforcement vary, so do not rely on a figure.

Do not ride without a helmet to save a fine. Head injuries are the main cause of serious harm, and private hospital treatment for them can be very expensive.

Insurance traps

Many travel insurance policies exclude motorcycle accidents, and most exclude them if you did not hold the right licence or were not wearing a helmet. Check your policy for the engine size and the licence it requires. If you have an accident without a valid licence, your insurer and the rental shop's cover may both refuse to pay.

If you own a scooter, compulsory third-party insurance is required in Thailand and is cheap, but it pays out little. Consider adding voluntary cover, as the health and insurance guide explains for medical bills.

Renting a scooter safely

• Rental shops are expected to give you a helmet for the rider and passenger, and a shop that rents without checking your licence can itself be penalised.
• Photograph and video every scratch before you leave, and ask for a written record.
• Do not leave your passport as a deposit. Offer a copy and a cash deposit, and ask for a receipt.
• Check the brakes, tyres, lights and horn, and avoid a bike that is too powerful for your experience.
• Use a scooter in Phuket's hilly areas only if you are confident, and avoid riding in heavy rain, at night after drinking, or on wet painted road markings.
• Ask about the damage policy before you pay.

Cars, taxis and the alternatives

A car costs more than a scooter once you add insurance, fuel and parking, but it is safer in rain and for families. If you do not want to drive, ride-hailing apps, taxis and a pre-booked driver are widely used, and the cost of living guide has sample prices. Whatever you choose, never drive after drinking, and plan the last journey home before you start the evening.