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Driving in Thailand on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for Thailand.
Thailand accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in Australia. For scooters you also need a motorcycle class on your Australian licence - police checkpoints in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui specifically look for it.
Drives on the leftSame as Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$10-$18 scooter, $30-$55 carTypical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in Thailand worth it?
Photograph any scooter or car in detail before you ride off - damage disputes at return are a well-known scam.
Typical daily hire runs $10-$18 scooter, $30-$55 car.
Where to hire a car in Thailand
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in Thailand
- Motorcycle accidents are the number one cause of serious injury and insurance claims for Australians in Thailand.
- Traffic rules are treated as suggestions in Bangkok - driving yourself in the city is not recommended.
- Grab (the local rideshare app) is cheap, metered and much safer than negotiating with tuk-tuks.
- Helmet laws are enforced with on-the-spot fines.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in Thailand the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed. A car licence does not cover a scooter - riding one needs a motorcycle class on your Australian licence as well as the permit, and scooter accidents are the most expensive claims Australians make in this region.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
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Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Thailand driving FAQs
Can I ride a scooter in Thailand on my Australian licence?
Only with a motorcycle class on your Australian licence plus a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit obtained in Australia. Without both you're riding illegally, and virtually every Australian travel insurance policy will decline a resulting claim.
Planning Thailand?
We will send you the Thailand guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.