Riding a scooter in Thailand without a driver’s license?

Riding a scooter in Thailand means pure freedom and allows you to flexibly arrange your round trip through Thailand and explore places you would never have visited otherwise. Before you rent a scooter in Thailand, however, keep in mind that riding a scooter in Thailand without a driver’s license is a criminal offense!

In this article we will give you all the information you need to rent scooters in Thailand, ride scooters safely and legally in Thailand and answer the question if you should ride scooters in Thailand without a license and what international driver’s license you need in Thailand.

Checklist: Riding a scooter in Thailand

In order for you to safely and legally rent and drive scooters in Thailand, you should carry the following documents and keep important things in mind:

EU driving license class A / A1

Valid International Driving License (1968 agreement)

Wear a helmet

Protect your eyes from dust! Helmets with visors, sunglasses or even goggles are useful!

Make sure you have good sun protection

For long rides, cover your forearms and wear gloves

Be aware of the risk when you ride without protective clothing

Flip-flops while driving a scooter are highly risky!

Park in the shade. Otherwise seat and tires can overheat!

Goggles can scratch without a visor

Driving a scooter in Thailand?

Typical Thailand: Honda Click 125 cc

Riding a scooter in Thailand: pure freedom!

Driving license to ride a scooter in Thailand

We receive a lot of questions from readers about driving a scooter in Thailand without a license, driving a scooter in Thailand with a class B license or driving a scooter in Thailand with a car license – is that allowed??

The question of whether you can drive scooters in Thailand without a Class A or A1 license is easy to answer: No!

To drive a scooter in Thailand, you need a valid EU driver’s license for motorcycles and a valid international driver’s license under the 1968 Convention. A class B car license is not sufficient to drive a scooter in Thailand, as scooters in Thailand usually have an engine capacity of 125 cc or more.

Many scooters in Thailand have a displacement of more than 125 ccm. So that more and more you can legally drive a scooter in Thailand only with a class A driver’s license.

You will be able to rent scooters in Thailand without having to show a proper driving license. Riding a scooter without a license in Thailand risks fines and the high risk that your insurance will not pay in case of an accident!

Important: Your EU driving license and your international driving license are only valid in combination with each other and allow you to drive a scooter legally in Thailand!

Important: In Thailand there is an official helmet obligation. Always wear a good helmet to protect yourself!

Riding a scooter in Thailand is different than in Europe!

Driving without a license?

The problem with driving a scooter in Thailand without a license

Riding a scooter in Thailand without a license is a huge financial risk! If you are involved in an accident while driving a scooter in Thailand and you do not have a suitable class A or A1 driver’s license, foreign health insurance, liability insurance and disability insurance may deny benefits due to gross negligence on your part.

If you have an accident in Thailand with your scooter without a valid driver’s license, you risk your health and can get into big trouble with the local authorities!

The best health insurance for Thailand: experiences and comparison

Will you be checked when driving a scooter in Thailand?

Controls when driving a scooter in Thailand are altogether rare, but steadily increasing. Tourists who drive scooters in Thailand are more and more frequently and in our experience more strictly controlled by the police, especially in tourist regions such as Phuket.

During police checks, they usually check the condition of your rented scooter, whether you wore a helmet while riding the scooter and, most importantly, whether you have an appropriate driver’s license. Often an EU driving license is already tolerated. However, a valid international driver’s license is increasingly checked by the police. Officially, both driving licenses are only valid in combination.

Riding a scooter in Thailand without a driver’s license and without a valid international driver’s license can lead to fines at police checkpoints (approx. 1000 Thai-Baht / 26€), that the police will confiscate your rented scooter and theoretically to jail sentences of up to one month. However, the interpretation and the amount of the penalties depend strongly on the policemen who check you.

Riding a scooter in Thailand: Pure freedom!

Many roads are very passable

Rent a scooter in Thailand

You can rent scooters all over Thailand without any problems. Common models are Honda Dream, Honda Click, Honda Wave, Honda Zoomer, Honda Scoopy and increasingly scooters from Yamaha and other manufacturers.

Unfortunately, you can also get into dubious landlords who demand money from you for damages that you have not caused and / or rent you poorly maintained scooters.

When choosing a scooter rental company in Thailand, we recommend that you check reviews on the Internet, listen to the experiences of other travelers and ask your hotel about reputable rental companies. Often scooters can be brought directly to your hotel.

How to recognize a reputable scooter rental company in Thailand

• The scooter renter speaks English
• The scooter is well maintained
• There is a rental contract in which the costs, rental period, deposit conditions, return conditions and costs for evtl. Damage to the scooter are clearly listed
• The scooter renter gives you enough time to read the contract
• The rental company signs the contract and gives you a copy of it
• You are allowed to photograph the rental contract
• You can inspect, photograph and ride the scooter beforehand
• The scooter rental company will give you a helmet in acceptable condition
• The rental company will give you a cell phone number for emergencies

Rent a scooter in Thailand in remote locations

Outside of tourist destinations in Thailand, contracts are rare when renting scooters. Pay attention to your gut in these cases and take pictures of any pre-existing damage to your scooter! According to our experience, renting scooters in more remote places in Thailand is very easy.

Deposit when renting a scooter in Thailand

Many scooter rentals in Thailand require your passport as a deposit. We try to negotiate alternatives as a deposit for our scooters. Often landlords also accept identity cards and / or cash (ca. 75 to 150€) as a deposit for a scooter. Be careful when returning the scooter not to get counterfeit money