Do you need an IDP to drive in Thailand?

Thai government guidance published in November 2024 lists three groups of drivers who can legally drive in the kingdom: holders of a Thai licence, visitors with a valid IDP, and holders of a licence issued in an ASEAN member country (Public Relations Department). The Thai immigration service adds that the IDP must come from a country covered by an agreement Thailand has signed, and must be carried with your home licence (Phetchabun Immigration).

The United Nations treaty records show Thailand joining the 1949 Geneva Convention on 15 August 1962 and ratifying the 1968 Vienna Convention on 1 May 2020. The Department of Land Transport lists Thailand among the countries that accept both formats (PRD, February 2023). That makes Thailand more flexible than Japan, which refuses Vienna-format permits.

Your documents Legal to drive? Will a major company rent to you?
Home licence plus 1949 or 1968 IDP Yes Yes, if you meet the age and card rules
ASEAN licence (for example Malaysia, Singapore) Yes Check first: Avis and Hertz terms name an IDP for foreigners
English-language licence, no IDP Not on the official list Some local firms accept it; others refuse
Non-English licence with a notarised translation Not on the official list Drive Car Rental accepts it; the law does not name it
Home licence left at home, IDP only No; the IDP is not valid alone No

The gap in the middle rows is where visitors get caught. Drive Car Rental says an IDP or a notarised translation is required only where your licence is not in English. That is a company rule about renting, not the law about driving. The Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague states that visitors are required by law to hold an international licence and should show it with their passport and national licence when stopped.

What do you need to rent a car in Phuket?

Requirement Avis Thailand Hertz Thailand Drive Car Rental
Driver age 21 to 65 21 to 70 21 and over, licence held at least 1 year
Licence Thai licence or IDP Thai licence or IDP Licence, plus IDP or translation if not in English
Identity Original passport Passport Passport or ID
Deposit on a credit card 8,000 or 15,000 baht 5,000 baht 5,000 to 25,000 baht by car and cover
Debit card or cash deposit Not accepted Not accepted Credit card required

Avis's FAQ says copies or photos of documents are refused. Book in the exact name on the credit card.

Thailand drives on the left, as the Tourism Authority of Thailand reminds visitors, and seat belts are required.

What does Thailand's compulsory Por Ror Bor insurance cover?

Every vehicle owner in Thailand must hold compulsory insurance under Section 7 of the Protection of Motor Vehicle Accident Victims Act 1992. Thais call it Por Ror Bor, after the Thai abbreviation for the Act. It covers drivers, passengers and pedestrians hurt by the car; it does not pay for damage to any vehicle or property.

The standard compulsory policy wording, published by the Road Accident Victims Protection Company, sets these payments:

Situation Paid quickly without proving fault Maximum after liability is established
Injury, medical costs Up to 30,000 baht per person Up to 80,000 baht per person
Death or total permanent disability 35,000 baht per person 500,000 baht per person
Hospital stay Not applicable 200 baht per day, up to 20 days

Those are fixed per-person caps, so check how your travel insurance handles medical costs above them before you drive.

First-class insurance, CDW and SCDW

Thai car policies run from Type 1, usually called first class, down to Type 3. Viriyah Insurance describes Type 1 as covering damage to the insured car, fire and theft, and third-party injury and property. Type 3 covers third parties only.

Rental companies package this as waivers. Hertz Thailand is unusually detailed, and its rates (7% VAT included, September 2026) show how the layers stack.

Layer What it does Price per day, small / mid / large car Cap per rental
CDW, included Limits your share of body damage to 2,000 to 10,000 baht when you are at fault Included —
SCDW ("first class") Cuts that excess to zero 214 / 321 / 535 baht 6,420 baht
Theft protection (TP) Removes the 30,000 baht theft charge 53.50 / 64.20 / 107 baht —
Tyre cover (TW) Pays for tyre damage 32.10 / 42.80 / 74.90 baht 600 baht
Full Coverage SCDW, TP and TW together 267.50 / 374.50 / 642 baht 7,490 baht
PAI Medical up to 250,000 baht and death up to 1,000,000 baht per person 160.50 baht —

Two exclusions matter more on Phuket than elsewhere. Even the basic CDW does not cover glass, tyres, the interior, roof or underside. And Hertz charges 10,000 baht for flood damage to the floor or underbody, rising to 30,000 baht if the whole car is affected, whatever cover you bought. Avis simply voids protection if you drive through flooded areas.

Worked example: five days with a small car

A five-day rental of a small Hertz Thailand car, with one kerbed wheel and a scraped door, at the September 2026 prices above.

Choice Extra cost You pay for the door You pay for the tyre Total
CDW only 0 baht Up to 10,000 baht Full cost 10,000 baht plus the tyre
SCDW 1,070 baht 0 baht Full cost 1,070 baht plus the tyre
Full Coverage 1,337.50 baht 0 baht 0 baht 1,337.50 baht

Full Coverage costs 267.50 baht more than SCDW over five days and adds tyre and theft cover. Hertz itself warns that potholes, debris and sharp objects can damage tyres at any time. The 5,000 baht deposit is blocked on your card either way until the car is checked back in.

At pickup and after an accident

Avis's terms also make clear that tolls and traffic tickets are not in the rental price. Speeding and camera fines can reach you after you return the car; our guide to Thai road rules and police fines around Chiang Mai explains how tickets and payments work. If you are comparing a car with two wheels, read songthaews, apps and scooters in Chiang Mai as well.