Do You Need an IDP to Drive in Thailand?
Jamie Patrick
Yes. Thailand requires US drivers to carry an International Driving Permit, and enforcement is heavier than most travelers expect. Police run routine checkpoints around the tourist circuits in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pai, and Koh Samui. If you get stopped without one, the fine starts at 500 baht and goes up from there.
What the law requires
Thailand signed the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is the treaty that governs IDP recognition. The AAA-issued International Driving Permit is the document Thai authorities accept. Your US driver's license on its own is not legally sufficient for driving in Thailand, even though plenty of rental shops will hand over the keys without asking.
You need three things on you any time you're driving a car or riding a scooter:
Your valid US driver's license
Your AAA-issued IDP
Your passport, or at least a clear photo of it on your phone
The passport part comes up more than people expect. Some checkpoint officers want to see it, not just the license, and not having it has cost tourists hours at a police station sorting things out.
Enforcement is real
Thailand is stricter about this in practice than the official tone suggests. A few of the most-cited spots:
Phuket. Daily checkpoints on the main roads near Patong, Karon, and Kata. It's easy to hit one on the way back from the beach without realizing it.
Pai (Mae Hong Son). The road into Pai has a well-known stop that catches most tourist scooters on a busy day.
Chiang Mai. Around the Old City moat and on the road up to Doi Suthep.
Koh Samui. Random stops near Chaweng and Lamai, especially on weekend nights.
Fines for driving without a valid IDP usually start at 500 baht (around $15) and climb to 1,000 baht or more if the officer notices your license is also expired or you're not wearing a helmet. The helmet fine is separate, and on a scooter you'll get hit with both.
The bigger cost is what happens if you crash. Travel insurance and rental insurance both have language that voids coverage when you weren't legally licensed to drive, and "no IDP" qualifies. Hospital bills for scooter accidents in Phuket regularly run into the tens of thousands of dollars, and there's no insurance backstop if you didn't have an IDP on you.
If your trip stops in other countries beyond Thailand, every one has its own IDP rules. Our world map of IDP requirements has the rules for every country in one place.
How to get one before your trip
The IDP has to come from your home country. Thailand will not issue you one as a tourist, and any "International Driver's License" advertised by a Bangkok travel agency or an online site that ships to Thailand is not the real document. Thai police know the difference and will not accept it.
1. In person at AAA
The least expensive method to get an IDP is to visit a AAA branch in person. You can typically get an IDP for $30-50 and within 30-60 minutes when you visit a AAA office. However, some branches don't carry IDPs or are frequently out of stock, so it's best to call ahead to make sure you can get an IDP if you go in. Steps to obtain an IDP in person:
Gather your driver's license, payment method, and recent passport photos (optional).
Visit the nearest AAA location that issues IDPs (check the branch's services offered from that link) during operating hours.
Fill out AAA's IDP application form, either ahead of time or while you wait.
If you didn't bring passport photos, AAA can take them for you for an additional fee ($10-30, depending on the branch).
Pay an additional $20 plus tax (sometimes assessed) for processing the IDP. Cash, check, and credit/debit cards are generally accepted.
Be prepared to wait for the process to be completed, but after that you'll be able to walk out with your IDP.
2. Online with AAA
AAA now offers an online application option through their partner govWorks, which is linked on the AAA website. Be aware: govWorks has terrible customer reviews, and customers frequently express that their IDPs are never delivered and that Customer Service is difficult to reach.
Steps to get an IDP online from AAA:
Visit the AAA website and complete their online IDP application
Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information
Pay the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $10 for photo processing, and $9-220+ for shipping)
Wait for your IDP to be processed (5 days) and mailed to your address (an additional 3-10 days)
Processing times vary, taking at least a week, so this option works best if you're planning ahead and have a reliable mailing address.
3. Online with AATA
AATA (the American Automobile Touring Alliance) is the other organization authorized by the US government to issue IDPs to American drivers. Like AAA, AATA offers an online application process, though its website is only online 8am-5pm Friday through Tuesday. Its application page is not available all other times of the week.
Steps to get an IDP online from AATA:
Visit the AATA website and complete their online IDP application
Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information
Submit payment for the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $7 for photo processing, and $14-165 for shipping)
Similar to AAA, AATA's processing and delivery times require advance planning, typically taking 2-4 days for processing, plus shipping time (2-10 days).
4. Online with Fast IDP (that's us, a faster option for AAA-issued IDPs)
If your timeline is too short for AAA or AATA's online processing times, using Fast IDP to expedite your IDP allows you to get an IDP as soon as the next day with the peace of mind that comes with our 5.0/5.0 average customer reviews.
Steps to obtain an IDP using Fast IDP:
Fill out the Apply page on our website. This includes taking photos of the front and back of your driver's license and uploading them on Fast IDP's secure portal, as well as taking passport-style photos of yourself (a decent selfie works).
Submit your application and payment, which starts at $73 (all-in, including all fees and taxes), and goes up with faster processing and shipping.
The Fast IDP team will review your documents for completeness and reach out to you if they see anything you need to adjust in your application.
A Fast IDP team member will go to AAA on your behalf to submit your documents and then will mail your IDP to you via express courier. You'll get an email the evening your IDP is sent with your tracking information and a picture of your IDP.
Even if we can't get an IDP for you, we're always happy to help answer questions for you about IDPs.
Don't get scammed
Whatever you do, don't get scammed by a website claiming to offer an IDP instantly online. Though a company like Fast IDP can legally expedite International Driving Permits from AAA, the only organizations authorized to issue IDPs to US drivers are AAA and AATA. There is no "instant" or "digital" version of a legitimate IDP; your documents must be handled by AAA or AATA for them to issue an IDP, which is always a physical booklet.
Whether you opt for the traditional in-person method, another online option, or working with us, we wish you an easy process getting an IDP and safe driving!