Thailand
Last verified August 7, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
License Requirements
- A U.S. license alone is not accepted for driving in Thailand — you must carry both your valid U.S. license and an International Driving Permit recognized under international convention at all times.
- Get the IDP from AAA or AATA before you travel; it's valid for 1 year from its issue date.
The Gotcha
Unlike some destinations where an IDP is a recommended backstop, Thailand treats a foreign license on its own as simply insufficient — you need the IDP alongside it as a baseline requirement, not an extra precaution, and that applies from your very first day driving there.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change — check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Driving in Thailand — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand