Heb je een rijbewijs nodig om op een motor te rijden in Phuket?

Which license is accepted

Tourists need either a Thai motorcycle license or their home motorcycle license together with an International Driving Permit (IDP) that includes the motorcycle category. A car-only IDP does not cover scooters.

• Carry the original IDP and your home license, not copies
• Check that the motorcycle (A) category is stamped on the permit
• Long-term residents should convert to a Thai license at the Phuket transport office

Helmet and traffic rules

Helmets are mandatory for the rider and passenger. Traffic drives on the left. Police regularly check helmets, licenses and plates around Patong, Chalong and Phuket Town.

• Fines for no helmet or no license typically run from a few hundred up to about a thousand baht
• Do not ride after drinking: penalties are severe and insurance will not cover you
• Children should wear properly fitting helmets and should not ride in front of the rider

Insurance and your license

Many travel insurance policies exclude accidents when you ride without a valid license for that vehicle class. Read the policy wording for scooters and motorbikes before your trip, and confirm whether engine size limits apply.