Phuket Scooter Rental: Your IDP Must Have Category A to Drive Legally
🚨 Your Valid License: The Key to a Safe Trip
You’re here for a dream holiday: great weather, amazing food, and beautiful sights. Renting a scooter offers incredible freedom—but this dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you’re involved in an accident without the proper documents.
Your valid motorbike license is not optional; it is required for your safety and to avoid legal trouble.
Why the Thai Police are Strict
The Thai police take traffic laws very seriously, especially concerning motorbike licenses for foreigners. If you are stopped or involved in an accident without the correct license, you risk:
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Hefty Fines: You will be fined by the police.
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Insurance Denial: Your travel or medical insurance may refuse to cover your medical costs if you are in an accident and were driving illegally.
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Legal Trouble: Being detained by police or dealing with complex local legal procedures.
To drive a rental scooter or motorbike in Phuket, you must adhere to the rules just as you would in your home country.
🛑 What License Do You Need to Rent in Phuket?
To drive legally and be covered in the event of an accident, you need two documents:
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A valid Motorcycle License from your home country.
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An International Driving Permit (IDP), which must correspond to the correct motorcycle license category.
🔍 License Category Requirement
The Thai police are specific about the categories listed on your International Driving Permit (IDP).
| IDP Category | What It Covers | Accepted by Thai Police in Phuket? |
| Category A | ALL motorcycles (110cc and larger, or higher power). | YES! This is the only category accepted for all bikes. |
| Category A1 / A2 | Lightweight motorcycles (e.g., 110cc, 125cc, 150cc). | NO. Despite the bike size, these categories are often not accepted for IDP holders by police in Phuket. |
Simply put: To guarantee legality, your IDP must show Category A.
Note on ASEAN Countries: If you hold a valid driver’s license from one of the 10 ASEAN member countries (e.g., Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines), you can use your national license without an IDP.
Below are the categories:
In Phuket, Thailand the Royal Thai Police accept.
A: All motorcycles, with 110 cc or larger cc, carry driver and 1 passenger.
Honda Forza 300cc, Yamaha XMAX 300cc, Honda Forza 350cc.
– an International Driving Permit (IDP) / International Driver’s License (IDL) Thai police accept only category A. All other categories the police don’t accept.
Foreigners holding a valid driver’s license of the 10 ASEAN member countries can use their national driver’s license in the nine other countries without the need to obtain an IDP. These countries are Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Valid driver’s license renting a motorbike in Phuket
Valid scooter driver’s license in Phuket.
Book a motorbike with us and have the time of your life in Phuket.