lordofdelusion Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Has anybody rented a car in the US with a Thai driving License?? I have the newer Thai license with both English and Thai writing. Would you still require an International driving permit? My US license is long expired. Any experience appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
submaniac Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I don't think it is possible. As far as I know, the U.S. does not recognize the international driver's license. If you are not legal to drive, no company will rent you a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 (edited) I don't think it is possible. As far as I know, the U.S. does not recognize the international driver's license. If you are not legal to drive, no company will rent you a car. The Department of State permits 2 organisations in the US to issue International Driving Licenses. As such, you might conclude the International driving License is recognised by the US authorities, if accompanied by a valid national driving license, with translation if necessary. The new Thai license is in Thai and in English, so a translation is not needed. Also, th US is a signatory of the convention (1968 I thought), concluding the International Driving license is valid in the US. Friend of mine, armed with an IDL and a Dutch one happily rented a car in New York. He was duly pestered by some country cowboy about the validity, cost him 3 hours, but after some phone calls he was on his merry way again. Which shows that the police in the US is not always up to date. All other police checks did not bring any trouble at all. However, I have no idea if this also applies to a US national! Edited May 23, 2009 by hansnl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredusn Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 You can get a international lic. issued in thailand and they will rent. I did it last year. You must show thai lic and international permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I believe by law you, as an American citizen, are required to have a US Licence to drive in the US. Much as you must have and use an American passport for entry/exit. However do not believe most rental companies will be that strict. But in case of legal proceedings (accident) there might be a problem. I have always maintained my US licence for that reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordofdelusion Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 You can get a international lic. issued in thailand and they will rent. I did it last year. You must show thai lic and international permit. Are you a US citizen? Is there a difference between ID license and ID permit? This sounds confusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmine6 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Here's Avis: http://www.avis.com/search/SearchMain.jsp?...;direction=next ...Driver's licenses accepted in the U.S. are: * A license issued by a country that participated in the 1949 Geneva convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic. * A license issued by a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the U.S. For more information, please call 800-331-1212. International Driver's Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. An International Driver's Permit it not acceptable by itself. ... Hertz: Question If I have a driver's license from a different country, would I be allowed to drive in the United States? Answer If the drivers license can be translated by a Hertz representative, then yes, you would be able to drive in the US. If not, then a International driving permit will be strongly recommended, in addition to your country of residence valid driver's license. For U.S. and International location policy, click on "Reservations" on the navigation menu on the left side. Next click on "Qualifications & Requirements", then enter the rental location. Next click on "Driver's License" in the topic menu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryofthailand Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 I believe by law you, as an American citizen, are required to have a US Licence to drive in the US. Much as you must have and use an American passport for entry/exit. However do not believe most rental companies will be that strict. But in case of legal proceedings (accident) there might be a problem. I have always maintained my US licence for that reason. If you are an American citizen, and your address of record is in Thailand as mine is, you cannot have an American drivers License. A Thai Drivers license, with an international drivers Permit is permissible. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 (edited) I have had foreign address all my life and no problem getting US Licence. My current Florida has had my foreign address on it for the last 15 years and is renewed online. Edited May 24, 2009 by lopburi3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordofdelusion Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Thanks for the info. Sounds like any dealing with govt. agencies here or abroad. A jumbled mess. The links to the company sites should prove helpful. I'll renew my US license while there and use a family members address just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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