How may a tourist or tour operator drive in Thailand?
When driving a vehicle from a foreign country in Thailand, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Department of Land Transport in order to have control and supervision over the use of the vehicle and to prevent problems, such as drivers who drive without a driver's license or who are not familiar with the routes, which may result in accidents and traffic problems, as well as issues of liability in the event of an accident.
The eligible vehicles for which persons may apply for permission to bring across the border for tourism business purposes in Thailand are as follows:
Vehicles that are not eligible and for which persons may not apply for permission to bring across the border for tourism business purposes are as follows:
With respect to vehicles under the cooperation agreement between the government, local transport, and foreign-registered vehicles from Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore, no permission is required.
The steps for applying for a permit
The process for applying for a permit for tour operators can be done at any transport office throughout Thailand. The following steps should be followed:
The supporting documents for permit application
The following are the necessary documents for tour operators wanting to apply for a permit:
Regarding the person applying for permission to use the vehicle and the vehicle itself
1. Photographs of the passport and visa;
2. Photographs of the driver's license;
3. Photographs of the vehicle registration;
4. A Letter of Consent to use the vehicle (in case the driver is not the owner of the vehicle);
5. Photographs of proof of having passed the vehicle inspection;
6. Photographs of evidence of insurance coverage in accordance with the B.E. 2535 Motor Vehicle Act for the protection of accident victims;
7. Photographs of evidence of Type 3 insurance coverage, which has the following minimum requirements:
- Life and body: 1 million baht per person per occurrence;
- Property: 1 million baht per occurrence.
8. Photographs of the vehicle;
9. Evidence of travel details;
10. A statement explaining the reasons for the necessity of using a foreign-registered vehicle. (All documents must be translated into English or Thai.)
Source: Department of Land Transport, 1032 Phaholyothin Road, Chomphon Subdistrict, Chatuchak District, Bangkok 10900.
Tel. +66 2271 8888.
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