Can I Drive in Phuket with an Irish Licence?
Yes. An Irish licence works in Phuket when it travels with a 1949 Convention International Driving Permit and your passport. In Ireland the permit is issued by the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) at an appointment before you fly, and it is valid for one year from the date of issue.
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Short answer
Thailand reads an Irish licence through the International Driving Permit. The plastic card shows who you are and what you may drive, the IDP puts it into the international format, and the passport ties both to you. The IDP is a translation of your licence and works only together with it, so the card stays in your wallet the whole time.
Ireland and Thailand are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, according to the UN Treaty Collection. That is why the 1949 Convention permit is the one an Irish driver takes to Phuket.
Getting the permit in Ireland
Citizens Information, the Irish state information service, says the IDP is applied for at an NDLS centre by appointment. There is no walk-in service, and the permit is issued on the day of the appointment. Bring your valid licence, the completed application form and one passport-sized photograph; the fee is paid by card on the day.
It is available to Irish residents with a full Irish licence and to EU or EEA licence holders who live in Ireland. A learner permit does not qualify. Ireland issues two types: the 1949 Convention permit, which most countries recognise, and the 1926 one, which is needed only for a short list of countries that does not include Thailand.
Each permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. If yours came from an earlier trip, check the date before booking the car: an expired IDP is not a valid permit.
Getting the permit from the UK, the US, Australia or India: where to get an IDP before Phuket.
What that means for the rental
At handover every driver shows three originals: the passport, the Irish licence card and the IDP. Drivers must be 21 or older with at least one year of licence. Every Kolesio car is automatic, so a manual licence at home makes no difference to the car you get.
The deposit depends on the model, from 5,000 to 30,000 ฿; it is held at handover and returned when the car comes back. Without the IDP the insurance does not apply after an accident, and the same goes for a driver who is not named on the agreement, so send the names of everyone who will drive when you book.
Keeping left, with different traffic
Ireland keeps left like Thailand, so lane position and the direction round a roundabout feel normal from the first junction. What is new is the traffic around the car: scooters pass close on both sides, and on divided roads near town a right turn is often made by driving past the side road and turning back at a U-turn gap.
Hill roads to the west coast beaches turn slippery quickly in rain. Brake before the bend, not in it, and leave more distance to the scooter in front than you would at home.
Cars for this question
Easy automatic cars for a first drive in Phuket:
Common questions
Can I drive in Thailand with an Irish driving licence?
Yes, together with a 1949 Convention International Driving Permit and your passport. Ireland and Thailand are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. The licence card on its own is not enough at handover or at a police check.
Which IDP does an Irish driver need for Thailand?
The 1949 Convention permit. Ireland also issues a 1926 Convention permit, but that one is needed only for a short list of countries, and Thailand is not on it.
Where do I get an International Driving Permit in Ireland?
From the National Driving Licence Service, by appointment at an NDLS centre. Bring your licence, the completed application form and one passport-sized photograph. The permit is issued on the day of the appointment.
How long is an Irish IDP valid?
One year from the date of issue. Check the date on an older permit before the trip: an expired one does not count.
Can I get the IDP after I arrive in Phuket?
No. The NDLS issues it at its centres in Ireland, so the permit has to be in your bag before you fly. Without it the rental insurance does not apply after an accident.