Thailand on an Irish Licence — IDP Required, but No Side Switch

Most tourists arrive in Thailand facing two big hurdles: an unfamiliar permit rule and the disorientation of driving on the “wrong” side. As an Irish driver, you only face the first. Thailand drives on the left, exactly like Ireland, so the reflex that catches everyone else — looking the wrong way, taking roundabouts against the flow — is already second nature to you.

IDP required — that’s the real paperwork

The one rule you cannot skip is the permit. Thailand requires an International Driving Permit alongside your Irish licence; your licence on its own is not enough. Carry the IDP, your licence and your passport together, because checkpoints do ask, and driving without a valid IDP can void rental and travel insurance after a crash. Arrange it in Ireland before you fly — you cannot get one in Thailand.

Your advantage: no side switch

Because Ireland and Thailand both keep left, you skip the hardest part of driving abroad. Your overtaking instinct, your roundabout direction and your road positioning all carry over. That frees up your attention for what actually matters here, which is the traffic itself.

What to watch instead: the traffic, not the side

Thai roads are busy and informal. Motorbikes dominate — filtering, undertaking and emerging from side roads in numbers — and lane discipline is loose, with overtaking that can catch you off guard. Drive defensively, check mirrors for scooters before every move, and be cautious after dark when rural roads are poorly lit. The alcohol limit is 0.05 BAC, but given the conditions, no drinks before driving is the sensible rule.

Speeds and costs

Limits run 50 km/h in towns, 90 on rural roads and 120 km/h on motorways, with a minor speeding fine around THB 500-1,000 and patchy enforcement. Fuel is cheap at about $1.25/litre, and the emergency number is 191.

Read the full rules on our Thailand driving guide, confirm the IDP requirement with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.