Getting and renewing a Thai driving licence as a foreigner, when an international permit is enough, what insurance a vehicle needs, and the fines and checkpoint campaigns that follow a holiday weekend. Rule changes are published in Thai first, so we cluster the Thai and English reporting into one story each and update several times a day.
Thailand's traffic police nationwide have been ordered to show their faces when dealing with motorists, issue warnings before progressive fines, and refuse bribes. Serious violations like drunk driving are exempt from the warning-first rule. Fines must be paid later through official channels.
Thailand's Transport Ministry, DLT and Royal Thai Police will link databases from Aug 1 to enforce unpaid traffic fines. Motorists can still renew vehicle tax but will not receive the tax disc until all fines are settled. Expats should ensure they pay tickets on time to avoid disruption.