Driving licence in Thai

“Driving licence” in Thai is ใบขับขี่bai-kàp-kìi.

ใบขับขี่ bai-kàp-kìi

driving licence noun

bai mid
kàp low
kìi low

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

Classifier: ใบbai · counting word for hats, bags, cards and leaves

Parts: ใบbai sheet, card ขับขี่kàp-kìi to drive, to ride

How to use it

A ใบขับขี่bai-kàp-kìi is a "card for driving and riding". Cars and motorbikes need separate licences, so a car licence doesn't let you ride a scooter, and police at checkpoints ask for the right one. Visitors bring an international driving permit, ใบขับขี่สากลbai-kàp-kìi sǎa-gon; residents get a Thai licence at the Department of Land Transport, ขนส่งkǒn-sòng.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

bai khap khi
bai kap kee
bai khub khee
bai kab ki

More travel and transport in Thai

All travel and transport

แท็กซี่ táek-sîi Taxi
จอด jàwt Stop (a car)
to stop, to park
เลี้ยว líaw Turn
to turn
ซ้าย sáai Left
ขวา kwǎa Right (direction)
right (the direction)
ตรงไป dtrong bpai Straight on
go straight on

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones