bike licence for india

**pinkolive** · #1 4 Nov 2003

hi
planning a trip around india and beyond with the wife and am considering buying two small capacity bikes in india.
i have a bike licence but my wife doesnt - she can ride a bike though
does she need a bike licence to ride in india thailand etc or will an international car licence be enough.
thanks

**Spud** · #2 4 Nov 2003

India you could prob get away with it but In Thailand they will probably be more strict.I got stopped numerous times in Thailand and had to show my licence. If the international car licene has motorcycles included on it then you may be ok. Sometimes the Post office worker may stamp the lot for you if you tell them you are going to India.

In Bangkok you can buy 'fake' UK driving licences but remember all this is great.. unless you hit someone's Mercedes in Bangkok.. then will that licence be ok?

Basically it's possible but the risk is of course there! Could your wife not get a motorcycle licence by doing a week course? Would be good to get some experience before riding in India too

**harvey** · #3 13 Nov 2003

As Spud says, an international drivers licence should get you through any police checks. You're unlikely to have a problem in India as many drivers here don't have licences and you should be able to bluff your way passed any police that might stop you.
We were stopped a few times in Bangkok, but only because we accidentally got on to the expressway which is for cars only. They asked for paperwork, but were mainly interested in seeing the temporary import certificates for the bikes.
Have you been to India before? The traffic here is probably the worst in the world and riding a bike is pretty scarey to say the least. Even on two big beemers, we regularly had to leave the road for oncoming buses and lorries - two wheelers are well down the pecking order on India's roads. You don't say how much on road experience your wife has and, assuming her experience is limited, it would be a good idea for her to get some miles under her belt before coming here - this is not a good place to learn your roadcraft. Please take that advice as intended, I don't wish to be patronising.
If you come over within the next 12 months, give us a shout - you're welcome to stop over with us (we're in southern Delhi, about 20 minutes from the airport).

[This message has been edited by harvey (edited 13 November 2003).]

**pinkolive** · #4 13 Nov 2003

thanks for your responses.
the wife rides motox regularly over the summer and some say shes better than me.
she has no interest in riding on the roads of the uk so the £500+ required to do the direct access test will be better spent on our trip.
thanks Harvey trying to start our trip autumn next year so might contact you.

------------------
Richard and Gunac
London

**Spud** · #5 13 Nov 2003

Hey Harvey!

You rode to India again or flew there this time? Rich (guy with me when we met in the London bar) is in India as I write. he's seeing Rekha in Delhi. You want me to give him a shout???? meet for a

.. he'd love that.

Cheers
Dave