Thai Driving License - Policy Change

[Gaybutton]

Today I took a friend to the Pattaya driving license office. He was renewing both his car and motorcycle licenses. He had the initial one-year licenses. He renewed weeks before either one would have expired because he is about to leave for a month outside of Thailand and wanted to get this taken care of before he leaves.

 

In the past, my information had been that if you renew your driving license before the expiration date, they give you a one-year renewal and if you renew on or after the expiration date they give you a five-year renewal.

 

Today he was given a five-year renewal for both licenses. All he had to do was show the paperwork (passport, residence certificate, medical certificate, and current Thai driving license. Photos are no longer necessary. They do the photos by computer now) and pay the fee. There were no tests of any kind. We were in and out in half an hour.

 

It's a bit more expensive now, though. He paid a total of 960 baht for the two licenses.

 

Be advised, this is the way it works at the Pattaya office. That doesn't mean offices elsewhere have the same policy. It is quite common for people to contact me to inform me that the way it works in Pattaya and the way it works elsewhere are not necessarily the same.

 

I also always advise getting there between 8:00am and 8:15am (everything actually starts at 8:30am). We got there at 8:15am and he was fifth in line. By 8:30am the line stretched all the way to the back of the office and halfway down the stairs. Some of those people are probably still there as I write this.

[Guest shockdevil]

I just got my International Driver's Permit from USA and it is good for one year. It has the list of nations where the permit is valid and Thailand is one of the countries listed.

 

GayButton, am I understanding that I still need to get a Thai driver's license in order to legally drive? My permit is valid for passenger automobile as well as motorcycle.

[2lz2p]

If you are visiting Thailand, it is my understanding you can legally drive a vehicle if you have an International Permit and your Country/State driving license. However, if you are living here as many of us do with retirement visas, you are supposed to get a Thai driving license (fairly easy if you have the International Permit). Additionally, some venues (such as Government parks) are reported to charge a farang the "Thai" admission price if they show a Thai driving license.

 

[Guest shockdevil]

If you are visiting Thailand, it is my understanding you can legally drive a vehicle if you have an International Permit and your Country/State driving license...

 

Thanks for the clarification 2lz2p. Good information helps make my trips to Thailand more pleasant. This is one of the reasons why I like these types of forums.

[Guest RichLB]

I believe you are correct about an International Driver's Liscense being legal in Thailand. The problem, though, is that many of the traffic police don't understand them. That means that if you commit a traffic offense, you may actually have to deal with it rather than pay the customary 200 baht "fine" to the arresting officer on the spot.

[Gaybutton]

Here's the way I understand it: An International Driving Permit is legal in Thailand provided you also have your home country's driving license accompanhying it. However, it is also my understanding that despite the fact that the International permit is good for a year, Thailand only honors it for 90 days after you enter Thailand.

[Rogie]

Additionally, some venues (such as Government parks) are reported to charge a farang the "Thai" admission price if they show a Thai driving license.

 

If that's true that can amount to a substantial saving. As a visitor I've been to many Thai National Parks and always paid the going farang rate. For example, on my one and only visit to Khao Yai I paid 200 baht whereas my b.f. paid a fraction of that, can't remember the exact amount. Soon after my visit the park entrance fee went up to 400 baht, although I seem to recall reading somewhere some of the park fees have since been reduced back down to sensible levels.

 

Regarding being stopped by the police, I always show them my International Driving Permit because this one has a mug shot of me whereas my home license doesn't. I have had to cough up the 'roadside' penalty of 200 baht but never had to go to a police station or get involved in any awkward bureaucratic stuff.

 

[mahjongguy]

I can't speak for the types of insurance coverage that one may receive as part of the rental of a car or bike, but a regular insurance policy purchased to cover a bike or car that you own will only pay out if the driver at the time of the incident had a Thai license.

 

Even if you don't own a vehicle, a Thai license is handy in so many ways.

[Gaybutton]

Even if you don't own a vehicle, a Thai license is handy in so many ways.

 

Another bebefit: There are places that require you to leave a picture ID upon entry. You get it back when you leave, of course, but I'm still much happier leaving them my Thai driver's license rather than my passport.