Renewing Thai Driving Licenses

[payless]

(How do you edit the title to correct spelling errors?)

 

Today, I went to renew my 5 year Thai (Car) Driving License in the Pattaya District Office near The Regent's School at Krating Lai. The procedure has changed since I did it 5 years ago and GB reported the procedure a year ago.

The paperwork needed is:

1. Passport
   
2. Copy of Personal details page of passport
   
3. Copy of TM arrival/departure document usually stapled inside your passport
   
4. Copy of the arrival stamp into Thailand
   
5. Copy of Visa, 'O' or 'B' or others, but tourist visa not accepted.
   
6. A letter of Residency from the Immigration Offices. (Cost 200 baht + 2 photos and a letter or bill/invoice etc. that originated in Thailand that shows your address.)
   
7. Your expiring or expired Thai driving license.
   

You do not need a medical certificate if it is a renewal.

You do not need any photos.

You do not need a Thai escort as it is also 'English language friendly'

 

At the entrance to the building you hand over your documents and provided these are complete you will receive 2 forms to fill-in. Details asked are: your name, DOB, address and Passport number.

Once successfully completed back to the front desk and you will be given a number and off you go to the next floor up.

There your number will be called and you will hand in the paperwork and then wait for between 10 and 59 minutes and be called "inside" to do some simple mechanical tests. You will do exactly the same as the Thais do at this point.

Test 1 is the official will ask each of you to identify the colors from a color chart. He will point to either a yellow, red or green dot and you have to call out the color in English or Thai if you want to be smart.

Test 2 is to sit on a chair and in put your foot on an accelerator pedal. When a red light appears on a console in front of you, you hit the break pedal. I think you have about 1.5 seconds to react to the red light and if longer you fail the test.

Test 3 is to sit on the same chair and the official will ask you to take a remote control and align 2 vertical pegs/posts until they are level. It is very simple to do unless you are x-eyed or do not have depth perception.

 

All tests are now finished

 

The next process it the Thais will watch an hour long video about driving dangerously and non-Thais have to read a book about road signs. After one hour you will give the book back and go to the front of the office and wait for your name to be called for a photo to be taken. After that is a a 15 minute wait before you are called to collect your license and part with 605 Baht.

 

Your license will expire after 5 years to your next birthday. My birthday is in the spring so my license expires on my Birthday nearly 5 years and 9 months from now.

[payless]

To keep the above simple, I excluded info. on Motorcycle licenses.

I noticed that some people did both car and motorcycle at the same time. The process seemed to be the same. For motorcycle only the accelerator and post alignment was not included nor was the need to watch the 'how to drive a car dangerously".

NB I did not apply for a motorcycle license so I am not familiar with that procedure other than as a bored observer.

If you think that you will fail do renew a license for wrong visa, slow reactions or bad eyesight then there is still one office in Chonburi where you can bypass the system. It is located 13

[Gaybutton]

(How do you edit the title to correct spelling errors?)

It has to be done from the first post on a thread. I did it for you on this thread.

 

1. Click EDIT

 

2. When the EDIT box comes up, right next to SAVE CHANGES click on the USE FULL EDITOR box.

 

3. Now you'll see where to edit the title.

[Guest]

It has to be done from the first post on a thread. I did it for you on this thread.

 

1. Click EDIT

 

2. When the EDIT box comes up, right next to SAVE CHANGES click on the USE FULL EDITOR box.

 

3. Now you'll see where to edit the title.

 

That is all correct GayButton. For members, there is a window for editing the post. I think it is set to one hour.

 

Payless, thank you for that excellent report. Much appreciated and very helpful!

[Guest frodo]

If you think that you will fail do renew a license for wrong visa, slow reactions or bad eyesight then there is still one office in Chonburi where you can bypass the system. It is located 13

[Gaybutton]

Could you give more information about this please.

I hope this helps:

[Guest frodo]

That's ok for the location GB, but I was more interested in the "bypassing the system" part. Its not for me, its for my bf who has difficulty with the depth vision test. He passed recently for his 5 year renewal driving licence, so I am thinking ahead.

[Guest fountainhall]

General questions on driving in Thailand. I do not have a car here and so have not applied for a Thai license. I assume I can use either my UK (or perhaps my Hong Kong) license to hire a car when required. But if I purchase a car, can I drive on a UK license? If so, how long before I must get a Thai license?

[Gaybutton]

how long before I must get a Thai license?

You can drive in Thailand provided you have both your home country driving license and an International Driving Permit. Although the International Driving Permit is supposed to be good for a year, Thailand will only honor it for the first 90 days upon entry to Thailand or when it expires, whichever comes first.

 

In other words, you have 90 days to obtain a Thai driving license once you get here.

 

One important thing to consider is although Thailand will honor your International Driving Permit, that doesn't necessarily mean your Thai car insurance company will if an accident happens. Make sure to check that with the insurer first, before purchasing a car.

 

If you are going to hire a car, I would still check with the insurer to make sure the car is actually insured. Some of the fly-by-night car rental agents are not exactly above telling you the car is fully insured even if there is no insurance at all. It may be more expensive, but you're much safer renting a car from a reputable company.

 

If you are eligible for any kind of non-immigrant visa, such as a retirement visa, it will only require a few hours of your time to get a Thai driving license, but you can't get one without a non-immigrant visa.

[payless]

That's ok for the location GB, but I was more interested in the "bypassing the system" part. Its not for me, its for my bf who has difficulty with the depth vision test. He passed recently for his 5 year renewal driving licence, so I am thinking ahead.

In 5 years time I expect things will change. Currently this little backwater does everything in their powers to help you obtain a license. A first-time Thai license will cost you 270 Baht but maybe some other expenses will arise. You will go through the process as with anywhere else but you are unlikely to fail at any hurdle. You would probably need to go with a very switched on Thai guy and be there by 09:30.

[Guest buckeroo2]

You would probably need to go with a very switched on Thai guy and be there by 09:30.

 

Can you put this in laymen's terms? - I have read and re-read this line and do not know what it means. OK, maybe I am slow.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Can you put this in laymen's terms? - I have read and re-read this line and do not know what it means. OK, maybe I am slow.

I think what payless means by a "switched on guy" is a savvy guy who knows his way around.

[Guest jtrack33]

I changed my 1-year, first Thai license today for the 5-year one. I did it at Mochit in Bangkok at the Land Transportation's head office. I went at 10:30 am and there was only one foreigner in front of me. There is a non-Thai dedicated desk. The procedure is much as Payless described for Pattaya, except they seemed to want the medical certificate. The residence letter was free from Bangkok Immigration and took 3 weeks to arrive. No tests were required. I just went to the check-in desk where they check the documents and give you a number for the non-Thai window. Once there, the lady does it all right there and hands over the new license...costs Bht605(Bht5 for the card, Bht100 for the picture and Bht100/year) and valid for 5 years from the date of your next birthday.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I just did a renewal of my driver's license in Ubon. When visiting the Immigration Office in Philbun Mangsahan (about 40 kilometers east of Ubon...the Thai's call it PBOOM) for my 90 day check-in, I obtained a residency certificate...took about 10 minutes complete.

 

At the DMV office, I provided the copies, a medical certificate (obtained for 40 baht at a "clinic"), 605 baht, had my picture taken, and was out the door in less than 10 minutes..very nice. It is actually a 5-1/2 year license, as it doesn't expire until my birthday in February of 2015...they are changing to expiring on your birthday, much like most US states.

 

Last year when I first renewed my one year license here, they said only renew for one year. This time, without asking, received the five year license.

[Guest gay_grampa]

...

6. A letter of Residency from the Immigration Offices. (Cost 200 baht + 2 photos and a letter or bill/invoice etc. that originated in Thailand that shows your address.)

 

 

This is not needed if you have a work permit and show that document instead.

[Guest kotter]

I have to go to get two replacement licences( car and motorbike),as I lost my wallet early Jan and feel I should do something about it!!

I have a letter from the police which goes through the details and says that both licences were lost, but not sure of the procedure at the licencing authority to renew. Anyone else been in this situation and what was the solution and outcome?

Thanks

[Guest GaySacGuy]

My wallet was lost/stolen while living in Pattaya. I was requried to have the police report and pay a fee, and received a license to replace the one lost in just a few minutes. This was the first time they issued the license with them taking the picture, and it made it very simple. But, you MUST have the police report.