Thread: Thai Driving Licence

Originally Posted by DrAndy

I can't see the relevance on that page, Thet

It says that if you move abroad to a non EU country and then return then you have to apply for a UK DL if you don't have one.
This implies that if you still have your UK DL then you don't need to apply for a replacement

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

when my new passport arrives I will have to return to the Thai DMV to change my license so that the number matches the one in my new passport.

That's where the Yellow Tabien Book comes in useful.
The Tabien number is entered into the Thai DL instead of a passport number.
No need to update the license.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

That's where the Yellow Tabien Book comes in useful.

I wondered why I got one of those, thanks

Originally Posted by Thetyim

This implies that if you still have your UK DL then you don't need to apply for a replacement

right, they last until you are 70, then you need to do some age related test

But the problem is that they do not define the meaning of "live in britain". Its cirtanly does not backup the idea that you must be in the uk for most of the year to have a valid licence. Its just as easy to argue that if you have any kind of resident status in the uk that would be good enough for the dvla. You are tax resident if you spend an average of 90 days a year in the uk which is nowhere near most of the year.

Then we have the 12 months since your arrival in thailand. Which arival would that be, becase quite a few of the expats in thailand leave the country every 3 months.

The real moot point is what the insurance companies will accept, as they are often much less generious about residency and licance issues than the local government. The sensible thing to do is if you spend enough time in thailand to get a thai driving licence, then do so. And if you return to the uk and rent a car, ask the company which licence to use, as the decision will depend both on dvla and insurance company rules

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

you must convert your existing "valid" licence to a Thai licence after a period of not more than 12 months from arrival in LOS

I think you will find that it's only 3 months. (sorry no time today to search for a link)
The key point in that though is "from arrival"
If you exit Thailand for one minute then you get another three months on re-entry

Originally Posted by hazz

The real moot point is what the insurance companies will accept, as they are often much less generious about residency and licance issues than the local government. The sensible thing to do is if you spend enough time in thailand to get a thai driving licence, then do so. And if you return to the uk and rent a car, ask the company which licence to use, as the decision will depend both on dvla and insurance company rules

I'd agree with you that residency rules regarding Thailand are vague for the reasons you point out (more specifically, most of us have "non-RESIDENT" visas) yet have Thai driving licences. But I'd refer to your point about insurance companies - which is actually my main argument. Every time I renew insurance, I am never asked about my driving licence - but the fine print of the policy simply says it must be a "valid" licence - and residency is a requirement for the UK licence to remain valid. It's the same thing when you hire/rent a car. The kid at the rental desk just photocopies it and hands it back to you - he/she's not an expert. So it really boils down to this: Was your licence VALID in the jurisdiction where you were operating the motor vehicle at the time of the accident? If you never have an accident it doesn't matter - you could have been driving with a fake one - who cares?

Kind of reminds me of better half using her thai licence in the uk. At the time, you had to get a uk licence if you stayed in the uk for more than a year and there was a debate as to whether this time period reset every time you left the country. Again it was a moot point as all the insurance policies i was aware of required forign drivers they were insuring to get a uk licence within 6-9 months of he policy starting.

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Visiting another country Your GB licence allows you to drive in all other countries in the European Community (EC) or European Economic Area (EEA). Check with a motoring organisation if you want to drive in a country that is not in the EC or EEA. They will tell you whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP). IDPs are issued by the AA, the RAC and the Post Office®. You must live in Great Britain, have passed a driving test and be over 18. (see page 13 link below)

that is for getting the International licence, nothing to do with the validity of the UK licence

Originally Posted by hazz

Again it was a moot point as all the insurance policies i was aware of required forign drivers they were insuring to get a uk licence within 6-9 months of he policy starting.

they do ask what type of licence you have, and load the premium if not a UK version

My company's lawyer had my passport and work permit for the last month getting my visa and work permit renewed. He returned it today and I just realized that my driver's license expired while he had it. I hope I don't have to go through a lot of extra rigermarole.

Originally Posted by Humbert

I hope I don't have to go through a lot of extra rigermarole.

They give you 2 months from the expiry date to renew it.

Anyone know if they are open today?

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Visiting another country Your GB licence allows you to drive in all other countries in the European Community (EC) or European Economic Area (EEA). Check with a motoring organisation if you want to drive in a country that is not in the EC or EEA. They will tell you whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP). IDPs are issued by the AA, the RAC and the Post Office®. You must live in Great Britain, have passed a driving test and be over 18. (see page 13 link below)

that is for getting the International licence, nothing to do with the validity of the UK licence

It's for both. The paragraph refers to driving whilst abroad. In the EU and EEA you just need the GB licence. Then it goes on to say for other countries you need an Intl permit as a supporting document. You need to be a resident of GB for both (though you can drive for certain period before exchanging the licence - determined by the country of destination - if you are still there after the set period expires.).

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

You need to be a resident of GB for both

It doesn't say that.
It says you must be UK resident to get an IDP in the UK

Not the way I read it. But let's say your interpretation is correct - and it refers only to IDP issued by AA, RAC, etc. You must be living in Britain. (that's the main discussion point). Again, my only point here is that in an accident liability could fall heavily on someone (with insurance voided) if a claims adjuster learns you're not a UK resident but are driving on a UK licence (or any foreign licence for that matter). Insurance companies look for a hundred ways to get out of paying a claim - this would seem a no-brainer don't you think?

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Insurance companies look for a hundred ways to get out of paying a claim - this would seem a no-brainer don't you think?

I took my IDP to my thai insurer and got him to sign a copy saying that he approved it

Good idea. To the agent? Or the actual insurance company/underwriter? (as the agent's signature could be waived off - not authorised). "Thai-Think"

^
Yeah I got the provincial head honcho of AIG to sign it as he is the one who authorizes the claims.

I had no problem with claims even though it was a fake.

Well that is a good idea then. But why go to all that trouble if you disagree that the licence is "invalid"?

Originally Posted by Thetyim

^
Yeah I got the provincial head honcho of AIG to sign it as he is the one who authorizes the claims.

I had no problem with claims even though it was a fake.

One of those "issued by the United Nations" by any chance. Used to fool the local BIB about twenty years ago. I think it was rumbled a while back.

^ ^
I drove on my UK license for 2 years until one day I got stopped by a policeman who knew the law and said that I must get an IDP.
As I was living in Thailand I couldn't get one from the RAC or AA so had to get a fake.
I needed to be sure that my insurance was OK hence the signature from the insurance company.

Originally Posted by Begbie

One of those "issued by the United Nations" by any chance.

Yep, that's the one. Ten year validity.

I've gone all legal now and have a proper Thai DL.
However when I applied they would not accept my genuine UK license but was quite happy with the fake IDP.

^
Figures. But I fully agree - get the Thai licence. It's not difficult - but as someone else said, make sure the latest passport number matches the reference number on the licence, Otherwise, if lucky enough, get the PR number reflected in that box then no need to keep changing (or better still if they'll accept the Tabien Baan number).