Thai Driving In The Uk

[navydoubs1977]

not sure if this is in the right place but im sure a mod will help.
My misses is going to need to drive here in the uk. were going to be married in the next couple of months. Can she just apply for a uk licence in the normal manner, or does she have to wait for uk citizenship (3yrs).
Does anything stop her getting a provisional now??
any help much appreciated!

[chinthee]

It might be smarter to get an Int'l Driving Permit in Thailand before she leaves just in case it takes time. Very easy to do at the Nat'l transport office.

[navydoubs1977]

sorry should have added shes here already.
Thing is in thailand a taxi take you anywhere for peanuts, here its very diff. So if she wants to pop to shops, or doctors or in time nursery and school shes gonna need to drive.
She didnt drive in thai or laos just a moped, not a car.
So needs to learn everything!

[jizzybloke]

Gonna have to get her English up to speed first, she'll have to take a theory test first!

[navydoubs1977]

Gonna have to get her English up to speed first, she'll have to take a theory test first!

hello mate sorry didnt get back to you sooner been real busy. yeah just been showing her some thoery stuff.
apparently she can do the test now according to dvla so thats that answered. hows you?

[Silent Orchestra]

Apply for a provisional license, in the normal manner with whatever documents you've got, I think it's only forty quid & if they send her that, then she can get a full one, no problem.

she'll have to take a theory test

Anyone can take that test on her behalf

[Zavier38]

First she has to apply for her provisional licence at post office.

Then she'll have to take her theory test. This is bad enough if you speak english. For a thai it is a total lottery in my experience (darling lotus eater now on 5th failed attempt in UK). Then there's the usual driving test.

You might find a decent push bike a good short term bet. Otherwise get a moped - she'll need to do her "CBT" course which takes a day at any local bike training centre.

Don't make the mistake (as I did) of buying a car "to learn in" - I've had to take the keys away as Tee Rak kept using it to drive to work and everywhere else when I'm not around.

[Zavier38]

She doesn't need to be citizen but I think must be here on long term visa or as indef leave to remain (resident), but post office seem clued up enough

[Silent Orchestra]

get a moped

It's was minus five for a time on Friday night. Don't get a moped.

[dirtydog]

^Probably only in Northern England, thats cos God doesn't like you

[Zavier38]

On the subject of push bikes I'd steer clear of anything expensive. Tee Rak so far managed to lose 2 bikes costing £700 each when popping in to shops..."I only inside 2 minutes...it gone already". Bus passes can be useful.

[Silent Orchestra]

God doesn't like you

I don't like Him.

managed to lose 2 bikes costing £700 each

What are you paying £700 for a pushbike for? Just a suggestion - Halfords do girls bikes for £50, let her keep losing one of those.

[navydoubs1977]

Don't make the mistake (as I did) of buying a car "to learn in" - I've had to take the keys away as Tee Rak kept using it to drive to work and everywhere else when I'm not around.

yeah well this is kinda why im now asking this. she keeps wanting to drive and it aint happening without a licence. CBT was an idea but not much use with little un.
theory test is the biggy. just had a look at couple of prctise sites. she hadnt got a clue so lots to learn.
also does anyone know of a good tutor service or dvd set for thais to learn english???

[Silent Orchestra]

BSM - BSM recommendations to prepare for the Driving Test

Everything you need.

It'll cost you nearly twenty quid a lesson & the stuff's not exactly cheap, but you can't go wrong with it.

I have dealings with these lot & recommend them.

[Loombucket]

..."I only inside 2 minutes...it gone already".

Decent pad locks are cheap enough. Bikes are great for finding your way around. Insurance may be a bit of a problem.

does anyone know of a good tutor service or dvd set for thais to learn english???

Loads of 'English for speakers of foreign language' places about. Try local adult education centres and schools. They are usually listed at help points or your local librairy.

[Zavier38]

also does anyone know of a good tutor service or dvd set for thais to learn english???[/quote]


Tell her to get an english speaking boyfriend.

Worked for mine anyway

[caller]

First she has to apply for her provisional licence at post office.

Actually, unless someone can vouch a photo is a true likeness and they've known her for 2 years, she'll have to go to a local DVLA centre, where the kind ladies behind the screen will relieve her of 40gbp, confirm she bears a resemblance to the photo produced, confirm they have seen an original passport with at least an SV, and bob's your uncle, a week or so later, a provisional licence will arrive.

[Texpat]

Forgive me if I find this thread a bit odd.
Why are you asking a group of mostly expats living abroad about driving in the UK -- when you're in the UK? I would imagine the best source of information is your local licensing office. It's your tii-rak that's helpless not you. You have any number of modern convieniences at your disposal: telephones, directories, Internet, English-speaking humans who will actually answer your questions.

Venture forth, be bold. good luck.

[Marmite the Dog]

Forget it ND.

One less Asian women on UK roads would be a good thing.

[RandomChances]

If she has an international Thai driving licence she can drive for 1 year, in the mean time she will have to apply for her provisional licence and then take her test.

If she fails her test within the first year she can still drive on her international licence !!

So if she has a car she can drive it to the test, fail, then drive it home again all legaly

[jizzybloke]

Forget it ND.

One less Asian women on UK roads would be a good thing.

I wanted desperately to say this but didn't want to sound horrible.

[caller]

If she has an international Thai driving licence she can drive for 1 year, in the mean time she will have to apply for her provisional licence and then take her test.

If she fails her test within the first year she can still drive on her international licence !!

So if she has a car she can drive it to the test, fail, then drive it home again all legaly

I'm not sure thats right?

Nor was my comment that the passport is okayed and returned at the local licensing centre. The wife has reminded me that it was sent to Swnasea and returned a few days later.

Why don't you check at Thailand-uk.com where you will get the definitive answer and see more crap posted by me!

There was a recent thread about a female from LOS living in the UK abusing the int. licence and the OP who knew was scared witless about the consequences of her being on UK roads again!

One of the regular posters is a driving instructor, so you will get an answer.

[Marmite the Dog]

Forget it ND.

One less Asian women on UK roads would be a good thing.

I wanted desperately to say this but didn't want to sound horrible.

I don't seem to have that hang-up.

[RandomChances]

If she has an international Thai driving licence she can drive for 1 year, in the mean time she will have to apply for her provisional licence and then take her test.

If she fails her test within the first year she can still drive on her international licence !!

So if she has a car she can drive it to the test, fail, then drive it home again all legaly

I'm not sure thats right?

Nor was my comment that the passport is okayed and returned at the local licensing centre. The wife has reminded me that it was sent to Swnasea and returned a few days later.

Why don't you check at Thailand-uk.com where you will get the definitive answer and see more crap posted by me!

There was a recent thread about a female from LOS living in the UK abusing the int. licence and the OP who knew was scared witless about the consequences of her being on UK roads again!

One of the regular posters is a driving instructor, so you will get an answer.

Well my wife has only been here for a few months and thats the answer I got off the home office, well the driving 1 year on an international licence bit anyway and my insurance company is happy as well as long as she passes her test within a year.

[Ivor Biggun]

My advice would be forget driving in the UK as there's an adequate bus service. I think if she han't grown up with a western understanding about priority and lane discipline then she going to be a liability on the road. The same applies to myself in that I will not drive in Bangkok. I know I would be a liability to myself and others even though I would adhere to driving correctly.