Thread: Thai Driving Licence

Originally Posted by Fondles

Fuckin Iam coming to BKK to get me bike licence.

Cunts here in Pattaya make you do the theory test and riding test and all that other eye test shit and the video....

It is a whole day ordeal as long as you get there atleast 1 hour before opening time....

If not then you gotta come back the next day to finish up.

Bring back good old corruption so we can pay a "convenience fee" and be out the door in an hour.

The Rayong-Maptaphut offices for land transport and immigration are a dream compared to Chonburi-Pattaya but the former also usually deals with higher quality foreigners.

Originally Posted by BobR

The Rayong-Maptaphut offices for land transport and immigration are a dream compared to Chonburi-Pattaya but the former also usually deals with higher quality foreigners.

As opposed to Kee Nok Farangs elsewhere?

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by BobR

The Rayong-Maptaphut offices for land transport and immigration are a dream compared to Chonburi-Pattaya but the former also usually deals with higher quality foreigners.

As opposed to Kee Nok Farangs elsewhere?

No the Rayong offices mostly deals with employed expats from the foreign businesses there, those who are married and those with homes. Pattaya gets the tattooed alcoholics. Look at some of the foreigners in the Pattaya office and I know why they are sometimes rude and indifferent.

After 14 years here I felt that it was time to apply for a Thai license.

Did so in Cha Am yesterday, brought the residence and health certificate, passport and my German license.

Paid 40 Baht for photocopies and 210 Baht in fees and walked out with my Thai (1 year) license after 15 minutes (I kid you not).

No questions asked, no tests whatsoever.

5 year renewal ( my 4th)
All expire on ur B date

why would u show up early? ( the lady said the law is max 2 months) show up after it expires and get another year added on>
up to 1 year late ur good, after that u need sit for test and 4 hour video
5 years late u need start all over with driving test and written test

Oh that guy went early because he was gonna be outta the country and not return before his 5 year d/l expired. He had his airline confirmation as proof and they did it for him without any questions.

He also went to Chaengwattana and renewed his yearly extension of stay about 6 months early to for the same reason. Again with the proof showin' he was leaving and wouldn't be back in time, they did it.

Just curious Richard; have you EVER seen a foreigner (not holding P/R status or thai citizenship) who has a lifetime d/l license like they used to issue?

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Just curious Richard; have you EVER seen a foreigner (not holding P/R status or thai citizenship) who has a lifetime d/l license like they used to issue?

Never heard of one.

Only know of 1 Thai fellow who has one.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Just curious Richard; have you EVER seen a foreigner (not holding P/R status or thai citizenship) who has a lifetime d/l license like they used to issue?

Never heard of one.

Only know of 1 Thai fellow who has one.

Nor have I ever known of the lifetime business - for anyone.
I suspect the Thai person that you know has special privileges or connections.

No, it most definitely wasn't a "special case" thing at all. Ask a thai about it.

I know a lot of thaiz who have the lifetime motorbike one but never got the car one until they went down to 5 years max on it.

Years back, I remember when they were gonna discontinue the lifetime d/l. There was a big thing about it on all the news stations, in all the thai papers, on the radio, etc. If I remember correctly the Dept of Land Transport in Bangkok was open 24 hours on the last day they gave them out. People were queuing up in the dark to get in there that morning.

Conversely, I know an american here who's had thai citizenship for literally eonz.. He's only got a 5 year d/l. I dunno when he originally got his.

I don't drive anymore, but just keep my thai d/l as a valid form of I/D.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

CNF55; Just a question; you got the 'new style' laminated one, where they took your pic on the spot, with your address written in thai on the back and the hologram right?

Yes, that's the one.

Re 'Lifetime DL'

I know at least 2 foreigners who got one - one issued back in 1974 or 75 (issued on a WP) and the other one 1986 or 87 (issued on PR). Both issued in Bangkok.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Oh that guy went early because he was gonna be outta the country and not return before his 5 year d/l expired. He had his airline confirmation as proof and they did it for him without any questions.

He also went to Chaengwattana and renewed his yearly extension of stay about 6 months early to for the same reason. Again with the proof showin' he was leaving and wouldn't be back in time, they did it.

Just curious Richard; have you EVER seen a foreigner (not holding P/R status or thai citizenship) who has a lifetime d/l license like they used to issue?

Nope
Only one holding PS status that i know had one

I've just had a very good experience at the Land Transport Dept. office in Bangkok. A couple of months ago I was, very foolishly, riding a bicycle and got caught for a lengthy period in a real turd-floater of a rainstorm. I had the old paper type license in my wallet and due to the laminated envelope being in bad shape, it was close to being ruined. It was close to 40 years old so the photograph did not look much like I anybody I knew anyway.

I went to the Land Transport office in my province to try to get a new one and the old bitch in charge claimed it was probably a forgery anyway and tried to take it off me. Rather than risk this again, I went to the Chatuchak office on Monday. I had driven down from upcountry and it was raining like hell when I arrived. I had all the documents, but struggled in there, wetter than Moby's dick, at 3:45PM. Maybe they felt sorry for me combined with the officer being from my province, but I was out of there at 4 (they wanted to go home) with a new plastic lifetime license good for use in all ASEAN countries.

The all female staff could not have been more helpful. Top marks.

Anybody hired a Motorbike in Australia usinga Thai issued International Driving Licence please, any experience or link welcome

Originally Posted by Shy Guava

A couple of months ago I was, very foolishly, riding a bicycle

Originally Posted by Shy Guava

I had the old paper type license in my wallet and due to the laminated envelope being in bad shape, it was close to being ruined. It was close to 40 years old so the photograph did not look much like I anybody I knew anyway.

You need a license to ride a bicycle in Thailand?

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Originally Posted by Shy Guava

A couple of months ago I was, very foolishly, riding a bicycle

Originally Posted by Shy Guava

I had the old paper type license in my wallet and due to the laminated envelope being in bad shape, it was close to being ruined. It was close to 40 years old so the photograph did not look much like I anybody I knew anyway.

You need a license to ride a bicycle in Thailand?

Not that I know of or have ever heard of.
And a lifetime license ?

I recently renewed my motorbike and car licenses and they are for 5 years.

My wife also had the old paper type lifetime license and was able to change it to a new plastic lifetime license in about 20 minutes last week at the local LTD. She got the original one in the late 70s.

I see this is an old thread, but wanted to re-start discussion. In Phuket, went yesterday with all necessary paperwork including medical certificate- thank goodness the med cert cost only 50 baht- because apparently there is a backlog for new motorbike license applicatants/applications... I was given a "return for training" date in January 2016! Go away and come back in 60 days. WTF?! What training??? So heads up for anyone desiring to get a new motorbike license in Phuket for now. Although I have previous Thai car and motorbike license and presented them in my attempt, because they had expired some 10 years ago they weren't considered. Not sure if same backlog exists for car license or if this "backlog" only applies to new applicants and not renewals. Anyone had similar experience? My synical self wants to think this "backlog" has to do with the junta discouraging corruption. Typical Thai response when they are required to do a job properly, but without kickback is blatent complacency... a work slowdown. Thais at Phuket immigration pulled a similar work slowdown tantrum last year when they were forced to do proper job.

i have never experienced anything even closely resembling corruption for getting a drivers license in 30 years here.
10 year old ones mean less than nothing.
med certificate not required to renew in Phuket if u have a 5 year license,
I renewd my car license in march this year

wowoowowowow
my 1,000th post in 8 years

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

my 1,000th post in 8 years

Congrats.
Just renewed mine. Needed med cert as did the missus. Like many things rules vary office to office.

Originally Posted by TMQ

What training??

Perhaps they meant the driver test bit. Maybe so many have to schedule them.

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

i have never experienced anything even closely resembling corruption for getting a drivers license in 30 years here.
10 year old ones mean less than nothing.
med certificate not required to renew in Phuket if u have a 5 year license,
I renewd my car license in march this year

wowoowowowow
my 1,000th post in 8 years

Congratulations on your millenium you are now entitled to build an extra motel for mia noi or mere annoy ,as they say ,up2U