Thai driving licenese in UK

**SiLeakHunt** · 11-08-2014, 05:42 PM

I was wondering if anybody has knowledge or expeirience of the following issue. We are looking at getting my current ladyfriend over to the UK, she's been over once and loved it.
She currently holds a Thai driving licenese but has only ever driven automatic cars. Being an obstinate Brit as I am I want to stick with a manual car.
Does anybody know if the Thai driving license covers both manual and auto, or is it like the UK where the manual and auto are different stipulations.
If so how does she get to convert so she can drive a "stickshift" as our friends across the pond describe them.

Cheers

**Mr Lick** · 11-08-2014, 06:00 PM

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

The visitor's guide to driving in the UK - Confused.com

I don't believe my Thai driving licence stipulates auto/manual. I didn't take a driving test in LoS just reaction/visual tests so your lady friend should be ok on arrival. Just need a quick lesson in gear changing, clutch control perhaps. Good luck!

**Pragmatic** · 11-08-2014, 07:24 PM

You can drive on a Thai licence for 12 months before you have to obtain a UK licence. Last time I was home I used my Thai licence to hire and drive a car and that's what the hire firm told me.

**buriramboy** · 11-08-2014, 07:30 PM

There are a list of countries which if you have a full licence in that country you can exchange it for a full UK licence sadly Thailand isn't one of them and the DVLA told me as the wife was resident in the UK she couldn't use her Thai licence at all as a valid licence, so got her some lessons and she passed first time, took her 3 times for the theory test though which you have to do first and think when fail have to wait 2 weeks to do again.

**Pragmatic** · 11-08-2014, 07:40 PM

You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident

After 12 months you’ll need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical driving tests to drive in Great Britain.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-lic...-other-country

**klong toey** · 11-08-2014, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

You can drive on a Thai licence for 12 months before you have to obtain a UK licence. Last time I was home I used my Thai licence to hire and drive a car and that's what the hire firm told me.

That is just lunacy.

**buriramboy** · 11-08-2014, 07:50 PM

Actually thinking about it, we'd probably been in the UK for over 12 months before the wife decided she wanted to drive hence was told she couldn't drive on her Thai licence.

**Seekingasylum** · 14-08-2014, 03:32 PM

Letting a Thai drive on their licence in the UK without any preparation, study or practical training should be a criminal offence.

Frightening prospect and so unfair on other drivers who would never see the bullet coming. Pranged by a chickenhead whilst pootling about innocently in one's own environment would be really quite annoying.

**Chittychangchang** · 16-08-2014, 01:08 AM

Many immigrants drive on international licences for more than 12 months.
It's a constant problem for the authorities and legal road users.
I believe the insurance company's have been clamping down recently.

**nigelandjan** · 16-08-2014, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by klong toey

That is just lunacy.

My neighbours will confirm that as I have been doing wheelies on my mates Harley on my Thai licence .

I don't have a UK bike licence

**klong toey** · 16-08-2014, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Originally Posted by klong toey

That is just lunacy.

My neighbours will confirm that as I have been doing wheelies on my mates Harley on my Thai licence .

I don't have a UK bike licence

That is just lunacy wheelies on a HaHarley be saying you got your knee down next.
Mind i suppose you can wheelie a tractor so could be possable to get the wheel an inch of the ground on a HaHarley.

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