Thai Driver's Licenses

[ivanh]

Hello everybody,

has anybody here gotten a thai drivers license from scratch?, and if so, does anybody have a website/book with the thai traffic rules and such?

thanks
ivanh

[Hitesh]

Hello everybody,

has anybody here gotten a thai drivers license from scratch?, and if so, does anybody have a website/book with the thai traffic rules and such?

thanks
ivanh

when u apply for a license you will have to sit through a one hour video and you will be given a book with thai driving rules to study. the book is available in english.
this is followed by a written multiple choice test that is ridiculously easy and an actual driving test in an area that is nothing like Bangkok's roads.

[ncr]

when u apply for a license you will have to sit through a one hour video and you will be given a book with thai driving rules to study.Interesting, I didn't know that Thailand actually had driving rules? :D

Another thought that comes to mind - does any other country recognize a Thai driving license?

[Tom]

It's three years ago since I made my Thai driver's license so not to sure if I recall it correctly but I think I can confirm what Hitesh said above.

In my understanding you'll get a 1 year license first, then a five year license and then a permanent one.

[Hitesh]

they've stopped giving permanent driving licenses, so you will have to renew it every 5 years.
I have also heard they are now more stringent on their tests for colour blindness and astigmatism

[egeefay]

Can anyone tell me what the procedure is for converting an international driver's license into a Thai driver's license.
How long can you drive in Thailand on an international license, what type of exams are required to get a Thai driver's license and what are the fees.

[GWR]

I don't have all the info you require, but this might encourage you a bit.

There was a time when you renewed it yearly, but a few years back the transport offices actually started actively encourging farangs to apply for five year licences. I forget the exact procedure, as it has long been a case of renewal for me. If I remember rightly your driving licence from your home country is actually more important than an international licence. You will also need some special letter from the Immigration Dept indicating your visa status. My experience with the local transport office has been pretty positive, but you may want to take a Thai speaker along with you for the initial process.

I was asked a few questions on roadsigns, but I wasn't required to take a test. They seemed to think my existing licence was enough. However, I know that has changed. You will probably be asked to demonstrate a series of manoevers in the center carpark. There's a written test. I suspect there is an English version of this.

[ncr]

Hmmm.... I also wanted to get one. Have been using my international license so far.

There's some information about this over at Thaivisa.com (http://www.thaivisa.com/320.0.html).

[ncr]

Land Transportation Department (http://www.dlt.go.th/) (Krom Kan Khonsong Thang Bok) - English version apparently not available.

1032 Phahonyothin Rd, Chatuchak

[Maptaphut]

Did it. 1) Your drivers licence from Your home country.
2) A statement from Your countrys embassy or consular in Thailand. If You want a licence for motorbike and car, You need two statements!
3) Your passport with [I]non-immigrant visa[I] and TG (arrival-/departurecard)
4) A doctors statement from a local hospital/office. Tell him You want a medical check for getting a drivers licence.
5) Two photographs each licence.(Take the photographs outside the office, a lot of shops let You take photographs in the correct dimension and copy Your documents.)
6) Your housebook/leasingcontract with Your adress in Thailand.
7)Take this with You to the nearest immigration-office and apply for a statement
to get a drivers-licence. You get it in a hour or two.
8)Go to the nearest landtransportdepartement and apply for a Thai drivers licence.
You will have to undergo a test. of colorblindness(Ishiharas tables), a sighttest and test of darknessight and sidesight.
If Your tests are o.k. You will get a drivers licence for 1 year, at a cost of 105 baht each (You need two if You want to drive motorbike and car).
Next year You have to do the points 3) - 8) again and apply for a 5-year licence.. I did it three weeks after my 1year licence expired. No questions about that.
Now You have to que at the landtransportoffice. Several hours later You get a drivers licence which expires at Your first birthday over 5 years; for me 5 years and 6 months. The price is 505 baht.
I did this at the landtransportoffice in Chonburi august last Year.

[GWR]

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd9

Land Transport Office issues ‘smart card’ drivers licenses

Staff reporters

The Chiang Mai Land Transports Office issued Drivers License Smart Cards to drivers, so they could further use them in neighboring pact countries.

The Chiang Mai Land Transports Office held an activity to honor His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday by modifying drivers’ licenses to have Smart Cards made from plastic with magnetic strips. This is being done so that it will be more difficult to have counterfeit data, to increase the card life-span, and they will be beautiful with the graphic design symbol of each province. Chiang Mai province lisences will have a Borsang umbrella, a Panda, and Huay Namdang National Park.

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were the first provinces in the North apart from Bangkok to do this. Mr. Chanchai Keelapaeng, Chief of the Chiang Mai Land Transports Office, said that the Smart Card drivers’ licenses could be used in neighboring conventions between countries because they have both Thai and English writing. On the first opening day of service more than 500 people applied for the Smart Cards.

Interested people can apply with an ID Card, a Medical Certificate, house registration, and the 200 Baht fee. It’s free, considering that the entire public doesn’t come all at the same time. However, it can be used for private vehicles only. Trucks and larger vehicles must still use their specific licenses.