kwilco

I think Mr O is embarrassed, The information I've posted is not just for his benefit anyway - it is useful for a lot of long-term expats in Thailand who unwittingly - like Mr O - have let their licence expire. I found out on a trip back yo UK when I wanted to rent a car at Heathrow. Fortunately we were able to sort it over the phone with the DVLA in the Europcar office and still get the car. there is another problem for all expats, regardless of nationality, and that is the possibility that they are driving on a foreign licence after 3 months. THis raises problems wit insurance companies who want you to have a Thai licence. The advice is that if you have been driving in Thailand for more than 3 months continuously, it is best (if not essential) to have a Thai licence. I know people who despite their claims to be "superb" drivers cannot pass the Thai test or fail aspects of the physical. I have heard o f people who have passed as a result of tea money too....probably cheaper than paying you way out after an accident when they find you weren't licensed and therefore uninsured.

So 20 ago your licence was valid - I too have had a Thai licence for over 20 years - however that does not have anything to do with your UK D?L validity now. As said your pink one is only for 10 years.

curious response...stop what?

Yes - The percentage of passport holders in UK and Europe is higher than in US and Oz because even the most parochial families will have been on holiday in a foreign country - e.g. Spain, Greece or France. Day trips to France for shopping before Christmas were very common.

Many older Brtish expats have failed to address the problem of healthcare as they enter old age and may well find they hae to return home for financial reasons - having to re-activate you D/L is just another hassle. If more than two years has passed since your driving licence expired, you may be made to retake your driving test in order to get a new licence. This is especially the case if your licence has expired due to age (driving licences need to be renewed when you reach seventy years of age) or for medical reasons.

I noticed in OZ and US people use a D/L as ID - I've always kept my passport as ID - but that was because I worked in Europe a lot and the UK doesn't issue ID cards. Certainly in OZ on showing a D/L no-one even considered whether I was a resident or not.

For many years my licence was at a family member's address - I renewed there. i didn't get any tickets for about 30 years though. However I recently got a UK speeding ticket which was sent to the address my car was registered at. Notifying a change of address is free - I did this recently with no problem. Whilst living in Thailand I have. work permit and B visa for about 20 years, but I'm not an official resident I have always kept an address in UK for purposes of looking after my interests there - property rentals, banks, taxes, licences etc etc...

Yes - you can do it online but it will be sent to a UK address - when you get to 70 any goods/passenger vehicle licences you have will need a full medical from a doctor to continue. However if you already have a plastic bit the expiration date is 10 years after issue at 4b on the licence. Whether or not you have a green part. A green one on it's own is no good in Thailand as it doesn't have a photo. (see my post above) - you will need an IDP with it and this is issued in UK. I've seen a 5 year IDP issued by Thailand but the Vienna convention says 3 years is the max. Te thing is if your licence has expired, so automatically, has your IDP - it's only valid if accompanied by a valid D/L

Incidentally - you can renew you UK D/L online even if you hit 70 but without a doctors signed medical you will loose any passenger and goods vehicle (inc 7.5 ton) licences you had. You will just be issued with a car or M/C licence. depending on which you have. You won't even qualify to drive larger H/Ds without a medical!

In 1998 the paper licence was replaced with the pink plastic bit with 10 years on it - The paper licence was scrapped in 2015 for anyone issued a licence after 1998. If your green paper D/L was issued before March 2000 it might still be valid until you are 70 if all the information on it is still correct. E.g your address name etc. – there is a possible £1000 fine for those using it illegally. Your problems start we you try to use it hire a car or loose your licence or are involved in an incident. If you renew new your licence, you nee a valid UK address and will get a 10 year plastic one which requires a photo. In Thailand, not having a photo on your licence also brings problems - as it MUST have an IDP = all D/Ls in Thailand must have a photo.

Under the Vienna convention which Thailand recently ratified an IDP should be no longer than 3 years. It automatically e becomes invalid when your home licence expires - i.e. it has to be accompanied by your driving licence.

No it doesn't there's an expiry date on it at 4b - it lasts 10 years. I found this out when hiring a car at Heathrow a few years back - they explained the situation and had obviously had experienced this several times. A phone call to DVLA sorted it out and they rented me the car knowing a new licence had been issued. This was issued about 9 years ago. The address is relatively unimportant.

I don't know where the OP comes form but UK citizens beware - Many people think their UK D/L lasts until they are 70 yrs old....on fact the plastic part expires after about 10 years so you need to renew - it can be done online or over the phone - you need a UK address e.g. family or someone. Your IDP underVienna convention can last up to 3 years. However, I've seen an IDP issued by Thailand that was for 5 years. UK IDP comes over the counter from a post office. Driving on a foreign D/L with IDP over 3 months continuously in Thailand puts you in a grey area. You should have a Thai driving licence. Furthermore many insurance companies won't cover you even if both your foreign licence and IDP are valid. Your IDP is only valid as long as your home licence and only covers you for categories already on your home licence. So if you don't have a full M/C you aren't licensed to drive in Thailand either Also if you licence has expired, so has your IDP automatically. The problems arise with the RTP not being trained into identifying licences correctly and so they are not enforcing many aspects of this - however is your insurance company finds out after an incident your could find yourself in deep water. codicil: - no matter how firm your intentions to stay in Thailand "forever" - there is always the possibility that unforeseen circumstances may force you to return home so it is useful to keep as much documentation and ID alive back home

A conclusion one might make is that "Rates are lower in Phuket than Bangkok" but I can't see how this could be true

I'm merely pointing out they are not answering the question - if they want to ramble off topic, I guess that is up to them - but they still aren't answering the question - I"m not telling them what to do, I'm pointing out what they've done.

I don't think you understand the question.

...and as an automotive engineer apparently totally unqualified to comment on this topic. Are you even an automotive "engineer"?

Not the question, was it?

it seems a bit too difficult for some to get their heads round........ Imagine if II go into a K-bank in Kanchanaburi at midday and another person goes into a K-Bank in Suratthani at midday, on the same day will the rates of exchange advertised be the same?

not the question thoughisit?

Duh! that's why I'm asking if the rate is the same nationwide - the only way is to note the rate and call a friend in another part of the country.

The NHS is facing a crisis like never before. Since Brexit between 20 and 30 thousand EU workers have left the NHS and recruitment rates have plunged as foreign workers can't get visas. This is exacerbated further as care-workers and associated workers have also left in similar numbers. The result is that ambulance waiting times at A7E have gone from 15 minutes to ver an hour - patients are left waiting in corridors for up to 24 hours. With 999 calls instead of an 8 minute arrival response callers are actually being put on hold like they were ruining a bank or IT supplier!. the UK is quite literally th sick man of Europe. - again!

your posts are a joke! - What on earth have your comments got to do with this accident? - I do know the road and have much more relevant experience than you but I use reason and evidence for my comments not some weird belief that being an "automotive engineer " helps in anyway - your observations are pure prejudice and nonsense.

You know this bend?

If a particular bank shows. rate of exchange on their web site - will that rate apply to branches simultaneously around the country? If not how do they justify offering a different rate from their advertised rate?