Andrew Dwyer

When we move to LOS in 6 months I want 1. to buy a car in my wife's name (she has no DL so far) and 2. obtain a Thai license based on my IDL and Swiss DL. And I have some sort of color blindness (parially red-green) - Ishihara no way for me. I have passed the strict driving test in Switzerland - with not a single accident in more than 30 years  and have previously even held a taxi drivers license. I will be staying on a Thai Elite Visa.

 

There must be a way that

1. My wife may buy a car without driving it

2. I may obtain a driving license (Would be a joke if this is not possible)

 

Comments ? Many THX.

Yes, your wife can buy a car without having a Thai DL, and yes you can obtain a Thai DL with your Swiss DL and IDP.

I know this because last November I bought a car, ( still on my Uk DL ) .

I bought the car in my name then the next day they called me saying that they couldn't sell me the car as I wasn't a resident (?) but could sell it to my Thai gf although she doesn't have a Thai DL.

When I obtained my Thai DL at Pathum Thani DLT some Thai guy was having difficulty with the colour blindness test, they basically said his wife could stand next to him and help him !! , his wife whispered the colour in his ear and he repeated and passed with flying colours !!

True story !

Buying a car:
 
1) Deposit
2) Delivery payment  (or Cashiers cheque) - you pick the car up at the dealership.
3) You will need a Copy of your Passport. 
4) You will need Affirmation of residence*
*Proof of residence can be obtained form your consulate (or immigration if you have done a 90day report)
5) Your new car will have red dealer plates - you will need to choose a 'white' place within 1 month (this law is hardly enforced). The dealers say they will do this, but quicker to just do this yourself at the DLT. 
 
Driving here: 
1) Home license with accompanying IDP (Dates cover 12 months: You can drive 90 days)
2) Its best to obtain a Thai License. Use your Home license + IDP. You will need Affirmation of Residence, and a medical checkup certification. 
 

If you have not gone online in advance and obtained the PIN to allow the car rental desk to access your records directly, or are unable to provide your NI to get a PIN and access at the time of signing up for the car, I imagine the car rental agency has every right to refuse the rental. That would be really tough if someone was on a prepaid rental voucher they obtained from a 'cartrawler' powered car rental search website.

 

I have found it much easier and quicker to use my 5-year Thai DL when renting in the UK. Of course, if one doesn't have one, or only has a 2-year 'provisional' Thai DL, then using the UK DL is the only option.

 

I agree that probably more than most on TV have long ago forgotten their NI number or will be challenged to find any reference of it in the piles of papers in the 'home office'. 

 

If anyone needs to find their NI number, this is where to start.

 

I needed mine back in 2000 when I was applying for a Seaman's Book and Card. I went to the local office of the (then) DHSS and after answering some questions, they submitted my request and the letter with my NI information turned up in the post at home a few days later. With fewer (if any) local offices of the DHSS (or whatever they call themselves now), if you can't answer the questions they ask on the phone-in option, the downloaded form and snail mail follow up seems like the only way.

Yeah, I only have the 2 year Thai DL but my UK license is valid until 2019.

Lucky I had my NI number on hand as I would have some difficulty in obtaining it immediately, wouldn't know where to start !

Thanks for the link, by the way.

I have rented a car in the uk with Hertz twice recently, the last time 3 months ago , and was never asked , guess I was lucky really because at that time I didn't have my NI number on hand.

Recently I decided to carry a small file with me when visiting the uk with some docs ( wage slip, pension documents, uk bank statement etc) and it seems to have paid off .

This happened to me today on arrival at Heathrow and renting a car at Hertz:

In July 2015 the car rental rules were changed in the UK, renters have to obtain a Code number from the Internet

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

by inserting their license number and National Insurance number, this code is then passed to the renter ( Hertz, Avis etc ) so they can check your license is valid .

I remember this being enforced and the chaos it caused at rental places as people didn't know or understand. I thought it had been dropped as I've rented a car in uk probably 7 or 8 times in the last 2 years and never been asked !!

Luckily I had the information on hand and the process was painless, except for me being a little peeved.

The idea is that you can access the site above to gain the " check code" up to 21 days in advance to save time.

The point of my post is:

What if I didn't have my National Insurance number handy ?? What would happen ? Would he refuse my rental ?

( to those of you who say " I know my NI number off by heart ".............NOT helpful !! As I told the Hertz rep at the next desk !! If looks could kill !! )

Well I must need a lot more Coffee Crystal Sauce-----must admit after your help full post went back--and can not see any Video---so if you would, just point me to it....then you can have another chuckle ..........thanks...............

Dodgeball
Blades of Glory

Just watched RocknRolla (1), good movie , noticed Super Hans in there [emoji16]

A big [emoji106]for Sheryl also, I haven't needed her assistance ( yet) but I have noticed she does give some invaluable advice .

140 for the long term parking lot.
250 for car parks 1,2,3,4 (typically meant as short term park but as others wrote it seems no problem to leave it for weeks).
 
See link in post #3.
 
250 a day. I would need a good reason to drive my own car to the airport and pay 3250 Baht for two weeks.

I saw this on FB this morning and skipped past it thinking it was someone had posted a photo of some dude who looks like Tiger having a bad day [emoji16]

Has anyone used a long stay ( 2 weeks or more) car park at Swampy ?

How is the daily rate ?

How secure is it ?

This is what I tell my wife.
I was going to include fetching my own beer and peeling my own grapes - but I think she would have "twigged".

 
If you want... as you are over the 500 post threshold just edit your profile.

Can I be Goldmember ?

Loved the album that had the track "Jessica" on it. Was he the  Allman that married Cher? Anyway RIP Gregg. You can join the celestial band in the sky now.

 

Wasted words, Southbound, Rambling man, Jelly Jelly and Come and go blues !! Excellent.

Yes he was married to Cher , lucky bugger !!

I guess there is humor and humor.
 

RIP Gregg

Gregg Allman - Come and go blues

Having trouble making sense of this ?

 

Maybe he should have wrote it.

Why are

Koh Tao

far fewer

Koh Tao

Brits

Koh Tao

coming to

Koh Tao

Thailand

Maybe they learnt to read between the lines ? [emoji4]

What is going on in the 2nd photo ?

Kimi on pole !, there's a turn up.
No such good news for my mate Lewis though [emoji20]
Seems like Ferrari are coming good this season !