I recently got my first "marriage" visa after 20 years of marriage.
I think you're better off with using tourist visas until you decide to live here. Just much easier.
You need a tabien bahn to get a bank account. You need a bank account and 400,000 baht in it for two months before you can get a marriage visa.
The tabien bahn took two months and included having all family members and the local phuyaibahn making in person visits. The nice surprise is that I got a Thai ID card with it. It's pink instead of blue and it says you aren't Thai. So far, it works just like a Thai ID for health care. I've been to the local clinic (anamie) many times and not paid. I just had a covid booster, and just like the locals I didn't pay.
For your driving licence the best way to do it is to get an international licence in the UK before you come. That can be turned into a Thai licence without the written and driving tests.