Father in law would like to use our car.
He does have a driver license (issued 49 years ago), paper version in pink colour. There is no expiry date on the driver license and he never went to renew for the new smart card license version.

By Thai law: is this (paper version, no expiry date) driver license still valid and he is legally allowed to drive with this old driver license?

I assume that every police officer will have his own opinion, but what I am looking for is the official written "law".

 

Feedbacks with law referrals mostly welcome.
Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Rob
 

Yes my FIL has the same.My Wife has plastic one for life, i missed out by 1Month on the lifer.!!.

If it doesn't have an expiry date, it might be one of the ol' time lifetime licenses, and then probably still good.

 

FYI, my  pinkish license has an expiry date, it was issued in 2518, 1975, valid for one year.  Got one of the plastic 5-year licenses now.

 

Mac

What is really important isn't what happens if he gets stopped?

The most important is if he gets into a accident whether the insurance company will cover the problem that is the real problem as far as I'm concern?  Take the license and ask your insurance is the car etc covered if he happens to get into a accident?

Police law or no law.. a few hundred baht off he goes?

Yes, valid for life.

 

Just  a heads up to be sure your insurance allows for other drivers to drive your car.

 

What a burn it'd be to learn the hard way an accident was not covered.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, watcharacters said:

 

Just  a heads up to be sure your insurance allows for other drivers to drive your car.

 

What a burn it'd be to learn the hard way an accident was not covered.

 

 

 

Standard is all drivers. And if not, there will still be coverage, just a higher deductable.

I found an article in Thai which sounds quite clear.

The old license remains valid.

Changing to a plastic card is voluntarily but can be done anytime.

 

My Thai Drivers Licence is valid for life. A paper card laminated showing a picture of a rather young ME, smiling.

 

Have often been asked to produce it at police checks. No problems, except that it is quite obvious that some policemen are somewhat perplexed that a farang has a lifetime licence whilst  theirs is valid for just 5 years

 

Reluctant to go for a new plastic card. They may only issue a 5 year licence and may require me to take a test. Let sleeping dogs lie.

1 minute ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Reluctant to go for a new plastic card. They may only issue a 5 year licence and may require me to take a test. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Then it is clear that one not go for an exchange.

I didn't see that.

 

Several off topic posts discussing UK driving licenses have been removed

18 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Reluctant to go for a new plastic card. They may only issue a 5 year licence and may require me to take a test. Let sleeping dogs lie.

My wife (Thai)  had a lifetime paper licence and thought  the same...but we went to the DLT for my licence and she asked them about it  and came home with a brand new plastic "lifetime" licence  no tests  only pay money and sit for digital photo.

15 minutes ago, johng said:

My wife (Thai)  had a lifetime paper licence and thought  the same...but we went to the DLT for my licence and she asked them about it  and came home with a brand new plastic "lifetime" licence  no tests  only pay money and sit for digital photo.

May well consider doing that after Songkran.

17 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

May well consider doing that after Songkran.

2002 was the year they ended the lifetime licence for first time holders.If you have one your lucky.

27 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

May well consider doing that after Songkran.

better do it before songkran in case you get wet....

The only law referral that you need is the one that allows driving licence holders from other countries to drive legally here in Thailand (easy enough for you to look that up yourself) using that licence.  It's not an area of the law that is disputed. 

 

It doesn't matter hold old it is, what colour it is or what it is made of, it's a valid UK driving licence so it's valid here.

Both I and my driver had these old paper licenses and we were able to exchange them for new plastic life licenses at the DMV in Bangkok. 

Don't see what the problem is !!!

If the car is Insured with 1st class insurance and you want him to use it, if he doesn't drive with some reasonable road skills then don't let him near it.

16 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Don't see what the problem is !!!

If the car is Insured with 1st class insurance and you want him to use it, if he doesn't drive with some reasonable road skills then don't let him near it.

I think the OP is worried that the insurance , should the licence be invalid, will indeed cover injured third party claims, but not the Vehicle or the Old Geezer, as Brits call em.

3 hours ago, HAKAPALITA said:

I think the OP is worried that the insurance , should the licence be invalid, will indeed cover injured third party claims, but not the Vehicle or the Old Geezer, as Brits call em.

As mentioned OP should look at what the insurance cover is, 1st class covers the vehicle in all incidences as far as I understand.

Many farangies coming Thailand think as in western insurance cover, it's not the same in Thailand.

53 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

As mentioned OP should look at what the insurance cover is, 1st class covers the vehicle in all incidences as far as I understand.

Many farangies coming Thailand think as in western insurance cover, it's not the same in Thailand.

They wont pay a non licenced Thai or Ferangs any ones personal claim. This includes Vehicle of Unlicensed drivers , or any injuries that incur hospital or medical treatment. Why should they. Even these cheap charlie ferangs can catch a cold by having named drivers, only needs a Car Tradie to cost you a fortune for a pittance saved

On 4/6/2018 at 11:02 AM, johng said:

My wife (Thai)  had a lifetime paper licence and thought  the same...but we went to the DLT for my licence and she asked them about it  and came home with a brand new plastic "lifetime" licence  no tests  only pay money and sit for digital photo.

Damn, I threw mine away in 1975 when I left Thailand  - i got it in 1970 and it didn't have an  expiration date............I thought that meant it was valid until I left Thailand............Oh Well.

On 4/6/2018 at 4:31 PM, Just Weird said:

The only law referral that you need is the one that allows driving licence holders from other countries to drive legally here in Thailand (easy enough for you to look that up yourself) using that licence.  It's not an area of the law that is disputed. 

 

It doesn't matter hold old it is, what colour it is or what it is made of, it's a valid UK driving licence so it's valid here.

The OP did not specifically say that it was a Thai licence and as the UK had a pink licence there is room for confusion. It should be remembered however that the UK licences had an expiry date.

19 hours ago, HAKAPALITA said:

They wont pay a non licenced Thai or Ferangs any ones personal claim. This includes Vehicle of Unlicensed drivers , or any injuries that incur hospital or medical treatment. Why should they. Even these cheap charlie ferangs can catch a cold by having named drivers, only needs a Car Tradie to cost you a fortune for a pittance saved

Our 1st class insurance covers all claims and the vehicle any part of which they get out of for whatever reason will be covered by the CTPL for as you say injuries that incur hospital or medical treatment.

That's why in Thailand there's a gov compulsory insurance I guess.

 

I think there is only one person here who may be confused.

 

Turns out it is me!

3 hours ago, Just Weird said:

 

I think there is only one person here who may be confused.

 

Turns out it is me!

Easy mistake. I have to admit I had to think twice and post No 11 would suggest a few others went off in the wrong direction.