When to renew Thai Drivers License issued 2008

[RubbaJohnny]

It 'll expire this year while I'm in Toronto

How early can I renew it please? Would 3 months early be acceptable?
Not worried if I lose some time until next renewal just prefer to get it out of the way asap

Or if I return after expired will I have to start the whole rigmarole again of a 1 year then a 5 year a real bind as I live a long way from their test centres

All experienced advice welcome

[wgdanson]

It's TWO years, then five.

[GregTN]

5 year renewal to 5 year can be done three months ahead and you will not lose any time on your next renewal.


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[RubbaJohnny]

Thannks most helpful

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, RubbaJohnny said:

Or if I return after expired will I have to start the whole rigmarole again of a 1 year then a 5 year a real bind as I live a long way from their test centres

Sounds like it is a standard "5yr" license.

For that you have up to one year after expiry for renewal without extra effort.

More than one year expired: theory test.

More than three years expired: full session with theory and driving test.

 

https://www.dlt.go.th/en/two-year-license/

Read the last section "IN CASE OF FOREIGNER RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENCE [BY YOURSELF] FIVE-YEARS DRIVING LICENCE".

 

Quote

IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 1 YEAR
- TAKE A THEORY TEST
2
IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 3 YEARS
- TAKE A THEORY TEST AND PRACTICAL TEST

 

 

 

[janclaes47]

9 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Sounds like it is a standard "5yr" license.

For that you have up to one year after expiry for renewal without extra effort.

I also recall from my last renewal, that if you renew 1 day after expiry you get 5 year and 364 days

[KhunBENQ]

6 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

I also recall from my last renewal, that if you renew 1 day after expiry you get 5 year and 364 days

Yes, correct. I did this in March 2017 and its almost "common practice" to go shortly after expiry. License valid until March 2023.

Enjoy your birthday party = expiry date and do it some day(s) later.

 

One statement that I could not verify: there is a grace period of 30 days after expiry where you won't be treated/fined for not having a valid license?

Can someone confirm?

Edited January 12, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[KittenKong]

15 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I did this in March 2017 and its almost "common practice" to go shortly after expiry. License valid until March 2023.

Enjoy your birthday party = expiry date and do it some day(s) later.

One statement that I could not verify: there is a grace period of 30 days after expiry where you won't be treated/fined for not having a valid license?

If there were no such exemption then one would expect to see several police controls in the immediate vicinity of the DLT every day. Easy money.