Extending date on Thai Driving Licence

[gmac]

My wife licence's expires next July by which time we hope to have relocated to the UK.  As I understand the rules she can't renew more than 90 days before expiry and on arrival in the Uk she would be able to drive for up to one year on the Thai licence before having to take the UK test, if only it had sufficient validity.  My question is, if she "lost" her Thai licence,  would the replacement have the same expiry date or would it be extended at all?

 

Can anyone who has had a lost licence replaced advise what date they got on their replacement.  Better still is there a legitimate way of extending the expiry date?

[gmac]

All quiet in here, Mods, can you try this in the Pattaya forum please. Thanks.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[richard_smith237]

A very good question, but due to your unique situation I suspect one not asked often. 

 

To avoid any confusion and varying experiences I'd recommend going down to your nearest DLT and asking for a replacement anyway. See what you get.

 

Obviously, you can also ask at the DLT about extensions.

 

Would your Wife require an International Driving Permit issued by the DLT in Thailand (or whoever issues them) ????

[NCC1701A]

On 8/1/2019 at 5:26 PM, gmac said:

My question is, if she "lost" her Thai licence,  would the replacement have the same expiry date or would it be extended at all?

when I lost my Thai drivers license the replacement had the same expiry date.

[gmac]

9 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

when I lost my Thai drivers license the replacement had the same expiry date.

Thanks, I thought that would be the case but had to ask!

[gmac]

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

A very good question, but due to your unique situation I suspect one not asked often. 

 

To avoid any confusion and varying experiences I'd recommend going down to your nearest DLT and asking for a replacement anyway. See what you get.

 

Obviously, you can also ask at the DLT about extensions.

 

Would your Wife require an International Driving Permit issued by the DLT in Thailand (or whoever issues them) ????

Asking at DLT is probably the best course but thought I'd go for some local knowledge first knowing what a madhouse the place is in Pattaya.

 

Don't think my wife needs an International Driving Permit to go with the Thai licence but I will check.  

[jackdd]

Why doesn't she just get the UK license as soon as you move there if you plan to stay long term anyway? That's safer for her as well as everybody else on the road.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Why doesn't she just get the UK license as soon as you move there if you plan to stay long term anyway? That's safer for her as well as everybody else on the road.

 

Can a Thai Licence (or Thai Licence + IDP) be transfered to a UK Licence without having to take any further tests etc?

 

It would cost £100's, perhaps £1000's for lessons and after all that I can't see my Wife ever passing a UK test !!!... Simply transferring the Thai Licence to a UK licence would be much more convenient, but I'd suspect the process is more involved than that. 

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Can a Thai Licence (or Thai Licence + IDP) be transfered to a UK Licence without having to take any further tests etc?

I don't know for sure, but i think and hope that's not possible.

[johng]

I don't think a Thai licence can be transferred to a UK one...but (apparently) you can drive a car or ride a bike for 12 (?) months with a Thai licence before having to do the UK test.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, johng said:

I don't think a Thai licence can be transferred to a UK one...but (apparently) you can drive a car or ride a bike for 12 (?) months with a Thai licence before having to do the UK test.

 

Which is also a worry in some cases !!!...  I know this is deviating the thread somewhat, but when in the UK we stay at my parents deep in the British Countryside with primarily C roads and some B roads....  My Wife driving is fine in Thailand, but the thought of her navigating these dangerous B roads, often with closing / passing speeds of 120mph turns me white !!!... My Wife doesn't want to drive in the UK, but should we ever move here she'd have to. 

 

Quite frankly - lessons with a trained professional would be a very good idea, not just just for learning the road laws and safer driving techniques but also to prevent the catastrophic collapse of a marriage !!

[Moonlover]

58 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Can a Thai Licence (or Thai Licence + IDP) be transfered to a UK Licence without having to take any further tests etc?

 

It would cost £100's, perhaps £1000's for lessons and after all that I can't see my Wife ever passing a UK test !!!... Simply transferring the Thai Licence to a UK licence would be much more convenient, but I'd suspect the process is more involved than that. 

The answer to that one is definitely no. There are only a very limited number of countries whose licences are acceptable for a one for one exchange and Thailand is not one of them. I'm sure everyone understands why!

 

See this website for more info.

 

https://www.expatica.com/uk/living/transportation/exchanging-your-drivers-licence-in-the-uk-107710/

[JAS21]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Which is also a worry in some cases !!!...  I know this is deviating the thread somewhat, but when in the UK we stay at my parents deep in the British Countryside with primarily C roads and some B roads....  My Wife driving is fine in Thailand, but the thought of her navigating these dangerous B roads, often with closing / passing speeds of 120mph turns me white !!!... My Wife doesn't want to drive in the UK, but should we ever move here she'd have to. 

 

Quite frankly - lessons with a trained professional would be a very good idea, not just just for learning the road laws and safer driving techniques but also to prevent the catastrophic collapse of a marriage !!

My wifes driving was good ...when we moved to the UK she spent 6 weeks learning the Highway Code and doing tests etc on the computer.Also had six lessons with a driving instructor. She passed ok.

 

She will need a reasonable command of the english language as if I remember correctly a lot of negitives are used in the questions ...this was in 2003 so things may have changed somewhat.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2019 by JAS21

[paulbrow]

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Can a Thai Licence (or Thai Licence + IDP) be transfered to a UK Licence without having to take any further tests etc?

 

It would cost £100's, perhaps £1000's for lessons and after all that I can't see my Wife ever passing a UK test !!!... Simply transferring the Thai Licence to a UK licence would be much more convenient, but I'd suspect the process is more involved than that. 

Having had licenses in multiple countries, I can say none in my experience "transfer" another countries license. Full licensing process has always been required. Either get an International License, which can be obtained in Thailand but not used here, or get a UK license. Really depends on what the UK allows. I know I can use my US license to drive in most countries, but don't know if there are time limitations on doing that. Hope this info is useful.

[gmac]

14 hours ago, jackdd said:

Why doesn't she just get the UK license as soon as you move there if you plan to stay long term anyway? That's safer for her as well as everybody else on the road.

'Getting a Licence' is not as easy as that is it?  Doesn't she need to read and learn the Highway code -in English- take the video tests to check road awareness and then sit an actual test?  No problem with her driving but I doubt even I could pass a UK test now without a fair amount of study.  

 

The year validity on the Thai licence just gives her the time to do the preparation.