New drivers license in Phuket - takes one day or two?

[DFPhuket]

I've had a Thai auto license (converted via an International Driver's Permit) for a couple of years, but I now need a motorcycle license. For it I will need to take the theory and practical exams. Will I be able to do all of this in one day or will I be required to come back on another day for either the theory or practical exams?

 

If it will require multiple trips (and since the Phuket Provincial Transport Office is a 40 minutes drive away), I'd prefer to drive my motorcycle there only on the day I need it to take the practical test. 

 

Anyone with recent experience? 

[Patong2]

Did my motorcycle and car licence two weeks ago at Phuket

Had own country licences for both and showed those and did not have to do any practical or theory.

 

Had to provide

Passport & Driving Licence

Certificate of residence (from Immigration and make sure your landlord has reported you on TM30)

Health Certificate from Doctor (B100 over the road from our apartment)

and the form for the Licence department.

 

Did a simple reaction test then watched a video for about 40minutes and then had photo taken, and waited for new licence.

 

In about 8am and out about 11.30

 

[DFPhuket]

Thanks, Patong2. That's the same as me when I got my auto license. But since I don't have a motorcycle license in my home country I'll have to do both the written theory test and practical for a motorcycle license. I'm wondering if anyone knows if all of that can be done in one day or if I will have to come back. 

[ChasingTheSun]

Just wondering how someone can take their motorcycle there to do the practical test, if they don’t already have a license?

 

Does the transport office have their own motorbikes that they use for the testing applicants? 

[DFPhuket]

You're expected to have your own motorcycle, which means nearly everyone getting a license drove there without a license. I suppose someone else could drive them, but based on what I've seen that doesn't appear to be the usual case. Driving illegally to get a license is not an issue for the folks at the Land Transportation Office. 

[ChasingTheSun]

8 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

You're expected to have your own motorcycle, which means nearly everyone getting a license drove there without a license. I suppose someone else could drive them, but based on what I've seen that doesn't appear to be the usual case. Driving illegally to get a license is not an issue for the folks at the Land Transportation Office. 

Thanks.

 

just to clarify, they are also not checking the bike registration or the insurance of the bike someone uses for the practical test? 

 

[DFPhuket]

ChasingTheSun, no they don't seem to care about any of that. You could rent a motorbike or borrow a friends for a test. I'm still not certain if you can do the driving test on the same day or will need to come back. I'll give it a whirl in the next days and report back.  

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, ChasingTheSun said:

<snip>

Does the transport office have their own motorbikes that they use for the testing applicants? 

 

No. Need supply own vehicle. I drove my own car there using my home country license. Rented a m/bike taxi bike at the gate. 

[Joe Mcseismic]

It was a single day, but, it was that long ago since I did the first license and tests, that it's probably changed.

Though, I'm under the impression that license renewal is arrive early on any day, but, for first timers, an appointment might have to be booked. Not sure but, needs checking.

[Aj Mick]

@DFPhuket Can be done in a day, provided you arrive early to register, with all the required documentation.

• a medical certificate from a clinic or hospital (certifies that you have a pulse and not much more)
• certificate of residence from Immigration (though I gather if you have a work permit, that will suffice)
• Your passport and copies of the relevant pages (just copy every page with writing or a stamp on it and let them select what is required).

It is worth going to the Driving Licence Office, in the afternoon, a few days before to check out just what is required, as there can be changes from time to time. Check out the practical test process too. Cars start the test one by one, though there may be several on the circuit at the same time. Motorcycles head off in groups. If you don't speak Thai it is a good idea to have someone to explain what goes on.

 

On the day you register and submit your documents, do the sight and reaction tests, sit in a classroom for the training (watch a video for and hour or so), and then do the multi choice test (on a computer these days).... all done in the morning.

 

If you have passed everything, you do the practical test in the afternoon..... Rock up on your own, or borrowed motorcycle (or rent one; there used to be folks who would rent motorcycles and cars for tests at the centre, or nearby, and probably still are.).

 

You'll be issued with your provisional licence the same day... It is good for a year (or two now?).

 

Once the provisional has expired, you can apply for a full licence, which will be good for five years or one year, depending on your visa and work permit situation...... that has to be renewed before it expires. If it lapses you have to start at the beginning again.

[LivinginKata]

"You'll be issued with your provisional licence the same day... It is good for a year (or two now?)."

 

It's 2 years now.

[KhunBENQ]

19 hours ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

for first timers, an appointment might have to be booked

Important hint.

I had to wait three weeks at the DLT in our district town during school holidays for doing the motorbike license.

During school holidays many teenagers want do motorbike license.

Quite funny to sit with mostly teenagers.

 

Can't tell about Phuket.

 

[DFPhuket]

I arrived at the Phuket Provincial Transport Office today at 7:45 AM (they open at 7:40) and showed them the required documents (passport copies, medical certificate, and residence certificate). I was told to go to counter 5 for the reaction and color blind test.

 

Once I passed that, I was given all of my documents back with an orange slip (attached copy) telling me to come back with the papers on a specific day in about a month to watch the training video and take the computerized theory test. Assuming I pass that, I am supposed to come back the next day for the driving test. Yes seriously - and this is in the low season. The office wasn't crowded at all and in fact there were only a handful of people in the queue. I left at 8:30. 

 

So as the OP, I have answered my own question - if you want a license and don't have an international driving permit you can convert, plan on three visits to the Transport Office and a month before you get your license. You only need to have the car or motorcycle on the third trip. It's no wonder that so many people drive without a license. 

[Joe Mcseismic]

Unfortunately, they had to extend the process. You should see how many people are getting their first bike license from November through April. Lots of people from Myanmar and local Thais. No way could they do it all in one day like they used to when there was far less people.

Don't worry though, renewals are started and completed in a single morning.

[stevenl]

43 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I arrived at the Phuket Provincial Transport Office today at 7:45 AM (they open at 7:40) and showed them the required documents (passport copies, medical certificate, and residence certificate). I was told to go to counter 5 for the reaction and color blind test.

 

Once I passed that, I was given all of my documents back with an orange slip (attached copy) telling me to come back with the papers on a specific day in about a month to watch the training video and take the computerized theory test. Assuming I pass that, I am supposed to come back the next day for the driving test. Yes seriously - and this is in the low season. The office wasn't crowded at all and in fact there were only a handful of people in the queue. I left at 8:30. 

 

So as the OP, I have answered my own question - if you want a license and don't have an international driving permit you can convert, plan on three visits to the Transport Office and a month before you get your license. You only need to have the car or motorcycle on the third trip. It's no wonder that so many people drive without a license. 

You can watch the video at the university, see other threads about that. I presume if done that you could do the reaction etc. test and theory test on the same day.

[metisdead]

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[DFPhuket]

I wanted to provide an update on my adventure of getting a motorcycle license in Phuket. After passing the reaction and color blind test, I returned about a month later for my test appointment. I arrived at 8 AM and was sent to a room where I was expected to watch videos from 8:30 until 11:30. Since the staff did not remain in the room, after the first 30 minute video finished (which had little to do with test questions), it just restarted and played for another 30 minutes. It was about to finish the second time when someone came in to start a second video. It was at least relevant to the questions. Both had decent English subtitles but about 90% paid no attention or left the room. About 2/3 through the second video the staff stopped it and spoke for quite a while in Thai. 

 

At 12:45 pm we were told to return to the E-Test room. Get in line before then so you get in with the first batch. Make certain you search and practice with the questions posted on different sites. I spent about 15 minutes taking the test. There were only 2 questions I did not see on the online sites and I missed them both. I couldn't even understand what they were asking. I passed with 48/50 (needing at least 45 to pass). I was congratulated and told to return the next day at 12:50 for the motorcycle driving test. 

 

After arriving on the second day, I waited in the little open air area closer to the driving track start area (not the round open air area by the building entrance). At 12:50 we were told to walk over to the starting area and sign the book. We walked through the track and were told what we would do mostly in Thai but with some English (e.g., get your motorcycle, wear helmet, turn in paper at start area, go slowly, first go around cones, then stop, then drive on the slightly elevated section, then stop, then go to the end). If you failed, they let you immediately try again. Out of about 30, three had to go twice but all passed. The total driving test was less than 90 seconds. 

 

You then park your motorcycle and go back to the start area where they return your signed papers. Take those to the information counter to get a queue number. When called, give your papers, check your name, and pay your 105 Baht. You're returned your papers and receipt and told to go get your photo taken and walk out with a license. 

 

Hopefully this will help others who want to get a motorcycle license in Phuket. But is it any wonder that so many people choose to drive illegally rather than waste 3 days going through this process?