Driver's License Guide - Koh Samui

[steelerian]

19 hours ago, 41632584 said:

Renewed my driver's license on Friday afternoon. 

 

My usual residence is Bangkok, but I have been staying on Samui since May, interrupted by a two week visit to Bangkok.

 

Staying at a hotel, I did not have a rental contract to prove my Samui residency, however, the hotel supported my request at Immigration for a Certificate of Residence.

 

I went to a clinic for the medical certificate and watched the DLT eLearning training video online. The video is strategically interrupted by multiple choice questions and pauses when you open another tab. Once passed, it issues a digital confirmation which is valid for 6 months.

 

The DLT Samui had originally told the hotel it would only do renewals at 0900 and 1000, but when asked again on Friday morning, they said they would accept the renewal until 1400.

 

I arrived at 1330 at DLT Samui (Lipa Noi), armed with two sets of signed copies of all the relevant passport pages, one original Certificate of Residence + one color copy, one original medical certificate from a clinic + one color copy, a print out of DLT eLearning confirmation and handed it to the clerk at the counter. There were only a handful people in the building and had a desolate feel to it.

 

I had to sign two documents for internal use and was sent two the second floor. It was dark and empty. A faint voice called me into one of the unlit rooms, where a man sitting behind a desk asked me to sit down.

 

He asked me what color I saw on the traffic light that didn't work. When he realized that, he got up and showed me a laminated card pointing to various colored circles and after correctly having answered four times, he signed the paperwork and told me I was done.

 

I returned downstairs, handed the paperwork and paid 780 baht, waited five minutes, had my picture taken and received the two licenses. In total, it took less than 30 minutes.

did you get a receipt for the 780 baht?

[41632584]

50 minutes ago, steelerian said:

did you get a receipt for the 780 baht?

Yes, two receipts actually. A total of 760 baht. As I understand from others, 20 baht is being charged for the plastic protective cover they give with the license(s).

[khunPer]

About drivers license and car tax...

 

Expired driving licenses are allowed to be used until December 31, 2021 in all over Thailand.

The Land Transport Department in Ko Samui is not opened for the service of new & renewal driving license but it's still opened for car's tax payment service.

(Sorce: Samui Info by Nicha).

[huberthammer]

Has anybody done renewal recently? Any new requirements and is it only on specific days you can get it done?  TIA

[huberthammer]

Just got my renewal done. Took a bit over an hour. They seem a lot more efficient and were also very friendly. 

 

Some changes:

 

• Everything related to driving licenses is now upstairs. 
• For people who apply for first time license / conversion of international licenses they have the counter already open at 8 AM for a pre-check. It seems there is a limit of 20 people per day and some arriving around 8:30 AM were sent home
• It was mentioned that with yellow book and pink ID you can get the ID number on your DL. This was done on mine and I was quite pleased about it. However, just got a call from the supervisor telling me to come back as they did this by mistake (she apologised for their mistake). Apparently I will not be able to get an International Driving permit with the ID number on the DL

[Can samui]

Can anyone post requirements for renewal lately?

My license has just expired and I would dearly love to get the renewal right the first go.

Thanks troops.

[phetphet]

I will need to renew both my licences next month. Is it still possible to just turn up and do it?

i vaguely recall reading something on AN about needing appointments a while ago. Is this still the case? If so, is there a website or phone number to make appointments?

 

TIA

[Can samui]

I have just done my renewal and it has been streamlined.

You need to pass an online test, photocapture the acknowledgment of completion.

Bring expired licence.

Medical certificate, got mine at Thai Inter in Chaweng, eye test included.

Face page from passport, signed.

Visa page from passport, signed.

Licence office is upstairs now, you can go any time. Present your documents, do the Depth, color and reflex tests.

Pay 505 baht and done.

I was in and out in 20 minutes.

[0ffshore360]

On 9/12/2019 at 7:38 PM, khunPer said:

Normally an IDP is valid for one year only, so as long as the IDP got an issue date, it expire one year later.

Not sure if situation is same but an IDP valid for one year from date of issue is/was only valid in Thailand  for 6 months inside that 12 month  valid period.

[0ffshore360]

I am curious to know if a person with one eye who holds a valid driving license from home country (said license issued with acknowledged visual status) is accepted for conversion in Thailand ?

[Gecko]

I was also asked to pay 500 Baht for residency certificate by Immigration. I replied I heard it's free.  And the officer didn't mention the 500 Baht again. 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

I am curious to know if a person with one eye who holds a valid driving license from home country (said license issued with acknowledged visual status) is accepted for conversion in Thailand ?

If you can pass the usual vision test that everyone has to do, yes.

[phetphet]

On 5/27/2024 at 6:14 PM, Can samui said:

I have just done my renewal and it has been streamlined.

You need to pass an online test, photocapture the acknowledgment of completion.

Bring expired licence.

Medical certificate, got mine at Thai Inter in Chaweng, eye test included.

Face page from passport, signed.

Visa page from passport, signed.

Licence office is upstairs now, you can go any time. Present your documents, do the Depth, color and reflex tests.

Pay 505 baht and done.

I was in and out in 20 minutes.

Can samui.

Do you do the online test at the DMV?

Or do you have to do it prior to going? If so, do you have the web address please?

Any idea where to find the questions to prepare?

 

Applied for my Certificates of Residence yesterday. Told to pick them up next Wednesday.

Next job Medical Certificates at Thai Inter.

 

TIA

[phetphet]

5 hours ago, phetphet said:

Can samui.

Do you do the online test at the DMV?

Or do you have to do it prior to going? If so, do you have the web address please?

Any idea where to find the questions to prepare?

 

Applied for my Certificates of Residence yesterday. Told to pick them up next Wednesday.

Next job Medical Certificates at Thai Inter.

 

TIA

I can answer my own question.

Found the online DMV e-learning Test.

https://www.dlt-elearning.com/forignerhome

 

Watched video, answered questions and took a screenshot of the part that shows I have completed the test.

 

[yabbra]

On 5/30/2024 at 11:08 AM, phetphet said:

Can samui.

Do you do the online test at the DMV?

Or do you have to do it prior to going? If so, do you have the web address please?

Any idea where to find the questions to prepare?

 

Applied for my Certificates of Residence yesterday. Told to pick them up next Wednesday.

Next job Medical Certificates at Thai Inter.

 

TIA

 

"Certificates"

So you're getting 2 CORs & MCs because you're renewing both car/motorbike licenses?

If you can report back if this was necessary or not that would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[phetphet]

14 hours ago, yabbra said:

 

"Certificates"

So you're getting 2 CORs & MCs because you're renewing both car/motorbike licenses?

If you can report back if this was necessary or not that would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Yes. I asked for two Certificates of Residence, to renew both car and motorbike D/L’s. You will need two copies of all documents. One set for each licence.

 

I’m not even sure you can ask for only one COR at Samui Immigration, but I might be wrong.  I think they will give two per application.

I asked for three and they told me, “No. Can only have two. If you want more, you will have to apply again after picking up first two.

 

I will be going next week on 9th, and will report back.

Edited June 4 by phetphet

[phetphet]

On 6/4/2024 at 7:49 AM, phetphet said:

Yes. I asked for two Certificates of Residence, to renew both car and motorbike D/L’s. You will need two copies of all documents. One set for each licence.

 

I’m not even sure you can ask for only one COR at Samui Immigration, but I might be wrong.  I think they will give two per application.

I asked for three and they told me, “No. Can only have two. If you want more, you will have to apply again after picking up first two.

 

I will be going next week on 9th, and will report back.

Went to DMV today to renew both car and motorbike licences.
I took two of everything:

Passport photo page, visa page, certificate of residence and medical certificates. I even printed iff two copies of screenshot of e-learning test.
Copies of house book were returned as not needed. They did ask for Passport though, and took old licences.

 

On entering DMV, go straight upstairs to first floor, and press screen A for queue ticket to check documents. Given two documents to sign.

Then sent with said documents to Room 2.

Wait there until called to do tests. Reaction test and depth perception.

After passing tests, documents signed by tester, then sent back to first room to get another queue ticket. This time press screen B, to pay.

Once called, handed in documents and charged THB760 (fee for the two licences).

 

Then just sit down and wait until name called to go in and have photos taken.

Back to sitting down and waiting until name called to pick up new licences.

 

I wasn’t given new blue wallets as usual. I asked and was told, “Don’t have any.”

 

In and out in just over an hour.

Something worth bearing in mind;

A friend told me he went at 1pm to do his a few weeks ago and it was very quiet.

 

HTH

 

[starfish]

@ phetphet  Thank you for this very detailed report. It is very helpful. The process sounds to be easy enough.
One question though: did you get medical certificate as 2 issued certificates at hospital ?
Or did you just copy it yourself, to have 2 for motorbike & car ?

 

Edited June 11 by starfish

[Neilly]

On 6/11/2024 at 7:46 PM, starfish said:

@ phetphet  Thank you for this very detailed report. It is very helpful. The process sounds to be easy enough.
One question though: did you get medical certificate as 2 issued certificates at hospital ?
Or did you just copy it yourself, to have 2 for motorbike & car ?

 

I went to Thai Inter yesterday and was asked if for car or motorbike, I said both, they gave me two certs, Baht 600

[Tropicalevo]

I usually go to Bandon for medical certificates- same price.

I was there in April for one for the work permit.

Doc said that I have a very strong heart - I could live to be a hundred.

My response 'I bloody hope not'.

[starfish]

Well, with everything else pretty much falling apart at age hundred, a strong heart can be a real pain in the ass !

[Tropicalevo]

On 5/27/2024 at 6:14 PM, Can samui said:

I have just done my renewal and it has been streamlined.

You need to pass an online test, photocapture the acknowledgment of completion.

Bring expired licence.

Medical certificate, got mine at Thai Inter in Chaweng, eye test included.

Face page from passport, signed.

Visa page from passport, signed.

Licence office is upstairs now, you can go any time. Present your documents, do the Depth, color and reflex tests.

Pay 505 baht and done.

I was in and out in 20 minutes.

 

I renewed my DL yesterday.

Pretty much the same as Can samui and Phetphet except that I had to provide 8 pages of documents.

 

Copy of expired DL (both sides) and the original of course.

Medical certificate (Bandon hospital 250 baht - I was the only 'civilian' - no waiting.)

Passport - face page

Passport - valid visa page

Passport - stamp of last entry to Thailand page (wow, 2019 complete with TM 6)

Work permit - face page

Work permit - address page

Work permit - stamp of latest update

 

Quite a few folk renewing their licences so I was there for an hour.

 

Edited October 9 by Tropicalevo