A question for the long stayers. - Driver's License Renewals - How many years? 1+, 5+, 15+?

[Scottish Thailander]

OK so First issue is 1-2 years

First Renewal is 5-6 years

Second Renewal is 5-6 years

Third, forth, fifth etc.......

What is the official schedule of renewals? 

At what point do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal?

Does it make a difference if you are on different types of visas? eg.  on a Non-O vs a Non-B vs ......?

[Kwasaki]

5 years. 

[richard_smith237]

Two types of Licence a foreigner can obtain: 

 

- 2 Year Temporary Driving licence

- 5 Year Driving Licence

 

Thats it. 

After holding a 2 year temp licence a *foreigner can apply for a 5 year licence and then **renew it each 5 years. 

There is no licence thats longer than **5 years.

 

*Note: A non-Immigrant Visa is required to renew to a 5 year licence.

**Further Note: Its possible to ’stretch’ the 5 years to 6 years if applying to renew your 5 year licence the day after your birthday. 

 

 

 

[Scottish Thailander]

Yes, but at what point, after how many 5 year renewals, do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal? 

How many renewals have you done?

[LennyW]

1 minute ago, Scottish Thailander said:

Yes, but at what point, after how many 5 year renewals, do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal? 

How many renewals have you done?

You dont.

[johng]

It depends upon your visa type as to what license they will issue   normally a "tourist visa" will only get a provisional 2 year licence   a Non-O  or  B visa or extension of  will get a 5 year license after the initial 2 year provisional licence... however T.I.T and the various caveats and anomalies  apply.

[mahjongguy]

Years ago they issued lifetime licenses. Some of those people are still around. Many of them still driving.  Eek!

[JAS21]

6 minutes ago, Scottish Thailander said:

Yes, but at what point, after how many 5 year renewals, do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal? 

How many renewals have you done?

You don’t...but you can make it 6 years less a day by renewing the day after it runs out

[JAS21]

2 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

Years ago they issued lifetime licenses. Some of those people are still around. Many of them still driving.  Eek!

I ‘kin hope so...Mrs J is one of those!!!

[Scottish Thailander]

3 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

Years ago they issued lifetime licenses. Some of those people are still around. Many of them still driving.  Eek!

Ah, maybe those are the ones I have seen. Thanks all.

[userabcd]

30 minutes ago, Scottish Thailander said:

OK so First issue is 1-2 years

First Renewal is 5-6 years

Second Renewal is 5-6 years

Third, forth, fifth etc.......

What is the official schedule of renewals? 

At what point do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal?

Does it make a difference if you are on different types of visas? eg.  on a Non-O vs a Non-B vs ......?

All including Thais have to renew a 5 year license every 5 years, like many other countries. 

 

The days of lifetime licenses are over since governments have seen how much money they can earn to provide this service and make everyone's life more time consuming and complicated.

 

Passport offices and driving license offices always seem to be busy and crowded.

Edited October 31, 2020 by userabcd

[blackcab]

23 minutes ago, Scottish Thailander said:

...do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal? 

 

5 years 364 days is the maximum length of a renewal.

 

It doesn't matter how many times you renew, that is the maximum period of validity you can get.

[teacherclaire]

15 minutes ago, blackcab said:

 

5 years 364 days is the maximum length of a renewal.

 

It doesn't matter how many times you renew, that is the maximum period of validity you can get.

Or 6 years when you go short after the expiration date. 

[blackcab]

2 minutes ago, teacherclaire said:

Or 6 years when you go short after the expiration date. 

 

No, you can't get 6 years. The maximum is 6 years minus 1 day, as I mentioned in the post you quoted.

 

Licenses expire on the date of your birthday, in 5 years time. Any days between the date of issue and the first of your 5 upcoming birthdays are added on top.

 

So the maximum available is 364 days until your next birthday and then 5 years on top.

[teacherclaire]

Just now, blackcab said:

 

No, you can't get 6 years. The maximum is 6 years minus 1 day, as I mentioned in the post you quoted.

 

Licenses expire on the date of your birthday, in 5 years time. Any days between the date of issue and the first of your 5 upcoming birthdays are added on top.

 

So the maximum available is 364 days until your next birthday and then 5 years on top.

Thanks for clarification and sorry for my wrong post. 

[jayboy]

44 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

Years ago they issued lifetime licenses. Some of those people are still around. Many of them still driving.  Eek!

It wasn't that long ago - about 15 years ago when they ended.Many drivers in their mid to late 40s will have them.

[mahjongguy]

Yes, more recent than I thought. Mid-2003. Too bad, I just missed it.

[lopburi3]

36 minutes ago, jayboy said:

It wasn't that long ago - about 15 years ago when they ended.Many drivers in their mid to late 40s will have them.

And some of us are a bit older.  Mine was issued 50 years ago - and photo still looks exactly the same - as I was 50 years ago.  

[jayboy]

14 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

And some of us are a bit older.  Mine was issued 50 years ago - and photo still looks exactly the same - as I was 50 years ago.  

Same with me.My very old passport photographs are exactly the same as my present appearance.I just can't understand why nobody else thinks so.

[SomchaiCNX]

18 hours ago, jayboy said:

It wasn't that long ago - about 15 years ago when they ended.Many drivers in their mid to late 40s will have them.

Not for foreigners, I have my license for 25 years now. My wife did it later and she still got a lifetime license, when I asked the next renewal they told me it was only for Thai (or maybe PR holders).

[Colabamumbai]

20 hours ago, Scottish Thailander said:

OK so First issue is 1-2 years

First Renewal is 5-6 years

Second Renewal is 5-6 years

Third, forth, fifth etc.......

What is the official schedule of renewals? 

At what point do you get more than 5 years upon a renewal?

Does it make a difference if you are on different types of visas? eg.  on a Non-O vs a Non-B vs ......?

Buy a 10 year intl. Drivers permit, good for most countries, about 100 bucks online. 

[Iem]

In Thai year 2551 my 5 year licences were renewed for 10 years each . That was after the two years was renewed with 5 years - then i got the 10 year ones . Unfortunately I failed the renewal in 2561 . Too lazy to convert the years ...you can do that .

[Ireland32]

22 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Buy a 10 year intl. Drivers permit, good for most countries, about 100 bucks online. 

They don’t have 10 year it’s a annual process I go to AAA in USA every year , online hmmmm

[topt]

12 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

They don’t have 10 year it’s a annual process I go to AAA in USA every year , online hmmmm

I think he was taking the michael..........

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Not for foreigners, I have my license for 25 years now. My wife did it later and she still got a lifetime license, when I asked the next renewal they told me it was only for Thai (or maybe PR holders).

 Yes, they would all be PR holders.

[patman30]

has it been reported yet on TVF about the new health regulations for renewing a driving license?
such as diabetics will no longer qualify for renewal
wife said, many Thai's are complaining about the new restrictions
but i havent seen anything in English when i initially searched (although not searched recently)
was announced last week
i would expect it may affect quite a few TVF members

ok after translating few pages seems diabetes is under consideration with others
 

Which originally defined 5 prohibited diseases, including

1. Lymphatic filariasis in the symptoms that are offensive to society

2. Tuberculosis in infectious stage

3. Leprosy

4. Alcoholism

5. Drug Addiction

 

They are considering adding forbidden diseases such as epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, autism or atypical 90 cm short, which doctors must issue a medical certificate. Must assess the physical condition of the applicant for a medical certificate"

 

Edited November 1, 2020 by patman30

[Techno Viking]

10 minutes ago, patman30 said:

has it been reported yet on TVF about the new health regulations for renewing a driving license?
such as diabetics will no longer qualify for renewal
wife said, many Thai's are complaining about the new restrictions
but i havent seen anything in English when i initially searched (although not searched recently)
was announced last week
i would expect it may affect quite a few TVF members

 

 

Not hard to get a "favorable" medical certificate.

[transam]

11 minutes ago, patman30 said:

has it been reported yet on TVF about the new health regulations for renewing a driving license?
such as diabetics will no longer qualify for renewal
wife said, many Thai's are complaining about the new restrictions
but i havent seen anything in English when i initially searched (although not searched recently)
was announced last week
i would expect it may affect quite a few TVF members

 

..........and half the country.....

[patman30]

3 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

Not hard to get a "favorable" medical certificate.

once they bring in new regs, the cost will most certainly increase
the fact they now require a medical for Thais
just shows this is the first step
they have announced what they are considering as the next step
it will all lead to people requireing "some form of preventive treatment" in future for license renewals
but with next step doctors will be able to extort a vast amount of people needing to renew

i also expect anyone arrested or fined for drug offences will be denied renewal same is likely for repeat DUI's

[Techno Viking]

6 minutes ago, patman30 said:

once they bring in new regs, the cost will most certainly increase
the fact they now require a medical for Thais
just shows this is the first step
they have announced what they are considering as the next step
it will all lead to people requireing "some form of preventive treatment" in future for license renewals
but with next step doctors will be able to extort a vast amount of people needing to renew

i also expect anyone arrested or fined for drug offences will be denied renewal same is likely for repeat DUI's

 

As I said, Not hard to get a "favorable" medical certificate.