I went to the transport office today and it was probably a day early and a bad hair day after Songkran. Because I was asked for copies which previously, and from what I have heard from those who have recently renewed their 5-year driving license, have not been asked for. Fortunately, I had foreseen such a situation, so I brought several copies of passport, latest visa, medical documents etc. so not a big deal.

From that to being called to the counter and told that I could only be issued a driver's license for 2 years and that after having held a driver's license in Thailand for 28 years and the last 4 renewals with 5-year licenses it was a bit rough. The reason I was told is now the visa extension (retirement in my case) must be valid at least a year after you renew the driver's license so that means in other words that you have to hope for goodwill from Immigration and renew the visa as far in advance of the original expiration date as Immigration allows and the popping in to Transport office as soon as possible.

Personally, I don't believe for a minute that this applies to those with a 5-year license and as printed on my (old license) the first 5-year renewal was 2005. On the new 2-year nothing about first issued, only the day today.

Now I've seen something about this rule applying to those with 1–2-year licenses and with short stays and short visas but that's another story.

Btw, I asked to see the new law in writing.......🙈

Now the person who served me didn't like me, was grumpy, full of envy and seemed to be on drugs so next time I'll come in smelling clothes, shorts, flip flops and unshaven. Then I'll fit their "I'm the boss" mentality

Felt

2 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

I went to the transport office today and it was probably a day early and a bad hair day after Songkran. Because I was asked for copies which previously, and from what I have heard from those who have recently renewed their 5-year driving license, have not been asked for. Fortunately, I had foreseen such a situation, so I brought several copies of passport, latest visa, medical documents etc. so not a big deal.

From that to being called to the counter and told that I could only be issued a driver's license for 2 years and that after having held a driver's license in Thailand for 28 years and the last 4 renewals with 5-year licenses it was a bit rough. The reason I was told is now the visa extension (retirement in my case) must be valid at least a year after you renew the driver's license so that means in other words that you have to hope for goodwill from Immigration and renew the visa as far in advance of the original expiration date as Immigration allows and the popping in to Transport office as soon as possible.

Personally, I don't believe for a minute that this applies to those with a 5-year license and as printed on my (old license) the first 5-year renewal was 2005. On the new 2-year nothing about first issued, only the day today.

Now I've seen something about this rule applying to those with 1–2-year licenses and with short stays and short visas but that's another story.

Btw, I asked to see the new law in writing.......🙈

That issue came around about one year ago and was clearly a dumb misinterpretation of a ruling from above - though there were plenty of 'infographics about it at the time'.

There is no written law or official DLT regulation that requires you to have 12 months remaining on your visa in order to receive a 5-year driving licence.

The actual legislation - such as the Automobile Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and related Department of Land Transport regulations - only distinguishes between temporary (2-year) and full (5-year) licences, and requires that you hold a valid visa or permission to stay. It does not define any minimum remaining duration.

Even DLT infographics and official Facebook posts only use vague wording like “valid visa” or “depending on length of stay,” without specifying any timeframe. It is only 'some' infographics state a 12-month requirement and that created quite a 'hoohaa' at the time on this community / forum.

The idea that you must have at least one year remaining appears to come from internal interpretation at certain DLT offices. Over time, that interpretation has been applied locally as if it were a rule, despite there being no clear legal basis for it (very common in Thailand, particularly within the DLT)(.

In practice, this means outcomes can vary depending on the office - or even the individual officer - rather than being based on a consistently applied national standard.

the case here might just be that you are 'stuck' and locked into 'their interpretation'.

The impact of having a 2 year Temp license rather than a 5 year driving license.

- More requrent renewal

- Cannot obtain an IDP if wishing to drive oversease

- Lower legal DUI limits if wanting a beer with dinner and driving home - that might put you over the limit*

*There was a case a while back on here - where a guy got caught for being DUI - driving on a 2 year temp license, had he had a 5 year license he would have been within the DUI limits.

Options:

• You have 1 year 'grace period' to renew our Driving License: Time your driving license renewal so that you have >12 months extension of stay at time of DL renewal.

• Go to another DLT and 'hope' that logic shines through.

2 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

Now the person who served me didn't like me, was grumpy, full of envy and seemed to be on drugs so next time I'll come in smelling clothes, shorts, flip flops and unshaven. Then I'll fit their "I'm the boss" mentality

Felt

That kind of thing happens from time to time - you’ll run into difficult people anywhere in the world, it’s not unique to Thailand.

Fortunately, in my experience nearly all interactions with Thai bureaucracy is actually quite pleasant when approached well - especially when you focus on dealing with the person rather than the mountain of paperwork - but there are bad eggs as you encountered - I've encountered difficult situations twice and just wrote it off to the other person being an ahyole.

wrote it off to the other person being an ahyole.

So do I , In this case " the other person clearly" have issues to fix within. I show passport / driving license and say my last renewal was also April (2020) visa issued same time/ month. Then like a 🔨 hammer from this other person; This is today not then, spitting it out. I 📿pray for them all.

Felt

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

That issue came around about one year ago and was clearly a dumb misinterpretation of a ruling from above - though there were plenty of 'infographics about it at the time'.

There is no written law or official DLT regulation that requires you to have 12 months remaining on your visa in order to receive a 5-year driving licence.

The actual legislation - such as the Automobile Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and related Department of Land Transport regulations - only distinguishes between temporary (2-year) and full (5-year) licences, and requires that you hold a valid visa or permission to stay. It does not define any minimum remaining duration.

Even DLT infographics and official Facebook posts only use vague wording like “valid visa” or “depending on length of stay,” without specifying any timeframe. It is only 'some' infographics state a 12-month requirement and that created quite a 'hoohaa' at the time on this community / forum.

The idea that you must have at least one year remaining appears to come from internal interpretation at certain DLT offices. Over time, that interpretation has been applied locally as if it were a rule, despite there being no clear legal basis for it (very common in Thailand, particularly within the DLT)(.

In practice, this means outcomes can vary depending on the office - or even the individual officer - rather than being based on a consistently applied national standard.

the case here might just be that you are 'stuck' and locked into 'their interpretation'.

The impact of having a 2 year Temp license rather than a 5 year driving license.

- More requrent renewal

- Cannot obtain an IDP if wishing to drive oversease

- Lower legal DUI limits if wanting a beer with dinner and driving home - that might put you over the limit*

*There was a case a while back on here - where a guy got caught for being DUI - driving on a 2 year temp license, had he had a 5 year license he would have been within the DUI limits.

Options:

• You have 1 year 'grace period' to renew our Driving License: Time your driving license renewal so that you have >12 months extension of stay at time of DL renewal.

• Go to another DLT and 'hope' that logic shines through.

That kind of thing happens from time to time - you’ll run into difficult people anywhere in the world, it’s not unique to Thailand.

Fortunately, in my experience nearly all interactions with Thai bureaucracy is actually quite pleasant when approached well - especially when you focus on dealing with the person rather than the mountain of paperwork - but there are bad eggs as you encountered - I've encountered difficult situations twice and just wrote it off to the other person being an ahyole.

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Options:

• You have 1 year 'grace period' to renew our Driving License: Time your driving license renewal so that you have >12 months extension of stay at time of DL renewal.

• Go to another DLT and 'hope' that logic shines through.

How is that supposed to work when my current driver's license (after today's fuss) is valid until April 16, 2028 and my visa is valid until the end of August (I always renew a month earlier)? I'm pretty sure the same transport office will tell me that I can't renew my driver's license in July/August next year, since it's still valid until April 2028!

Felt

3 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

How is that supposed to work when my current driver's license (after today's fuss) is valid until April 16, 2028 and my visa is valid until the end of August (I always renew a month earlier)? I'm pretty sure the same transport office will tell me that I can't renew my driver's license in July/August next year, since it's still valid until April 2028!

Felt

You’ve already passed that stage, so this route won’t work for you - though it may help others reading this thread.

In your case, it’s too late. You now hold a two-year temporary driving licence, having effectively ruled out the alternative options. For anyone else, however, there may still be value in considering a Plan B - particularly if maintaining a five-year licence matters. Sometimes the better move is simply to walk away and try elsewhere.

A quick example. I faced something similar a few years ago while on an S.E. visa under Thai Elite. The DLT in Bangkok decided I could only renew my five-year licence to two-year temporary one (as my visa was not a 'resident visa - i.e. not a Non-Imm visa). I pushed back. If they issued a five-year licence originally based with my Visa, then either that decision was wrong - or this one was. I politely asked for a supervisor for clarification telling them I need the 5 years so I can get an IDP too. No supervisor required - My five-year licence was renewed for another five years.

Often, it comes down to who you’re dealing with - and how you handle it. At other times, it’s worth stepping away and trying again elsewhere with a fallback plan.

For me, it mattered. I intended to drive in Japan.

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

You’ve already passed that stage, so this route won’t work for you - though it may help others reading this thread.

In your case, it’s too late. You now hold a two-year temporary driving licence, having effectively ruled out the alternative options. For anyone else, however, there may still be value in considering a Plan B - particularly if maintaining a five-year licence matters. Sometimes the better move is simply to walk away and try elsewhere.

A quick example. I faced something similar a few years ago while on an S.E. visa under Thai Elite. The DLT in Bangkok decided I could only renew my five-year licence to two-year temporary one (as my visa was not a 'resident visa - i.e. not a Non-Imm visa). I pushed back. If they issued a five-year licence originally based with my Visa, then either that decision was wrong - or this one was. I politely asked for a supervisor for clarification telling them I need the 5 years so I can get an IDP too. No supervisor required - My five-year licence was renewed for another five years.

Often, it comes down to who you’re dealing with - and how you handle it. At other times, it’s worth stepping away and trying again elsewhere with a fallback plan.

For me, it mattered. I intended to drive in Japan.

In your case, it’s too late. You now hold a two-year temporary driving licence, having effectively ruled out the alternative options.

Oh great, I will also be going here with renewals every second year☹️ Well, I admit she outsmarted me but then again I am a straight forward person even after a long time in LOS do I neither go to the transport office nor immigration thinking that I have to be on guard and outsmart them as long as I have correct documentation and present myself within the norm. That said, I should have kept in mind that they won't be helpful and informative, but if they can, they will create a problem. It seems to be in their gene.

Felt

Does anyone know the times that you can apply for an extension to your Thai driving licence at the Cha Am office? I think it used to be twice a day, maybe 08.30 and 13.00? Also confirm the documents required are passport and proof of residence from immigration? Thanks.