When to renew a 2-years drivers license and get a 5-years DL?

[Kiujunn]

In Bangkok,  if your 2- years drivers license expires on April 30, do you have to go to renew it and get a 5-years drivers license before April 30 or after April 30?

Or it doesn't matter?

Do Bangjak and Chatuchak have the same rules regarding the time of renewal?

 

I got conflicting information. 

[Buuge]

Hi,

 

You can renew it 90days before or up to 1 year after it expired (you just need to do physical test + watch video). If its expired more than 1 year, you also have to do therotical (and driving?) test. Rule should apply to all DLTs.

 

I went to Bang Chak DLT last week and as foreigner you need to make appointment. Mine is first week of June -> 2 month waiting) and it seems like they only allow 10 foreigner/day (the list I put my name in was only for 10 ppl).

[Kwasaki]

6 hours ago, Buuge said:

If its expired more than 1 year, you also have to do theoretical (and driving?) test. Rule should apply to all DLTs.

Unless he has his original home country DL still also if required accompanied with an IDP, then he can be issued with another 2 year Thai DL.

[sandyf]

12 hours ago, Buuge said:

Hi,

 

You can renew it 90days before or up to 1 year after it expired (you just need to do physical test + watch video). If its expired more than 1 year, you also have to do therotical (and driving?) test. Rule should apply to all DLTs.

 

I went to Bang Chak DLT last week and as foreigner you need to make appointment. Mine is first week of June -> 2 month waiting) and it seems like they only allow 10 foreigner/day (the list I put my name in was only for 10 ppl).

When I went to make an appointment at Chonburi and they said how about that afternoon, that was back in Sept may be more of a queue now.

The OP, as anyone else, should go just after previous licence expires. The 5 years start from the next birthday after you get the licence, making it nearly 6 years.

[biggles45]

You will not get the 5 year when you renew your 2 year if you are on a tourist visa at that time. I had two 5 years but only got 2 on my last renewal. 

[chilly07]

At D of T Pattaya if you want continuity they are booking a month ahead. Online booking doesn't work. Doctor's certificate is valid also for 1 month.. You will need a Thai to translate and a whole morning or afternoon to view the safety video and take the physical tests. In the UK 5 mins on the Swansea website gets you a license in the post in 2w but TIT and we have got to keep people employed. Partly why less than 50pc have licences going up to 70pc on bikes

[swissbie]

OP, better safe than sorry. Officially you have to renew the 2 years (temporary) license before the expiry date. Renewal of up to one year after the expiry date is only for the 5 years licenses. The 2 years license should have the expiry date exactly 2 years after the issuing date, unlike the 5 years license which is always dated to the next (5 to nearly 6 years) birthday.

[Kiujunn]

17 hours ago, Buuge said:

Hi,

 

You can renew it 90days before or up to 1 year after it expired (you just need to do physical test + watch video). If its expired more than 1 year, you also have to do therotical (and driving?) test. Rule should apply to all DLTs.

 

I went to Bang Chak DLT last week and as foreigner you need to make appointment. Mine is first week of June -> 2 month waiting) and it seems like they only allow 10 foreigner/day (the list I put my name in was only for 10 ppl).

After reading this post I went to BangChak today and got an appointment mid June. I didn't question the procedure (yes, the list is for 10 people) and I am bit confused when I now read Swissbie's post.

By mid June the license will be expired for a couple of weeks.

Should I try Chatuchak or is that probably unnecessary? 

[Luuk Chaai]

BangChak     ,,yes  working on June appointments 

there is a  "Service Agent  that will hand walk you thru.  front of the  line

 I got in touch with them today ,, have an  appointment  to meet them  Monday @ 7:30 am SaphanKwai BTS

they bring you right to a med office for the  certificate and  front line @ DLT

fee 2 license for 3400  ..or.  do it yourself   and  spend all day  fumbling around

i'll be back home in time for lunch with  2 new  5yr

 

[KhaoNiaw]

37 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

BangChak     ,,yes  working on June appointments 

there is a  "Service Agent  that will hand walk you thru.  front of the  line

 I got in touch with them today ,, have an  appointment  to meet them  Monday @ 7:30 am SaphanKwai BTS

they bring you right to a med office for the  certificate and  front line @ DLT

fee 2 license for 3400  ..or.  do it yourself   and  spend all day  fumbling around

i'll be back home in time for lunch with  2 new  5yr

 

Really no need for an agent. Why would you spend all day fumbling around without? It's a very simple streamlined process at Bangchak. Especially with the current appointment system, you just turn up and you'll be done within a couple of hours. 

[scubascuba3]

5 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

BangChak     ,,yes  working on June appointments 

there is a  "Service Agent  that will hand walk you thru.  front of the  line

 I got in touch with them today ,, have an  appointment  to meet them  Monday @ 7:30 am SaphanKwai BTS

they bring you right to a med office for the  certificate and  front line @ DLT

fee 2 license for 3400  ..or.  do it yourself   and  spend all day  fumbling around

i'll be back home in time for lunch with  2 new  5yr

 

Waste of money really, it's just hand holding

[Buuge]

7 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

BangChak     ,,yes  working on June appointments 

there is a  "Service Agent  that will hand walk you thru.  front of the  line

 I got in touch with them today ,, have an  appointment  to meet them  Monday @ 7:30 am SaphanKwai BTS

they bring you right to a med office for the  certificate and  front line @ DLT

fee 2 license for 3400  ..or.  do it yourself   and  spend all day  fumbling around

i'll be back home in time for lunch with  2 new  5yr

 

At my first time (2 yr license) I also thought about an agent to help, but tried it by myself and it wasnt a hassle at all.

Also went out of DLT by noon.

 

Staff at DLT also helps and shows you where you need to go and what to do.

Sure it might be easier with an agent (and no waiting at the moment), but not sure if its worth the money.

[Buuge]

9 hours ago, Kiujunn said:

After reading this post I went to BangChak today and got an appointment mid June. I didn't question the procedure (yes, the list is for 10 people) and I am bit confused when I now read Swissbie's post.

By mid June the license will be expired for a couple of weeks.

Should I try Chatuchak or is that probably unnecessary? 

You can try, as i read in other posts, Chatuchak have 50 foreigners/day.

Maybe if you´re early (7:30h) you can do it right away. Give it a try and let us know? ????

 

My DL expired 2 weeks ago and i hope it wont be a problem in June (just physical test + video)

[brianthainess]

On 4/1/2021 at 1:56 AM, Buuge said:

(you just need to do physical test + watch video).

Normally your first 5yr license will need a Med Cert.

[brianthainess]

10 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

BangChak     ,,yes  working on June appointments 

there is a  "Service Agent  that will hand walk you thru.  front of the  line

 I got in touch with them today ,, have an  appointment  to meet them  Monday @ 7:30 am SaphanKwai BTS

they bring you right to a med office for the  certificate and  front line @ DLT

fee 2 license for 3400  ..or.  do it yourself   and  spend all day  fumbling around

i'll be back home in time for lunch with  2 new  5yr

 

Does the *agent* take your medical as well ? ????

[Dirk Z]

I was in Bang Chak March 30th, made an appointment about 6 weeks earlier. My 2 year license had already expired. I did motorbike and car, they need the paperwork separately. You need to get:

- certificate of residence at (presently) Muang Thong Thani Immigration, 3 months valid

- medical certificate at any clinic (a joke really) for 200 baht, 1 month valid

- copies of passport, visa, entry stamp, TM6

First go to 2nd floor to room 201 to get the Certificate of Residence stamped. Then go to the counter and get a queue number. Then the 4 tests (colour, visual field, brake and depth) and then on the other side of the hall  for photo and finally license. Car 505 baht, motorbike 260 baht. I did not see the movie (nor did I the first time).

[richard_smith237]

Obviously there’s no need for an agent, obtaining the Thai DL is one of the simpler bureaucratic processes one can go through in Thailand. But , some people imagine hassles and exaggerate minor hoops to such a degree that they panic or think they can’t do this themselves. I’ve seen this on other threads about applying for Visa extensions and Certificates of Entry - Some folk do over-complicate simple things.

 

The lack of absolute clarity, vague information / instructions combined with inconsistent requirements contributes to the confusion in some cases. 

 

When I last renewed my Car and MC licence it took up a lot of the day, the computers at the DLT were down, so instead of being finished by late morning there was chaos. There may have been some times saving with an agent who IF the agent could have got me to the front of the queue, instead there were about 300ppl waiting for their licences to be printed off. 

 

I went off for a Massage, had lunch, came back to the DLT early afternoon by which time the computers were back online, queue number had exceeded mine (by about 100+ ppl), I showed an official my queue number and was taken to the front of the line where I paid, had a photo taken and then picked up my DL’s a few mins later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

On 3/31/2021 at 11:52 PM, Kiujunn said:

get a 5-years drivers license before April 30

Simply go before April 30.

Rules for timing do not differ.

Can't comment on queues/appointments in Bangkok.

Expect big crowds after the long Songkran period, so best try next week or last week of April. Avoid the week from Mo 18.

Edited April 2, 2021 by KhunBENQ