well, I got mine today, I didnt have a medical certificate, so I got told that I needed one so I went off to get one and did the tests at 1pm.... also got told that I would only be able to get a 2 year license, but actually I ended up with a 6 year one... 2 different officials said my 5 year license would be replaced with 2 year as I was only on a METV visa - not sure if this is true, anyone know? I am thinking maybe they issued me with a 6 year by mistake or just gave me the wrong info.
 
 

No Mistake 5 years and then some depending on your birthday date. I had the same

Taken from a local English newspaper that I cannot name:

Applicants for driving licences have to sit longer hours for the theory tests starting Wednesday (4th of January) as part of a Land Transport Department plan to improve road safety.
The department started requiring people seeking new licences or renewing those expiring more than one year to take two more tests from Wednesday.
One of the new exams involves first-aid knowledge and skills to deal with emergencies. The other focuses on laws related to driving, including the land transport and highways acts.
Exam-takers are given five hours to do all the tests, up from four hours before the new theory tests were added.

Reading the past few pages, it seems different people get different tests, like the color test and the stick test.  What about the written (computer-based) test?  Do folks renewing a five-year license ever have to do that?

 

And, is there any way to get remotely near the DLT office using public transport?  With the possibilities ranging from in-and-out within an hour to taking 5+ hours, it seems a bit much to ask someone to waste their day driving me out there and back.  If I can get a ride there, does GrabTaxi service extend out that far to bring me back to Jomtien (I shudder to think the fare)?  My license has expired so I don't want to rent a car or moto-sai and risk getting caught without a valid license.

Reading the past few pages, it seems different people get different tests, like the color test and the stick test.  What about the written (computer-based) test?  Do folks renewing a five-year license ever have to do that?
 
And, is there any way to get remotely near the DLT office using public transport?  With the possibilities ranging from in-and-out within an hour to taking 5+ hours, it seems a bit much to ask someone to waste their day driving me out there and back.  If I can get a ride there, does GrabTaxi service extend out that far to bring me back to Jomtien (I shudder to think the fare)?  My license has expired so I don't want to rent a car or moto-sai and risk getting caught without a valid license.

Getting caught without a valid licence is 200 baht fine. Just don't have an accident

Does any member know how early prior  to  the license  expiring you can renew ? I heard 6 months but you hear all sorts of things in Pattaya.

How long before/after expiry can 5 year license be renewed.  Can it be renewed on 30 day visa exemption, or is a non-immigrant visa required.

 

Thank you!

Don't know how long before but after is 1 year and you need a long term visa for the 5 year licence if only 30 day exempt then I expect they will want to give you a 1 year.....but some are lucky.

Renewal Of 5 Year Driver's License in Pattaya

 

Sorry to ask this yet again but requirements are often changing, and some of the advice here is a couple of years old. I have to renew my 5 Year Driver's License within the next couple of weeks. It's a long way to go to find I've forgotten something!

 

Things to take (As I understand it):

1) Current License

2) Photocopies of Current License, back & front (1 copy of 2?)

3) Passport

4) Photocopies of passport photo page and visa page (1 copy of 2?)

5) Residence letter from Immigration. (What's the best/ least busy day & time to go to Jomtien Immigration and how long am I likely to wait?).

6) Do I need a doctors letter? (I see some posts say not needed now)

7) What's the best / least busy day & time to go to the driving license place and how long am I likely to wait?

 

I'd be very grateful if somebody who has recently done this to check my list, tell me what I've forgotten and any useful info.

Many thanks.

Renewal of 5 year shouldn't need a doctors certificate.

Go midweek to immigration early afternoon should take about 30-60 minutes 300 baht ....yes should be free but they will make you come back in 2 weeks (forever) if you insist on free.
I would go to the DLT midweek too but get there early they always have a queue even at 8am when they open. should only take a couple of hours at most.

Johng , thanks very much for your advice.

So I haven't missed anything from the list?

Do I need 2 photocopies of passport & license?

The list looks ok to me. if you are getting car and motorcycle license then you need 2 copies of the documents. (DLT accepted 1 original and 1 copy of immigration letter, immigration try to sell 2 one for car and one for bike)

Take a few copies anyway just in case.

Don't know how long before but after is 1 year and you need a long term visa for the 5 year licence if only 30 day exempt then I expect they will want to give you a 1 year.....but some are lucky.

used to be 1 year they now give 2 years.

I forgot to ask!

What do I need to take to Immigration for them to supply me  with the Residence Letter that I need to renew my driving license?

12 hours ago, samsingsong said:

I forgot to ask!

What do I need to take to Immigration for them to supply me  with the Residence Letter that I need to renew my driving license?

Your passport
2 color passport size photos
Proof of address
Copy of passport photo page 
Copy of passport visa stamp
Copy of TM6 (Departure card)
And of course, ฿ 300. Takes about 30 min to 1 hour.

Thanks very much for your help John and MTH.

Sorry, I have another 5 year driving license renewal question!

 

I was going to go this morning but read some previous posts about getting  6 years license if you go the day after your birthday,

(topt Sept 2016) "It is always the case that if you go the day after your birthday then you get nearly 6 years on the 5 year licence."

 

Is this still the case?

It's my birthday next week, can I go the next day and get 6 years worth? 

Many thanks.

Yes go after expiry date on licence
(should be birthday) then you get almost 6 years.

Thanks for your fast reply John. I'll do that.

any up to date info on this as I am about 2 be 1 year over expirey date on 28th September 2017

I would hurry up and get the renewal done before 1 year expiry or they might make you do the whole kaboodle..which is not much fun.

Renewed 5 year last Friday. Arrived at 0830 and completed before 1130.

 

Get there before 0830 otherwise you risk not completing before 1130 and being sent away until after lunch.

 

If you are using a Work Permit as part of renewal make sure you copy pages 1-7 for each license. Also, the change of address page if your company has changed address since the last renewal.

 

Make sure you know your Tax ID number (13 digits), as they may ask you to write it down next to your phone number on the application sheet that the girl fills in at desk #11 upstairs.

 

 

3 hours ago, DMC1 said:

Make sure you know your Tax ID number (13 digits), as they may ask you to write it down next to your phone number

I take it this is specific to a WP as many people won't have one?

On 28/09/2017 at 12:13 PM, topt said:

I take it this is specific to a WP as many people won't have one?

 

Yes, only if you’re renewing with WP

On 2/11/2017 at 1:19 AM, samsingsong said:

Renewal Of 5 Year Driver's License in Pattaya

 

Sorry to ask this yet again but requirements are often changing, and some of the advice here is a couple of years old. I have to renew my 5 Year Driver's License within the next couple of weeks. It's a long way to go to find I've forgotten something!

 

Things to take (As I understand it):

1) Current License

2) Photocopies of Current License, back & front (1 copy of 2?)

3) Passport

4) Photocopies of passport photo page and visa page (1 copy of 2?)

5) Residence letter from Immigration. (What's the best/ least busy day & time to go to Jomtien Immigration and how long am I likely to wait?).

6) Do I need a doctors letter? (I see some posts say not needed now)

7) What's the best / least busy day & time to go to the driving license place and how long am I likely to wait?

 

I'd be very grateful if somebody who has recently done this to check my list, tell me what I've forgotten and any useful info.

Many thanks.

I went today for 5 year car and motorbike.

No doctor letter needed.

I got there before 8 and once inside I got # 19. The ticket machine is at the bottom of the steps. When my number showed on the board by the steps I went up stairs and the lady checked my papers and gave me a new number - remember this number, you will need to know it later. Then I went to room 1 and soon the eye test guy took a group of us to the eye exam area. There is a color test, which I failed the first time, I am deficient with red/green, but I watched the others and memorized the spots. Then you sit down and step on the gas then the brake. Did not line up the 2 sticks. He took our number tags. Back to room 1 to watch a driving DVD. Also we had to sigh a book by our number. And check the column for motorbike and/or car. Finally we were called up to get our papers and passports and go to room 15. There we paid the fee(s) and were given another number. When called we sat down for the photo then waited about 10 minutes. Total time was 3.5 hours.

I have renewed my 5 yr licenses after multiple trips. I wish someone had told me the following:

 

1. No yellow book.

Yellow house book is not acceptable, you will need a residency certification from the immigration or your embassy, or have a work permit. Reason given to me was the yellow book does not have English name. Whatever... Paid 300B for the piece of paper at Jomtein.

 

2. Get there before 8 am, as early as possible.

They have limited seats. Outside the entrance farang and Thais have separate queues. Get in the left line for farang and get a number on white paper, then when you are called you go upstairs to get a new number on red paper. Having a white number that is high will mean you won't get a red number today. The cut off number is different everyday. They have a mysterious system to allocate seats between Thais and farang.

You only get a red number in the morning and have to come back in the afternoon for everything else as in post #390 above, starting from going to Room 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many days before 5 year lic expires can I renew. Only those who are sure reply please.

How many days before 5 year lic expires can I renew. Only those who are sure reply please.

 

You can apply up to 6 months before expiry of current 5 year license, however, it’s better to wait until it’s just expired as you will get almost one extra year of validity.

3 hours ago, DMC1 said:

 

You can apply up to 6 months before expiry of current 5 year license, however, it’s better to wait until it’s just expired as you will get almost one extra year of validity.

Thanks. 5 years, 6 years, who cares. 

Thanks. 5 years, 6 years, who cares. 

When you’ve had 3 x 5 year licenses then yes, the extra 3 years validity on top is pretty handy. If you’re just doing it the once then suppose it’s alright, but some people hate going to that place, so any extra time is a bonus.

6 hours ago, DMC1 said:

 

When you’ve had 3 x 5 year licenses then yes, the extra 3 years validity on top is pretty handy. If you’re just doing it the once then suppose it’s alright, but some people hate going to that place, so any extra time is a bonus.

It is still only one year after 5. Not three.