Driving Liecence In Thailand

[DeMathew]

So i've been living here since January 2007, my girlfriends (who is thai) parents gave me a car and i've been driving here ever since the first day i got here. However, I dont have a driving liecence

My girlfriend and her parents told me that if I ever get stopped by the police, just tell them i've lost it or something and pay them a fine, and also good thing is where they live they know the police so its no problem.lol.

But do any of you know how to get a driving liecence here, bare in mind that i dont even have any kind of driving lience back in my home country, so i couldnt get an international one that way..... so any other way?????

I only ask as i like doing things the legal way, and would like a liecence just to be more safe, if there is no way, then whatever! i'll just carry on the way I am

[smeagle]

everything is explained what you need in the motoring forum mate under driving licence.

[GuestHouse]

Just for arguments sake....

If you were back in your home country and a foreigner who was driving without a license crashed his car into you a member of your family or your property, what would your reaction be?

What would the reaction of your local police be?

--

The 'bung' might work, but to be honest, getting caught driving without a without a license is an open cheque book for the police.

Getting into an accident without a license is an open cheque book for the police and the victims.

--

Act up, get a license, obey the law and stop propogating the idea (by your own actions) that all foreigners are scum that think Thailand is their own private play ground.

[DeMathew]

Just for arguments sake....

If you were back in your home country and a foreigner who was driving without a license crashed his car into you a member of your family or your property, what would your reaction be?

What would the reaction of your local police be?

--

The 'bung' might work, but to be honest, getting caught driving without a without a license is an open cheque book for the police.

Getting into an accident without a license is an open cheque book for the police and the victims.

--

Act up, get a license, obey the law and stop propogating the idea (by your own actions) that all foreigners are scum that think Thailand is their own private play ground.

To start with THAILAND IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO ENGLAND!

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

[Mobi]

All motor insurance is invalid if you don't hold a valid driving licence.

Go to the licence centre and get your Thai driving licence. It's not hard to do - your GF can assist you through the process.

Your attitude to this subject does you no credit.

[soundman]

To start with THAILAND IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO ENGLAND!

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

And where pray tell did you get that figure from?

I'd do a little research before posting again on this topic if I were you.

Soundman.

[Crossy]

I was going to post a nice diatribe detailing my contempt for a fellow Brit (assumed from the reference to England) who believes that the law does not apply to him simply because he is a foreigner, but to be honest I couldn't be arsed.

[DeMathew]

To start with THAILAND IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO ENGLAND!

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

And where pray tell did you get that figure from?

I'd do a little research before posting again on this topic if I were you.

Soundman.

ok maybe not half, but i'm just trying to get my point acroos to the other guy how different it is from england.

anyway, most the thai people I know dont have a license, but this maybe because they dont live in bangkok, they're more country side people where you get kids 10 years old driving motorbikes.

ok nevermind, i've found a way of getting my license and will apply next week.

Edited June 7, 2007 by DeMathew

[Crossy]

To start with THAILAND IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO ENGLAND!

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

And where pray tell did you get that figure from?

I'd do a little research before posting again on this topic if I were you.

Soundman.

ok maybe not half, but i'm just trying to get my point acroos to the other guy how different it is from england.

anyway, most the thai people I know dont have a license, but this maybe because they dont live in bangkok, they're more country side people where you get kids 10 years old driving motorbikes.

ok nevermind, i've found a way of getting my license and will apply next week.

Glad you've got a way to get a licence, it will make life far less fraught should you ever kill someone, please ensure you have proper insurance (not just the compulsory).

Do remember that no matter what the locals do, you are NOT a local, a different set of rules apply. It's always wise to be totally legal in everything you do whether it be driving, working or your visa status.

[Beardog]

If you have a wreck regardless of who is at fault you are at fault for starters. Same in America Canada England Germany Australia Egypt to name a few. I guess the major difference here is if someone gets killed (even if it isn't your fault) If you do not have 100,000 + in your pocket to pay for the death , your going to jail. Thai jails are not to happening. Unless you like a concrete floor & rice & a little nam.

You wouldn't do this in England as they would spank you hard.Probably cost you a nice Honda wave & not being able to get a license for a year on first offense. If your filthy rich & are the Guarantier for the expenses go for it.

It is easy to obtain an international license & take the test. You are over 18 right?

so what's your excuse, Russian roulette in a revolver a 1 in 6 chance of losing..........things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm There is a vast amount of knowledge in the motor forum on the how to & I am sure someone will help you get your lic. If your in the Pattaya area I will help you.I would rather help then see you on channel 28 with a bunch of Thais pointing their finger at you or worse yet DOA.

The test is cheap & so is the insurance. At worse Jail & deportation & being blacklisted from coming back to Thailand really is not worth it + they send you back to England Mark Karr style in economy & charge you first class fare & fees for the handcuffed escort back home, on the other hand , It is only 1000 baht fine if you only get stopped for no license. But in a death case(easy to have happen here in Thailand)....

thats where the Russian roulette comes in. Up to You

If your in the Pattaya area I will help you get legal if you want.

PM me if you are in this area & I will take you to the vehicle dept. after you sort out the international license part.

beardog

[Cuban]

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

Indeed some Thais may drive off, however you are not Thai - you look different!

If observed by a Thai leaving the scene of a crash, even if you were not the cause the car's details will be noted or you maybe followed by car/bike.

I have heard first hand of a farang that left the scene of a very minor accident (knocked a motorcycle at walking pace), he was followed home where police arrested him within 30 minutes. Handcuffs and a few hours in a mixed cell with drunks etc.

The fine was a few thousand baht, reduced from much more because he had legal support to hand.

Why bother to post/read if you do not wish to learn from the experiance of others?

[pop_corn]

So i've been living here since January 2007, my girlfriends (who is thai) parents gave me a car and i've been driving here ever since the first day i got here. However, I dont have a driving liecence

My girlfriend and her parents told me that if I ever get stopped by the police, just tell them i've lost it or something and pay them a fine, and also good thing is where they live they know the police so its no problem.lol.

But do any of you know how to get a driving liecence here, bare in mind that i dont even have any kind of driving lience back in my home country, so i couldnt get an international one that way..... so any other way?????

I only ask as i like doing things the legal way, and would like a liecence just to be more safe, if there is no way, then whatever! i'll just carry on the way I am

get a photo and go to khaosan, u can get an international one for around 200 baths, just to show it to the police is okay witha the fake one

[pop_corn]

To start with THAILAND IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO ENGLAND!

half the thai people driving in thailand dont have a driving license, so i'm no different from them, and hey when there is an accident here, most of the people just drive off.

And where pray tell did you get that figure from?

I'd do a little research before posting again on this topic if I were you.

Soundman.

ok maybe not half, but i'm just trying to get my point acroos to the other guy how different it is from england.

anyway, most the thai people I know dont have a license, but this maybe because they dont live in bangkok, they're more country side people where you get kids 10 years old driving motorbikes.

ok nevermind, i've found a way of getting my license and will apply next week.

in that case u should tell the rest of us how is the process to get a license, if u already realized that no one really knows.

[sbk]

Amazingly enough, as smeagle pointed out at the beginning of the thread, this is all covered in the motoring forum here.

As this is covered extensively there, please read the thread there and then, if you have any questions, post in that thread.

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