Renewing Thai driving licence

[retayl]

My 5 year driving licence expires on 1st January 2024. I’ll be leaving Thailand end of March & returning shortly after my licence expires next year. Question - can I renew my licence within a timespan after it expires? I assume I can’t renew this far ahead of expiry. Thanks for any informed input.

[scubascuba3]

1 year after expiry is ok

[Upnotover]

You have 1 year to renew after expiry.

[CharlieH]

Motorung forum

 

MOVED

[pgrahmm]

I have somewhat the same scenario....Does anyone know how far ahead of expiration a TDL can be renewed? It would be expiring in the middle of our travel, making rentals, etc., difficult....

 

[transam]

As a Thai driving licence is based on age/birthdate, it is daft to renew before your birthday, early, as you get a year after expiration to renew it and you will/can get near a 6 year licence on renewal........

[KhunBENQ]

13 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

I have somewhat the same scenario....Does anyone know how far ahead of expiration a TDL can be renewed? It would be expiring in the middle of our travel, making rentals, etc., difficult....

 

Up to three months ahead.

I was in the same situation with motorcycle license.

Expiring 12 March midst in planned travel.

So I extended on 18 January for another 5 years until March 2028.

[BOB JOSHUA]

That is great news 1 year to renew after expiry as my license expires on 26th September 2023 while I am in the UK and I will return in November before it gets too cold in the UK.

 

Bob

[Troy Tempest]

19 hours ago, transam said:

As a Thai driving licence is based on age/birthdate, it is daft to renew before your birthday, early, as you get a year after expiration to renew it and you will/can get near a 6 year licence on renewal........

Does that mean that you can drive legally on a licence for up to 12 months after the expiry date (your Birthday)?

[transam]

7 minutes ago, Troy Tempest said:

Does that mean that you can drive legally on a licence for up to 12 months after the expiry date (your Birthday)?

No, you get 12 months after expiration to renew it without going through the re-test thingy. I renew mine a few days after expiration and get near 6 years.

[Troy Tempest]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

No, you get 12 months after expiration to renew it without going through the re-test thingy. I renew mine a few days after expiration and get near 6 years.

Great answer!

 

Thanks Transam

[kiko11]

6 minutes ago, transam said:

No, you get 12 months after expiration to renew it without going through the re-test thingy. I renew mine a few days after expiration and get near 6 years.

Me too. For some reasons they set the expiry date on my birthday which makes it about 6 years.

[Ralf001]

26 minutes ago, Troy Tempest said:

Does that mean that you can drive legally on a licence for up to 12 months after the expiry date (your Birthday)?

expired licence is expired.

Dont have any car/bike accidents as your insurance may well be void.

[transam]

12 minutes ago, kiko11 said:

Me too. For some reasons they set the expiry date on my birthday which makes it about 6 years.

Yes, all my long stay licences have been near 6 years....

[Troy Tempest]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

expired licence is expired.

Dont have any car/bike accidents as your insurance may well be void.

Thanks Ralf....I understood that.

 

My car and motorbike licences will both expire on my next birthday in November at which time I may well be back in the UK.

 

If that is the case I will make sure I renew the licences on my return before driving anything!

[retayl]

Thanks for the responses, most helpful. I’ll take out an international licence before returning & then renew my expired Thai licence.

[Tmoney]

My licences expire in May, what is required when applying to renew a 5 year licence please?

Medical Certificate? Proof of address? Anything else?

(old licences of course)

(Renewing on Samui)

Edited April 22, 2023 by Tmoney

[DrJoy]

On 3/1/2023 at 3:21 PM, Troy Tempest said:

Does that mean that you can drive legally on a licence for up to 12 months

No.

[DrJoy]

5 minutes ago, Tmoney said:

My licences expire in May, what is required when applying to renew a 5 year licence please?

Medical Certificate? Proof of address? Anything else?

(Renewing on Samui)

Passport - Copy

 

Extension of stay from an Immigration office - Copy

 

Medical Cert - Original

 

Cert of Residence -Original ( Embassy or Immigration)

 

Online Driving Training Completed Certificate with QR code (Hard Copy)

Edited April 22, 2023 by DrJoy

[Tmoney]

That's great, thank you. Not heard of the last item, do you have a link please?

Do you have to sit through a 1 hour video like I did last time?