Apparently, you need to be on a Non-Immigrant visa to go from the 2y temporary license to the 5y license. You'll get another 2y temporary license if on a tourist visa. I'm on a Non-Immigrant right now, but won't be when my license expires.

 

Some say you can 6 months before the 2y license expires, some 3 months. I've read one person on the forum say that, if on a Non-Immigrant visa, you can change to the 5y license after 1y of having the temporary license.

 

Is that true? How early can you change to a 5y license? What would you recommend to get the 5y license?

Edited April 18, 20233 yr by ThLT

10 minutes ago, ThLT said:

Some say you can 6 months before the 2y license expires

(see below)

 

10 minutes ago, ThLT said:

if on a Non-Immigrant visa, you can change to the 5y license after 1y of having the temporary license.

No

10 minutes ago, ThLT said:

some 3 months

Yes

 

Edited April 18, 20233 yr by KhunBENQ

Go to your local DLT office and ask them. They are like immigration and have local rules. Usually 3 months but check.

Just checked a Thai website and they say since April 1, 2022 you can renew 6 months early. Don't hold me responsible (I doubt it applies for 2yr to 5yr).

With three months you are on the safe side.

Found two sources that say it's only 2 months for 2 yr to 5 yr.

??

Quote

• Those who want to renew their driving license from 2 years to 5 years can renew their license no more than 60 days or 2 months in advance. 

 

Edited April 18, 20233 yr by KhunBENQ

About this time last year, I was told at Bang Chak that I could request changing from 2 to 5 after 1 year if I could show that I needed an international driving permit, but that it would only be a request and they would decide whether to allow it. I didn't bother in the end, so I don't know what the chances are of them agreeing. 

20 minutes ago, ripstanley said:

Go to your local DLT office and ask them. They are like immigration and have local rules. Usually 3 months but check.

Never wrong

14 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

About this time last year, I was told at Bang Chak that I could request changing from 2 to 5 after 1 year if I could show that I needed an international driving permit, but that it would only be a request and they would decide whether to allow it. I didn't bother in the end, so I don't know what the chances are of them agreeing. 

Oh, so maybe that would mean with the 2y temporary license you can't get an IDP, but instead you need the 5y license.

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just checked a Thai website and they say since April 1, 2022 you can renew 6 months early. Don't hold me responsible (I doubt it applies for 2yr to 5yr).

With three months you are on the safe side.

Thanks. 

 

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Found two sources that say it's only 2 months for 2 yr to 5 yr.

What are the two sources? Are they from after April 2022?

43 minutes ago, ThLT said:

Oh, so maybe that would mean with the 2y temporary license you can't get an IDP, but instead you need the 5y license.

It is a 2 year probationary license, not a full licence

46 minutes ago, ThLT said:

Thanks. 

 

What are the two sources? Are they from after April 2022?

Extension of the licence[edit]

Full driving licence may be extended once its validity is less than 6 months.^[17] Probationary licence holders may upgrade their licence once they have held the licence for at least one year. Previously, a full licence may be extended once its validity is 90 days or less, while a probationary licence can be exchanged for a full licence if it is valid for 60 days or less. Regardless of timeframe, the driver must pass a physical test again in order to be able to hold a further licence. If the licence has expired for less than a year, the process remains the same. If, however, the licence has expired for more than 1 but less than 3 years, the holder must attend the lecture and pass the theory test. Complete test is needed if the licence has expired for 3 years or more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_Thailand

1 hour ago, ThLT said:

What are the two sources? Are they from after April 2022?

Just tried to find both.

The one which I cited from is undated but probably before April 21.

https://www.bolttech.co.th/blog/ต่อใบขับขี่2ปีเป็น5ปี

 

It definitely was 60 days/2 months.

It might have changed but given up at this point.

Edited April 19, 20233 yr by KhunBENQ

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

It is a 2 year probationary license, not a full licence

Yeah, I know. That's what I'm saying.

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just tried to find both.

The one which I cited from is undated but probably before April 21.

https://www.bolttech.co.th/blog/ต่อใบขับขี่2ปีเป็น5ปี

 

It definitely was 60 days/2 months.

It might have changed but given up at this point.

Thanks. I'll probably go to the DLT and give an update here. If it changed to 6 month on April 2022, that would be good news.

Edited April 19, 20233 yr by ThLT

4 hours ago, ThLT said:

Oh, so maybe that would mean with the 2y temporary license you can't get an IDP, but instead you need the 5y license.

Yes, that's what I was told. As it turns out, you can use a Thai license in the UK without an IDP, so I didn't need one. 

3 hours ago, ThLT said:

Yeah, I know. That's what I'm saying.

If you know, why use the word "maybe"?

I reckon I’ll have an interesting time at renewal of 5 year license. Birthdate Instead of June they put January information was taken from that says Jun. 

not 3 months not 2 months not 6 months, you can renew 1 year before expiry( just to not confuse, not after expiry, yes you can renew 1 year after expiry as well, but I am saying you can also renew 1 year before expiry ) you will still get the remaining time left on your DL + 5 years until your birthday.

Source: did it twice in chiang mai DLT 2.

The last time I renewed was 5 to 5 years, no queue needed. walk in, done.