I have a 5 year license that will expire next year. However, I no  longer live full-time in Thailand and usually use visa-exempt when I visit (1/2 times per year). Will I be able to renew my license on Visa exempt, or should I get a non-o visa instead before applying? I plan to use a yellow book as proof of residence since I don't have a Work Permit (that's what I used last time for proof of address)

 

Thanks in advance for any input

On visa exempt, you will revert to a 2 year licence, 5 year are long stay visa only....

I use my yellow book, but I read some places reject it...

3 hours ago, transam said:

On visa exempt, you will revert to a 2 year licence, 5 year are long stay visa only....

I use my yellow book, but I read some places reject it...

Thanks! Do you think a Non-O will count as long stay even if I don't extend the 90days?

2 minutes ago, SABloke said:

Thanks! Do you think a Non-O will count as long stay even if I don't extend the 90days?

Doubt it......Multi, yes...

If you no longer live here what do you need a local DL for? You can use your home country DL and international permit

Just renewed licence for 5 years only used  yellow book and pink card  , before that on a two year licence ,which had expired three years ago , only just returned on TV

So you didn't have to use your passport? Which office did you go to.?

21 hours ago, SABloke said:

Thanks! Do you think a Non-O will count as long stay even if I don't extend the 90days?

A Non-Immigrant type O Visa is considered as a 'resident visa'.... as such you will be (should be) eligible to renew to another 5 year licence. 

 

There has been varied experience to the use of the Yellow House Book as proof of address.

At DLT Area 3 in Bangkok (near Sukhumvit 99) I have used the Yellow House Book as proof of address without issue, however, there have been reports on here that some DLT offices; such as Chonburi, will not accept Yellow House Book as proof of address.

Mileage obviously varies.

 

IF I'm not mistaken, if you have a Pink ID card, you may not be expected to show your passport at all.

I can't quite remember for sure if upon my last renewal I presented a copy of my passport or not, I did show both my Yellow House Book and Pink ID and they took copies of both.

Marquiss the one at Bangjak

3 hours ago, marquess said:

So you didn't have to use your passport? Which office did you go to.?

Bangjak

3 hours ago, Tbor said:

Just renewed licence for 5 years only used  yellow book and pink card  , before that on a two year licence ,which had expired three years ago , only just returned on TV

There's me thinking if a licence expired over one year, you have to start again, which will be a 2 year..............

On 9/15/2023 at 2:44 PM, SABloke said:

I plan to use a yellow book as proof of residence

That was rejected by DLC in Bangkok for me, they wanted the pink card as well.

18 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

If you no longer live here what do you need a local DL for? You can use your home country DL and international permit

Not always.  My home DL expired during Covid and because of the time lapse now I would have to live there for months to restart the entire process and finalize it.  I can use my Thai DL and IDP at least if I need one outside the Kingdom.

18 hours ago, Digitalbanana said:

That was rejected by DLC in Bangkok for me, they wanted the pink card as well.

I'm a bit confused by your comment. 

 

Do you mean that the DLT were not bothered about your Yellow House Book, but they processed your driving license based on your Pink ID ?

 

(Which DLT in Bangkok was this)

 

 

 

 

A couple of years ago I renewed my DL with my Yellow House Book and Pink ID - the did want a copy of my Pink ID so its possible that this was the key pieced of ID they wanted rather than the Yellow House Book.

(DLT Area 3 in Bangkok - nr Sukhumvit 99).

19 hours ago, transam said:

There's me thinking if a licence expired over one year, you have to start again, which will be a 2 year..............

Thats true...  A number of years back I went to renew my licence and found out that I was a 'year out' and it was one year and one day out of date !!!... I have to go from scratch again with a 2 year Temp Licence.

 

23 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

If you no longer live here what do you need a local DL for? You can use your home country DL and international permit

I use mine for checking in on domestic flights 

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats true...  A number of years back I went to renew my licence and found out that I was a 'year out' and it was one year and one day out of date !!!... I have to go from scratch again with a 2 year Temp Licence.

 

I renewed my three years expired license without problem because of Corona

23 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

If you no longer live here what do you need a local DL for? You can use your home country DL and international permit

.......for 90 days..........????

1 minute ago, PoorSucker said:

I renewed my three years expired license without problem because of Corona

It seems that has all gone now, we are back to normal, what ever that is.........????

19 hours ago, transam said:

There's me thinking if a licence expired over one year, you have to start again, which will be a 2 year..............

Chonburi LTD.

Have to do the tests again (except driving) and they renew for 5 yrs.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Chonburi LTD.

Have to do the tests again (except driving) and they renew for 5 yrs.

Aren't they naughty, Ralphy........

Just now, transam said:

Aren't they naughty, Ralphy........

Are they, Tranny.........

22 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats true...  A number of years back I went to renew my licence and found out that I was a 'year out' and it was one year and one day out of date !!!... I have to go from scratch again with a 2 year Temp Licence.

 

My two-year expired while outside Thailand, unable to return due to the covids.  Upon return about a year ago, license was over 1-year expired.  Chatuchak DLT allowed renewal upon taking the written test, was issued 5-year license.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Do you mean that the DLT were not bothered about your Yellow House Book, but they processed your driving license based on your Pink ID ?

 

(Which DLT in Bangkok was this)

I did it late last year at the DLC near Sukhumvit 101. In the previous time (5 years before) I used my Yellow Book, but this time the Yellow Book alone (although needed) was not enough. I had to go and get a pink card as well before they would renew my DL.

On 9/16/2023 at 3:55 PM, LukKrueng said:

If you no longer live here what do you need a local DL for? You can use your home country DL and international permit

Home country DL expired years ago and is a pain in the ass to renew. Also, I spend more time in Thailand than home country. 

18 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

I use mine for checking in on domestic flights 

You could use your home country DL just the same as long as there's a pic and it's in English