Koh Samui Drivers license conversion/New

[PumpkinEater]

Have any folks gone through the process of getting a NEW Thai license at Koh Samui?

I have both valid International and a US licenses.

I have all the required documents from Immigration and hospital.

 

Is the process at the Samui Land Office the streamlined version with minimal paper/movie requirements…or do they make you complete the entire process which includes the written exams and practical exams?

 

Cheers!

Edited April 3 by PumpkinEater
Typo

[khunPer]

If you read the pinned thread, you'll find answers...

 

 

[richard_smith237]

As above - information is literally everywhere regarding this extremely commonly asked question.

 

In fact, the question is asked so commonly, there is a pinned thread specifically educated to it. 

 

 

If you have all the paperwork ready - you could have already been to DLT in Samui and have your License in hand already.

 

 

[PumpkinEater]

I read this “thread” but it is from 2019.

As the office just recently underwent a changing of the “boss” I was hoping to hear from someone that tried the process recently.

I was told that there were no more “short cuts” and had to endure the entire gauntlet of tests as if a person had no license at all (International and country licenese).

 

The question remains please…

 

Cheers.

[Tropicalevo]

My information is from late 2022 so probably of no use.

 

Shortcuts were available then.

[khunPer]

10 hours ago, PumpkinEater said:

I read this “thread” but it is from 2019.

As the office just recently underwent a changing of the “boss” I was hoping to hear from someone that tried the process recently.

I was told that there were no more “short cuts” and had to endure the entire gauntlet of tests as if a person had no license at all (International and country licenese).

 

The question remains please…

 

Cheers.

When I've been in doubt about requirements for a public service in Thaioland, I've visited the office – also Land Transport Office – they are normally kind to help with answers. If something is new, please update in the the pinned thread.

[PumpkinEater]

 

Answering myself: (NO SHORTCUTS IN SAMUI) The Land Transport Office did NOT recognize my International and USA licenses, even though both had Car and motorcycle endorsements so… I had to do the entire LONG version with videos, written and practical tests. 1 long day 0730-4PM, next day practical. Cheers

[athousand]

UK license not ok if you've had a Thai license before and expired.

 

So here's a new loophole that I didn't even consider. Wondering if this is a Samui thing or applies to all of Thailand.

 

I had a Thai car driver's license in 2015. Me and my wife went back to the UK so it expired in 2017. 

 

Arrived in Samui in March. Got the residence certificate after two trips to immigration. Went to DLT with that, medical certificate, and all other docs inc UK driver license and International Driver Permit. Wife called yesterday to check all ok but obviously didn't mention expired Thai license. Queued up this morning. Told to come back at 1pm. Came back at 1pm and then told - that because I had previously had a Thai license, that has now expired, they cannot do a conversion from UK to Thai. So I would need to come back tomorrow at 7.30 and start again and apply for a new license and do the full two days there. 

 

Firstly this makes no rational sense whatsoever but I realise that isn't an argument here. The fact that they have already seen that I have passed a Thai test - or fulfilled those requirements - but are now asking me to do it again - because they have already agreed that the UK license meets those requirements... etc etc

 

So I'm curious if this is a Samui thing or would this have happened in Bangkok, Pattaya or anywhere else. 

 

As is the way - a total waste of time, infuriating etc etc. Off to do a visa extension tomorrow with less confidence than before and no longer wondering why people use agents to smoothe things along. 

 

Had been wondering about the above post with the US person saying that even with USA license and IDP they made him do the two days - maybe he was in the same situation or there was another 'issue' or maybe they always find some issue. 

 

In the case of the driver license, is this the same as visa, in that using an agent gets them a  cut or perhaps just senseless bureaucracy?

 

First time I've hit a snag like this in fifteen years of doing things 'by the book'.

 

I'd never heard that converting from an international to Thai license was a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' before!

 

I've found a few things in Samui to be 'particular' to Samui so am wondering if this is one of them - and whether to expect the same from immigration etc. Another example would be when opening my bank account. They said it would be difficult to open an account because I previously had two accounts with them that I hadn't used since 2015 and that they would have to consider it due to money laundering issues. When they could see that a. the accounts were opened by me and b. neither had been used since 2015! Samui seems to be a weird place to get some basic run of the mill daily life things done compared to Bangkok and Pattaya where I lived for 10 years or so with none of these gotchas.

Edited May 16 by athousand

[athousand]

Had replies in a post in the motoring forum that this isn't a 'Samui thing' but just part of the Thai system. It does seem to be a once only opportunity to convert a license and once a Thai license is obtained and expired you have to go through the 2 day process. 

[athousand]

Also found it here on the DLT website - my fault for not checking before so nothing particular about Samui!

Department of Land Transport (dlt.go.th)