Thai Drivers License, Like New Driver

[dddave]

My US DL expired during covid and could only be renewed in person.  Because it had been expired for more than 2 years, I was not granted any exemptions in the Thai driving license process.  I had to start from square one.   

I checked out agencies and driving schools but was quoted B8000 to B12,000.   The more I looked at it the clearer it seemed that all I really got for that amount was hand-holding.  I was still going to have to attend the full day video class and the next day computer and road test.  It didn't seem worth it.

A foreigner can not make an appointment on the  DLT website .  One is invited to fill out the online form but when one enters a passport number instead of a Thai ID number, it just sits, doing nothing. The online equivalent of "Mai dai!"    I went to Chonburi DLT on my own, 2nd floor and got an appointment that was 6 weeks hence, in middle March.  Maybe an advantage of an agency is earlier appointments.  I was quoted 2 weeks. 

 

As the date got closer, I studied as many online and YouTube driving test tutorials as I could find.  This was really useful as there are many questions even an experienced driver would not know the answer to, for instance, how many days in advance should you notify DLT before painting a motorbike a new color? (7).  I also realized how important it is to carefully read the wording of questions.  There are 50 test questions and you must get at least 45 right so not a wide margin of error.  Even with the practice tests, be careful as some have a few wrong answers.  I also carefully studied road signs and Thai rules of the road.

 

One week before my appointment date I went to Jomtien Immigration and applied for the "Certificate of Residency" required and picked it up the next day.(B300)  I then went to the Jomtien Medical Clinic on Traphaya Rd for the medical certificate (B150).  I made sure I had copies of passport, visa and all other documents.

 

On March 17, I was at DLT Chonburi by 0730.  Foreigners wait under a white canopy at the building entrance.  They started processing applicants and giving queue numbers at 0815, then directed to 2nd floor classroom. 

We were first given color blind tests and reaction time tests.  Then to the classroom where videos were played on a relatively small TV with very hard to read subtitles.  The room is large and loud so not easy to concentrate. Several videos in a row, then a one hour lunch break at noon.  Several more videos from 1pm to 3:30pm.  Attendance was taken and 2 who skipped out after lunch were not allowed to take the test the next day.  One may not think they are keeping track but they do.  We were told to return the next day at 1pm.  

Next day, 1pm, after 30 minute wait, ushered into computer testing room, logged into the machine and commenced the 50 question test.  I was one of the first to finish and after a short wait, was told I had passed.  Then directed to the driving test area in the rear of the building.  Rental cars (B300) and motorbikes (B100) are available.  The rental guy will approach people in the waiting area.  The car was a small Honda Jazz. The test was simple. The tester does not accompany you. You drive to a stop sign.  It is super important to observe "stop lines". One then negotiates a curve, then is directed to parallel park between posts not touching the curb. Next is backing up in a straight line.  That's it.  I was given a document that I had passed and returned to the 2nd floor and was given a queue number.  After a short wait, picture taken (B200 IIRC). Another 20 minute wait and license issued.  2 year validity.

It's a long, boring process but I personally can see no advantage paying B8000++ to an agency when you still have to do everything, except perhaps for an earlier test date.  Most of the agents I saw in action simply herded their people from place to place, nothing more.