Report Thailand Tightens Rules for Foreign Drivers: Tests Now Mandatory

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Thai Visa Expert

 

Thailand is set to introduce stricter regulations for foreign nationals seeking to obtain a Thai driver's licence. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has proposed a draft regulation requiring all foreigners to pass a written test, irrespective of holding a valid international driving permit (IDP).

 

The change aims to revoke the current acceptance of IDPs as sufficient proof for acquiring a temporary Thai licence. According to a Ministry of Transport source, the DLT is actively seeking public feedback on the draft, which highlights updated protocols for training, testing, and licence renewals for both Thai and foreign drivers.

 

The main objective of these reforms is to align with international standards and enhance road safety. "The changes are designed to ensure fairness and competency for all drivers, while also improving regulatory oversight," the source explained.

 

Key changes include:

 

• Temporary Driver’s Licences: IDPs will no longer be valid for obtaining a temporary licence.
• Foreign Licence Holders: Foreign nationals must now pass a written exam to convert their existing foreign licence to a Thai one. This requirement was previously waived.
• Licence Validity Extension: The validity of personal driving licences will increase from two years to five for applicants with a previously expired Thai temporary licence.
• End of IDP Fast Track: Neither foreign-issued driving licences nor IDPs will exempt applicants from the written test.

 

These proposed rules could significantly affect tourists, expats, and foreign workers who have relied on IDPs for quick access to Thai roads. The DLT has not announced when these regulations will be implemented, but an official announcement is anticipated following the public consultation phase.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-20

 

 

[watchcat]

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The main objective of these reforms is to align with international standards and enhance road safety.

 

Then they should remove as many Thais from the roads as possible. They are the ones who can't drive

[Cornish Pasty]

Thai’s are the worst drivers I have ever seen, and believe me, I have been around!

 

Mark.

[ukrules]

No affect on renewals then?

 

I've have multiple licenses over the years, I think it's been 1 year, then 2 x almost 6 years as I went within the week after my birthday each time to get the extra year.

So I'm good until late 2026 right now but then I will need to renew.

[transam]

Very strange, as foreign folk from first world countries have to pass a stringent driving test, where as here, that is non-existent............

[bkk6060]

Kind of unbelievable.   Why don't they put their resources into education of Thai drivers.  The total abuse of common sense driving here is sickening. 

 

[Briggsy]

Is this related to the spate of accidents involving Chinese drivers?

[Cornish Pasty]

1 minute ago, bkk6060 said:

Kind of unbelievable.   Why don't they put their resources into education of Thai drivers.  The total abuse of common sense driving here is sickening. 

 

Just yesterday I saw a man driving a bike with his helmet on, and a child on the front and back without them….. couldn’t have been older than 5.

 

Are they really that thick?

 

Mark.

[bkk6060]

4 minutes ago, ukrules said:

No affect on renewals then?

 

I've have multiple licenses over the years, I think it's been 1 year, then 2 x almost 6 years as I went within the week after my birthday each time to get the extra year.

So I'm good until late 2026 right now but then I will need to renew.

I think it does not apply for renewals. But, like everything else each office may set its own requirements. 

[proton]

Why are they so against having a real driving test- IN TRAFFIC? Basic control of a car in a car park is not a real driving test, even then some can't even manage that and pay under the table for the license 

[BangkokReady]

Test the people who have a driving licence from a country with much stricter road safety and more stringent learning and testing...  Makes perfect sense.

 

More efforts to make foreigners look bad in order to divert attention.  That will help tourism for sure.

[BLMFem]

3 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

Just yesterday I saw a man driving a bike with his helmet on, and a child on the front and back without them….. couldn’t have been older than 5.

 

Are they really that thick?

You must realize that the helmet wasn't put on to protect said man's thick head but rather said man's thin wallet.

[fondue zoo]

Departmental busy work

[BangkokReady]

1 minute ago, proton said:

Why are they so against having a real driving test- IN TRAFFIC?

 

How could you test people on a road where following the rules is impossible?  You'd either be involved in a collision trying, or fail when you drive appropriately for Thai roads.

[Cornish Pasty]

2 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Test the people who have a driving licence from a country with much stricter road safety and more stringent learning and testing...  Makes perfect sense.

 

More efforts to make foreigners look bad in order to divert attention.  That will help tourism for sure.

Thailand is done and dusted.

 

Vietnam has already won.

 

Mark.

[jvs]

Meanwhile on facebook everyday i see advertisements for acquiring a DL without out the need to even go there!

Sure i don't believe it but a lot of people do and they all lose their money.

I think 2500 baht for car.

[hotsun]

Digging their own graves at this point

[Upnotover]

Having done the written test last year, twice in fact as failed the first attempt, I hope that they will get someone who can actually speak/read English to translate the often bizarre questions/answers.  And in a 4 answer multi-choice exam there is usually 1 correct answer...not here, some questions had 3 correct and one incorrect....I was told I failed the first attempt because I didn't select the "most correct" answer.

[bdenner]

Would be interesting to see this multy lingual written test. Would be something like the Thai only check the box test I did 23 years and get a score of 25/30. They let TW translate for me = WTF is a "zig-zag"?

[Cornish Pasty]

Just now, hotsun said:

Digging their own graves at this point

Have been for years.

 

I’ll buy the tombstone.

 

Mark.

[richard_smith237]

I don't see this as a bad thing - in isolation. It can't hurt for foreigners to take a written exam so they better understand the rules of the Thai roads.

 

However, the issue lies with the quality of examinations in the first place.

 

 

Then of course , this completely ignores the elephant in the room...    a bit elephant, knocking one out and spaffing in the face of common sense....   

 

Thailands traffic woes are created primarily by the the drivers on Thailands roads...  from blocking box junctions, creating gridlock, to pulling out without looking, jumping lights and riding down pavements etc... 

 

Thailand 'has' to start looking inwards to see improvements - it can't always 'look' out for external reasons for its issues - when many are so obviously home grown.

 

This isn't an anti-Thai rants - its an anit-absence of common sense rant - ALL licensing needs to become more strict with greater training and oversight - not just foreigners.

 

 

[blaze master]

1 minute ago, Upnotover said:

Having done the written test last year, twice in fact as failed the first attempt, I hope that they will get someone who can actually speak/read English to translate the often bizarre questions/answers.  And in a 4 answer multi-choice exam there is usually 1 correct answer...not here, some questions had 3 correct and one incorrect....I was told I failed the first attempt because I didn't select the "most correct" answer.

 

Question 1. What color is this jello ?

 

[BangkokReady]

4 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

Thailand is done and dusted.

 

Vietnam has already won.

 

Mark.

 

Quite possible, Bob.  You should make your next persona a resident of Vietnam.  

[Cornish Pasty]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

It can't hurt for foreigners to take a written exam so they better understand the rules of the Thai roads

…What rules??

 

Mark.

[daveAustin]

9 minutes ago, proton said:

Why are they so against having a real driving test- IN TRAFFIC? Basic control of a car in a car park is not a real driving test, even then some can't even manage that and pay under the table for the license 

Because A, there’d be nobody competent enough to give one, and B, nobody would pass! 🙂

[Mavideol]

would like to see the % of accidents created/generated/involving/at fault by Thai drivers VS foreign drivers that should have been their basis to come up with such decisions, what about the young kids driving recklessly , what about the old or very old cars/trucks driving around mostly not registered and no insurance and so forth, why it has to be foreigners fault when they come up with these stupid rules

[blaze master]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

I don't see this as a bad thing - in isolation. It can't hurt for foreigners to take a written exam so they better understand the rules of the Thai roads.

 

Questions 2. You're at a red light do you....

 

1. Wait until it's green to proceed.

2. What red light ?

3. Wait to see what Somchai does first..then blast through the light when its kinda clear.

4. Is that a cop. Turn around go the wrong way back down the soi because you weren't wearing a helmet.

[John Drake]

18 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Is this related to the spate of accidents involving Chinese drivers?

 

Maybe David the Swiss doctor kicker driving around Phuket giving everyone the finger.

[bdenner]

4 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Having done the written test last year, twice in fact as failed the first attempt, I hope that they will get someone who can actually speak/read English to translate the often bizarre questions/answers.  And in a 4 answer multi-choice exam there is usually 1 correct answer...not here, some questions had 3 correct and one incorrect....I was told I failed the first attempt because I didn't select the "most correct" answer.

That was multy choice, they are talking about "written". A whole different ball game - If the OP is correct that is.

[Quentin Zen]

I remember being in Vietnam and they were confiscating bikes by the hundreds.

 

Farangs, this is not your country!!! Abide by the rules (which change hourly) or pay the price.

 

Now is not the time for new laws that hurt the farangs........................oh well, can't complain, not my country.

 

wait until these 90 day check-ins are 2000 baht.  oh, it's coming