Report Thailand Tightens Rules for Foreign Drivers: Tests Now Mandatory

[JamesPhuket10]

9 hours ago, Purdey said:

Zig-zag lines are those that mark areas near zebra crossings for example. 

 

 

What are zebra crossing used for in Thailand (well in Phuket at least), for parking cars on it seems by my own observations. 😀

[JamesPhuket10]

18 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

They can use a foreign license to obtain a local license, not an IDP. It must be a real government issued license.

 

True, in order to get an IDP you need to have a valid driving licence from your own country, you have to use that IDP until it expires in Thailand,

 

When I arrived in Thailand I was able to use the IDP for a year (in the case of a UK produced IDP) you are not allowed to use your own countries driving licence,  then the British licence was used to get a Thai driving licence, the IDP is not exchanged for a Thai licence, the British licence was used as you stated above. 

 

There was a German national with a German driving licence and the problem was it had not been translated into English, so that is an extra step for a non-English translated licence. 

[JamesPhuket10]

I have been waiting to be stopped by a cop in Phuket since I had a Thai driving licence, I will slowly take out my credit card sized Thai licence and let him think he is onto a winner by the fact I am using a foreign licence and not the IDP, he will be disappointed when he sees the Thai licence.

 

There are tens of millions more tourists on the roads in Phuket each year than foreigners living here, so of course the chances of the person he stops having a Thai licence is small, I will open the car window and smile as I hand it over.

 

No pocket money today will be the case.

[willip]

Why are Thailand's roads so dangerous????. Because the thais are reckless don't care and have no thoughts for other drivers on the road. The test is a joke 

 

[lordgrinz]

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

What are zebra crossing used for in Thailand (well in Phuket at least), for parking cars on it seems by my own observations. 😀

 

I wonder what they would think if I climbed up on the car and walked across the hood or roof to cross the street, should be entertaining 😉

[cjinchiangrai]

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

True, in order to get an IDP you need to have a valid driving licence from your own country, you have to use that IDP until it expires in Thailand,

 

When I arrived in Thailand I was able to use the IDP for a year (in the case of a UK produced IDP) you are not allowed to use your own countries driving licence,  then the British licence was used to get a Thai driving licence, the IDP is not exchanged for a Thai licence, the British licence was used as you stated above. 

 

There was a German national with a German driving licence and the problem was it had not been translated into English, so that is an extra step for a non-English translated licence. 

Wrong, You need your German license AND the IDP together. The IDP alone does not give you permission to drive, only the license does that.

[grain]

20 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

If you drive a lorry, taxi, school minibus, or tourist bus it could be the last one.

Well in that case I guess the 4th option is the best one. 😁

[bristolgeoff]

I did  the driving test not the written or the 2 hr video test.When i did the test the stop test a elderly thai man took some coaching to  brake when the red light appeared,He passed with some coaching from the staff.So the changes i think are not that bad just have to sit thru the video  now

[paul1804]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

When we, or I actually think about it - Thai drivers are very skilled...   in slow traffic on the expressway when that 'extra lane is used' to make a 3 lane motorway 4 lanes... or when people are merging and filitering in with no one giving way....   the drivers get very close - when other vehicles get this close to our cars in the West we flip a lid as if our personal space has been invaded...    here mirrors are nearly touching !!

That doesnt make them skilled drivers Richard!!

[harryviking]

On 6/21/2025 at 1:53 PM, Bday Prang said:

no test "makes you better" that is not the purpose of a test.   EDucation is the traditional way of improving or learning

🤪🤪😪🤣 I dont know if to cry or laugh.....we are still talking about driving a car ?? Not going to a University?🙄

[bdenner]

14 hours ago, Purdey said:

Zig-zag lines are those that mark areas near zebra crossings for example. 

 

Can't say I have seen these in Thailand. In my case, about 2002, TW had translated the question "When is it legal to zig zag (overtake)?" 

[Prakhon Chai PD]

https://traffic-rules.com/en/thailand/practice-test

 

This is useful.

 

[Prakhon Chai PD]

https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/3/

 

Another one