10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Ok... Can I have my 500k back then please...  

OMG. I have to annul a few orders. Hang on.

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

That obviouly depends on your optics of the situation and whether someone is of a 'victim mentality' or just sees the bigger picture.

Well, thanks Dr. Freud, but  a bit of "victim mentality" can always be useful. I don't want to be the "Frog in hot water", I got myself a thermometer..

19 hours ago, johng said:

well please do come back and tell us if they give you a 5 or 2 year licence.

 

19 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

 

In your head maybe, I couldn't give a **** about him, and I am laughing at the Thais getting screwed over by his tariffs.

 

So try again. 

 

19 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

Me Too M8, I Renewed Mine in Nong Khai for 5 Years just a Couple of Months Ago.....

 

19 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

You hope it's BS

 

I called BS and it is ROYAL BS. Just did my 5 year license for 505bht in Patts. So fake news... gotta love fear mongering OP'S

45 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

Just did my 5 year license for 505bht in Patts

Excellent thanks for the update.

 

What type of visa are you on ?

56 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

 

 

 

I called BS and it is ROYAL BS. Just did my 5 year license for 505bht in Patts. So fake news... gotta love fear mongering OP'S

Thanks. Good to have an update.  And very good that it was all rubbish after all! 

27 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Thanks. Good to have an update.  And very good that it was all rubbish after all! 

 

Probably rubbish.

 

It could be they're honouring the original rules for those with appointments already booked and it's only new appointments that will be affected?

6 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Probably rubbish.

 

It could be they're honouring the original rules for those with appointments already booked and it's only new appointments that will be affected?

Let's hope more 'on the ground' reports surface.

3 hours ago, johng said:

Excellent thanks for the update.

 

What type of visa are you on ?

Non o retirement

3 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

 

 

 

I called BS and it is ROYAL BS. Just did my 5 year license for 505bht in Patts. So fake news... gotta love fear mongering OP'S

so you received your 5 year DLicense today?

On Facebook.

 

 

Why do the posters offer so few details when the devil is clearly in the details. Where did they go to get their renewal, what visa do they have, do they understand the differences in the terminology of visa or an extension etc? 

On 7/23/2025 at 12:17 PM, CallumWK said:

 

As usual, someone is making up his own rules at those offices.

 

Is it even legal for 1 or 2 offices to make their own rules on how to distribute licenses to drive? I would think the transportation office would have to make such a decision and it would apply to all provinces. Not just Pattaya and Rayong. Something is wrong with this if it is real. 

If I can no longer get a 5-year licence (it will be my 4th) I won't be able to rent a car in the UK, like I did back in April.

 

Luckily it doesn't expire until 2026, when hopefully this ridiculous decision will have been reversed or (as suggested by an earlier post) be proven to be wrong.

6 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If I can no longer get a 5-year licence (it will be my 4th) I won't be able to rent a car in the UK, like I did back in April.

 

Luckily it doesn't expire until 2026, when hopefully this ridiculous decision will have been reversed or (as suggested by an earlier post) be proven to be wrong.

 

I believe the information is simply an affirmation of existing rules and the 'remaining 365 days on your visa' comment is a mis-translation or a mistaken announcement...    and that those with Non-Imm visas will be processed as normal.. i.e. nothing has changed.

 

 

BUT...  IF I am mistaken and the DLT in Pattaya and Banglamung have adopted a mindless policy which will significantly impact nearly all expats in the area, then there would be options to obtain a renewal from outside of the area at a different DLT.

 

 

 

 

 

Reported by an agent on Pattaya Expats group that he has spoken to 4 offices where he has contacts and it's being rolled out nationwide.

 

4 minutes ago, treetops said:

Reported by an agent on Pattaya Expats group that he has spoken to 4 offices where he has contacts and it's being rolled out nationwide.

 

Agent ??...     you mean the the Woman called Mot (of Mot's Services) the first announcement in this thread ?

 

 

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Agent ??...     you mean the the Woman called Mot (of Mot's Services) the first announcement in this thread ?

 

No, and not Tik Tok either who has been mentioned, this was someone going by the name "One stop visa & driving license service".  This appears to be their website.

 

https://www.onestopservicepattaya.com/

 

10 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

No, and not Tik Tok either who has been mentioned, this was someone going by the name "One stop visa & driving license service".  This appears to be their website.

 

https://www.onestopservicepattaya.com/

 

This "breaking news" banner is on the site of Mot.

 

The link you provided leads to "Mark" of Soi 6 which looks serious from his yt presence that I saw.

 

Did you notice that the site says "Mark is recovering from hospital"?

2 hours ago, Gaccha said:

On Facebook.

 

 

Why do the posters offer so few details when the devil is clearly in the details. Where did they go to get their renewal, what visa do they have, do they understand the differences in the terminology of visa or an extension etc? 

This Andy statement is as clear as some barstool talk after the 2nd beer. Why can't he describe what he HAS.

Go to the source of Andy at the expats club and read the comments!

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10171797055880291&id=277518725290

 

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Let's hope more 'on the ground' reports surface.

 Very much and hopefully with needed details.

A well known youtube vlogger who is not talking rubbish.
"Rides4Kickz" (Loucas) was in Rayong (not Pattaya) and there is not the slightest indication of any change. As it has always been, 5 yr extension only on Non O and similar with one year extensions. Nothing to do with remaining permission to stay.

Now hopefully no "nationwide rollout" from Pattaya please.

In the comments a couple of no problem reports from today at other locations.

(if you hear another language then English go to settings and select Original English. I hate this multi-language nonsense of youtube).

On 7/23/2025 at 12:45 PM, richard_smith237 said:

- DUI Limit varies (0.02% vs 0.05%) which means having a beer with lunch might put someone over.

 

On 7/23/2025 at 12:49 PM, CallumWK said:

First time I hear about that rule, and IMO the most ridiculous thing I ever heard about

 

Not the most ridiculous ... (translation: Drunk! Drive Slowly)

Ok. That YouTuber in Rayong makes it clear that they are cracking down on DTVs and other new visas which ambiguously sit between the old so-called residence visas (non-O, non-B etc) and the tourist visas. They clearly want extensions of 1 year. 

 

This suggests at worst there is some local change in Pattaya, and at best some great misunderstanding. Most of us understand the complexities of the visa system (most of us are here based on extensions to visas rather than a visa) so you can imagine how formidably confusing it is to some clerical staff at the DLT. 

 

Edit: Japan has recently very aggressively cracked down on tourists applying for Japanese licence. They had a major problem with enormous numbers of Chinese tourists seeking to obtain the licence because the Chinese licence has no IDP provision. I wonder if Thailand is facing a similar problem.

On 7/23/2025 at 7:43 AM, CallumWK said:

 

But who has such a visa that is valid minimum 1 year on the date they renew their driving license?

You can apply for an extension of your residence permit four weeks before your current residence permit expires. If you want to renew your driver's license during this period, you have more than a year. Will that be enough to get five years?

On 7/23/2025 at 1:00 PM, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Probably an attempt at reciprocating against Trump's tariffs. 

I know Pres Trump gets blamed for every minor setback in our daily lives, but how does he get to be mentioned in a thread about Thai driving licences?

So it turns out to be a clever scam to get more customers by a person called Mot?

Just a question,not a statement.

17 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If I can no longer get a 5-year licence (it will be my 4th) I won't be able to rent a car in the UK, like I did back in April.

 

Luckily it doesn't expire until 2026, when hopefully this ridiculous decision will have been reversed or (as suggested by an earlier post) be proven to be wrong.

 

Renew at a different location.... there is a few Land Transport depts in Chonburi Province.

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Renew at a different location.... there is a few Land Transport depts in Chonburi Province.

It seems that won't be necessary as it now looks like those of us with annual extensions of one year, will still get a 5-year licence.  I use Rayong anyway, not Chonburi.

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It seems that won't be necessary as it now looks like those of us with annual extensions of one year, will still get a 5-year licence.  I use Rayong anyway, not Chonburi.

Good news about the extension... I did not see that in the OP.

On 7/23/2025 at 1:12 PM, ronnie50 said:

Don't they know it's called the "Land Transport DEPARTMENT" not 'Agency' 

does it matter