19 hours ago, proton said:

Why bother with one when the penalty for not having a license is so low? 

Yeah you have a point...... renewed my licence over 2 years ago now and haven't had to produce it since!

22 hours ago, stubuzz said:

They know how to make you feel welcome!

You seem to have very small knowledge of things.

Regarding most countries in the EU: You must have lived for at least half a year in an EU member country or have a habitual residence there in order to get a driving license from that country.

Below you have some easy countries: 🤣 As you probably will find out, most countries have their own little rules. Sometimes, also the validity is no longer than 2-3 years. But, hey! just continue to complain about Thailand instead.
 

Egypt:

• 18 years of age and older.
• Certificate from an Egyptian ophthalmologist and/or doctor indicating blood type.
• Physical and visual test.
• Send the following certificates and documentation to Attaba Square traffic department in Cairo or Giza:
  • Valid identity card
  • 2 recent photographs
  • Completed and passed LE form of the practical and oral test.
  • Proof of residency
  • Background and violation certificate
  • Updated documents of compulsory insurance against car accidents
  • Single form for private cars
• Price of fees: 55 EGP.
• Depending on the fee paid: 3 years or 1 year validity.
• Processing time: 3 weeks until issuance.
• You must physically present yourself at the office issuing the driver’s license.

Mexico:

• From 18 years of age.
• It can be done in English, but it is advisable to know Spanish, both to deal with the police officers who issue it and for the fact that the written test is easier in Spanish.
• Documentation must be presented at a police station (Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección).
• Documentation:
  • One of the following: tourist visa, temporary or permanent residence card, visa pre-approved by the Mexican consulate abroad.
  • A valid passport
  • Proof of residency (water, electricity, phone bills) with your name and address
  • Birth certificate (if you are asked to provide it)
  • Medical form (some states require it). Any medical or red cross center can issue it. After the age of 80, this form is accompanied by a vision test. This form indicates, among other things, your blood type.
• Written exam: The Traffic Regulations governing the written exam can only be found in Spanish, but the exam can be taken in English. However, in some states the English test may not be translated very well and may be confusing. If you know Spanish, we recommend that you take the exam in Spanish. The test is composed of ten questions and you cannot make more than 2 mistakes to pass.
• Practical test: differs from state to state, but is not considered particularly complicated. It is usually taken in a parking lot or street near the testing center and you are also required to park your vehicle.
• Once you pass the test, a photograph will be taken and your fingerprints and signature will be taken at the traffic office. You will then receive your Mexican driver’s license.
• The price of the permit varies depending on the state, but ranges from 500 to 850 pesos (approximately 30 to 50 USD).
• You can choose between 2, 3 or 5 years validity.

Honduras:

• To obtain a driver’s license in Honduras, you will have to take a written test in Spanish.
• Once you have passed the theoretical exam, you must pass a practical exam at the Centro de Capacitación Vial.
• The minimum score to pass both exams is 70 out of 100.
• You will have to undergo a medical check-up, eye exam and blood tests at the places indicated by the police.
• After all these steps, you must present the completed application form and all the necessary documents at a police station:
  • Two passport-size color photographs
  • Photocopy of your identity card
  • A Honduran cedula (valid residency card).
• When you go to the police station to hand in the completed form and documents, you will be fingerprinted and a photograph will be taken.
• Fees: 30$ to be paid at the Atlantida bank.
• You must be at least 18 years old and be able to read and write Spanish.

Venezuela:

• The driver’s license is issued by the National Institute of Land Transportation (INTT).
• You must request an appointment at an INTT office through the INTT web page (it is necessary to create a user name and provide certain information). At the time of the appointment, you must present the following documents:
  • Two passport-size photographs with white background
  • Identity card (valid and in good condition)
  • The single application form that you can download once you create a user account on the INTT web page
  • Proof of payment (the amount is indicated on the single application form).
  • Medical and psycho-technical certificate (if applicable).
• On the day of the appointment you will have to pass a practical and a theoretical test.
• The driver’s license is valid for 10 years.
• Fees: the practical and theoretical exams have a fee of 900 VES (about 32 USD) and the issuance of the license costs 1800 VES (about 64 USD).

Colombia:

• – To obtain a Colombian driver’s license you must be at least 16 years old.
• – You must prove that you are “in good standing” for traffic fines.
• – You must be registered in the RUNT, have paid the fees and present the following documents:
• o Foreigner’s identification card, certified password (provisionally) or valid passport.
• o Certificate of aptitude issued by a Center of Automobile Education (CEA) authorized by the Ministry of Transportation.
• o Certificates of physical, mental and motor coordination exams (incorporated in the RUNT, issued by a Driver Recognition Center (CRC) authorized by the Ministry of Transport and registered in the RUNT).
• o Photocopy of an identity document
• – The price of the exam is around one million Colombian pesos (about 240 USD).

Isle of Man:

• Driving licenses are issued by the Isle of Man Post Office.
• The price of the license is 45 pounds and it is valid for 10 years (all this for those under 66 years old).
• The provisional license costs 14 pounds.
• The theory test and hazard perception test costs 10 pounds.
• You must be at least 16 years of age (17 years of age for certain additional vehicles, 18 years of age for all others.
• You will need to submit a completed application form accompanied by the following documents:
  • 2 forms of identification: one must be photographic and the other a proof of age (e.g. birth certificate and passport). The address on your identification document must correspond to the address at which you reside within the Isle of Man.
  • Recent passport size photograph

India:

• In 2023 a new regulation has been approved, whereby it is no longer necessary to take a driving test or go to the transport offices, called RTO (Regional Transport Office) to obtain a driver’s license.
• All you have to do is visit the web portal of the Ministry of Transport and Roads, indicate the state where you live and the type of license you want. After that, you will need to complete an application form and pay the fees.
• You must be 18 years old to apply for the license (16 for two-wheeled vehicles and up to 50cc power, with parental or legal guardian consent).
• To apply for the driving license you will need to submit the following documents:
  • An Aadhaar ID (Aadhar card)
  • Birth certificate
  • Passport
  • Application form number 4
  • 6 passport size photographs
  • Passport size photograph
  • Forms 1 and 1A for the medical certificates
  • Proof of payment of the fee
• The fee is 25 rupees (about 0.30 USD) plus 5 rupees stamp duty (about 0.6 USD).
• The issuance time is about 2 days.

19 hours ago, flexomike said:

I am 78, got a five year in Rayong last year

 

Me too

On 7/25/2025 at 1:32 AM, mikebell said:

Typical Thai non-logic; make things difficult for the 5% who have proper, well earned licences from their own country whilst ignoring the 95% Thais without one or who have bought theirs.

 

And with proper education on top of that.

Pretty sure non-O retirement will still renew for five years. I last did mine a year or two ago in CM, it was all online, never left the house. 

On 7/25/2025 at 8:16 AM, henryford1958 said:

Can you renew your 1 year retirement extension 30 days early, so then you have on paper a visa for more than one year. Then go for your 5 years licence?

 

So how would that work for me, and lots of others?

My retirement extension is in March, while driver licence expires in December.

6 minutes ago, cusanus said:

Pretty sure non-O retirement will still renew for five years. I last did mine a year or two ago in CM, it was all online, never left the house. 

Renewing a Thai Licence just online (without physically going to the DLT) is impossible. Please elaborate on how you were able to achieve this miracle.

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

So how would that work for me, and lots of others?

My retirement extension is in March, while driver licence expires in December.

 

Suppose you could let your license expire, after which you have one year to renew without starting from scratch.

5 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Suppose you could let your license expire, after which you have one year to renew without starting from scratch.

Would it not still be renewed to align with your DOB?

8 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Suppose you could let your license expire, after which you have one year to renew without starting from scratch.

 

And risk getting stopped by police and fined, and invalidate your insurance? Not such a good idea I would say.

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

And risk getting stopped by police and fined, and invalidate your insurance? Not such a good idea I would say.

And yet most people wait until after expiry in order to get 6 years instead of 5.  

15 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

And yet most people wait until after expiry in order to get 6 years instead of 5.  

 

There is a difference between waiting 1 day after expiry and 3 months, don't you think?

 

Would you drive a car for 3 months with invalid insurance?

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

There is a difference between waiting 1 day after expiry and 3 months, don't you think?

 

Would you drive a car for 3 months with invalid insurance?

No I wouldn't.  In the past, I've waited a few days in order to get the 6 years.  I wouldn't leave it much longer than that.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

And yet most people wait until after expiry in order to get 6 years instead of 5.  

 

Yeah day or two for me... really depends if birthday falls on a weekend or not.

So they only get a license for two years. What's the big deal it simply means going to DLT a bit more often. What else do they have to do? If they were working they'd have a different visa and get a 5 year one.

3 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

And risk getting stopped by police and fined, and invalidate your insurance? Not such a good idea I would say.

Ever thought going (make appointment) first workday after expiry and use other transport?

 

4 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Ever thought going (make appointment) first workday after expiry and use other transport?

 

 

Start reading my posts, and the OP of this topic, I would need to use transport for 3 months, because my retirement extension can at the earliest be renewed 3 months after my licence expire

33 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

So they only get a license for two years. What's the big deal it simply means going to DLT a bit more often. What else do they have to do? If they were working they'd have a different visa and get a 5 year one.

Had gone away from this thread. Is the prairie fire still smoldering??

Quite obvious the whole thing was a big false alarm.

 

2 years: small disadvantages.

Officially no car rental possible.

No passing border.

DUI limit lowered to 20 mg/l (50 standard).

You are treated like a learner.

Keep sober.

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Start reading my posts, and the OP of this topic, I would need to use transport for 3 months, because my retirement extension can at the earliest be renewed 3 months after my licence expire

And this OP is still considered real???

Often enough it has been repeated that an extension based on Non-O is sufficient.

No "remaining permission to stay".

I am out again here.

 

1 minute ago, KhunBENQ said:

And this OP is still considered real???

 

I don't know, why you don't ask the OP?

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Often enough it has been repeated that an extension based on Non-O is sufficient.

 

It has been repeated by whom? People like you who claim to know it all?

And everyone has a Non-O these days? I don't think so

37 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

40 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Often enough it has been repeated that an extension based on Non-O is sufficient.

 

It has been repeated by whom? People like you who claim to know it all?

And everyone has a Non-O these days? I don't think so

 

It doesn't matter - there has been no official verification....   thus you can believe the 'rumour' or believe the it was real, or not.

 

The fact of the matter remains - when it comes to renewal time you now have three options: 

 

1) Renew (i.e. 1 day after renewal date) at Rayong or Banglamung DLT and get 5 Years Full Driving License.

2) Renew (i.e. 1 day after renewal date) at Rayong or Banglamung DLT and get 2 Years Temp Driving License.

2a) Renew (i.e. 1 day after renewal date) at a different DLT and get 5 Years Full Driving License.

 

Of you think the limited renewal to only 2 years if you have less than a full 356 days remaining on your entry permission is a real thing, perhaps just go straight to a different DLT, or of you believe it to be false but want to test it out and if you find out it is actually going to be two years, then change your mind and go to a different DLT.

 

 

Also - one final point: People Like KhunBENQ have been here long enough to have seen how so often the hysteria evolves over misinformation and a false announcement - So far there is no official source - just one annocuements from a Woman with an Agency, a MEME (that could be home made)...   and a few media outlets that have ran with 'only' that information without actually going to the DLT themselves and fact checking.

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It doesn't matter - there has been no official verification....   thus you can believe the 'rumour' or believe the it was real, or not.

 

Take it up with @snoop1130, and tell him that in your opinion he's spreading unjustified rumours

Can't resist. This is the lukewarm retraction of the source of all that firestorm.

Dated 25 July, closed until today and no new announcement.

 

Quote

Mots Services
Pattaya

Banglamung and Rayong Transport Agency are currently re- assessing their policy on the proposed and recently implemented changes to the 5 year Thai Licence for various types of visa holders for Non Thai Nationals. We will have further announcements next week. We understand there will be changes to the policy and they will not be as draconian as the changes that were recently announced.
We are very happy for this news and we hope this will end the week on a positive note. Our customers are very important to us and we wish you a easy life in Thailand. 
We will update you as soon as we know what the new process will be.
Have a great weekend,  be safe.
Love Mot and her team.

 

 

From https://www.facebook.com/KhaoTaloChonburi

 

 

20 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

And yet most people wait until after expiry in order to get 6 years instead of 5.  

Just by a few days will suffice.......

Doesn't seem to be much chance of a police stop in the Pattaya area these days.