As i proposed to update my old thai bike licence i popped along to Udon Immigration and coughed up 500bt to inform them where i was staying although they knew from my hotel paperwork and hotel owners signature informing them i was staying at this address. Next off for a quick medical another 100 bt, next off to the test centre where i was informed because i had a previouse licence that had expired i needed to do the full moter cycle test again 4 days later. So today 8-30 on the Dot i walked upto the same desk where i was informed have to go top floor where i sat for an hour watching a video all in thai. So i came out asked an assistant i cannot understand the video can you move me to the theory test yes she said go below to desk number 3, all my paperwork was on top floor along with my passport. Next was moved again to where someone could speak English ahhhh at last i thought progress. Nope after half n hour i was told cannot do Thai licence have to go to English speaking centre. This is when i threw my old licence at them informing them you took my money but refused to allow me to sit a test. Just another money extraction from a falang that leaves a bad taste in my Mouth.

8 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

because i had a previouse licence that had expired i needed to do the full moter cycle test

Expired how long?

Pity you didn`t read beforehand the many threads on here regarding renewal of an old license it would have saved you much hassle...as for throwing your license at them methinks is rather childish.....☹️

14 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

informing them you took my money but refused to allow me to sit a test

I've never paid until the license is issued, how much did they charge you and for what?

14 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

. This is when i threw my old licence at them

Wow, that's something a delinquent would do.

What primary school are enrolled at?

Are you old enough to be issued with a riders licence?

Two points:

1) Was the previous license expired more than 1 year.

2) You pay once all the process / tests etc are over, (just before collecting the license) not before hand.

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Expired how long?

over 10 yrs

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Wow, that's something a delinquent would do.

What primary school are enrolled at?

Are you old enough to be issued with a riders licence?

Stop being boring.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Two points:

1) Was the previous license expired more than 1 year.

2) You pay once all the process / tests etc are over, (just before collecting the license) not before hand.

i had to pay 500 bt at Immigration where they issued me a letter informing me of my permanant address here in Udon, then I paid 100tbt at a medical centre for a quick medical.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Wow, that's something a delinquent would do.

What primary school are enrolled at?

Are you old enough to be issued with a riders licence?

Its called Frustration look it up in a Dictionary SAFETYFIRST before trying to impress oh its not big to have your name in Capps is your eyesight bad you need capps ?

36 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

i had to pay 500 bt at Immigration where they issued me a letter informing me of my permanant address here in Udon, then I paid 100tbt at a medical centre for a quick medical.

OK.... so 'they' (the DLT) didn't take any money of yours - you Paid for An Immigration Certificate of Address, and for a Medical Check-up.

You still have the documents to go through the process again.

There is no need to say you don't understand - just watch the video in Thai.

Go through the Class Room tests (self explanatory).

If I'm not mistaken - you have to do a theory test too (you can do this online I think).

You will also have Practical Motorcyclist test too.

It's not really the DLT's fault - you told them you couldn't understand them, and they advised go to the 'English DLT centre' (I'd never even heard of that).

---

Did you really, actually 'throw' your old licence at them ???

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

OK.... so 'they' (the DLT) didn't take any money of yours - you Paid for An Immigration Certificate of Address, and for a Medical Check-up.

You still have the documents to go through the process again.

There is no need to say you don't understand - just watch the video in Thai.

Go through the Class Room tests (self explanatory).

If I'm not mistaken - you have to do a theory test too (you can do this online I think).

You will also have Practical Motorcyclist test too.

It's not really the DLT's fault - you told them you couldn't understand them, and they advised go to the 'English DLT centre' (I'd never even heard of that).

Thats the frustrating part Richard 4 days before they said turn up 23rd do full test handed the paperwork then they started asking for my old passport number what was on my original licence they wouldn't accept my answer that i had neither but it was flagged up on there system.

Posts threatening violence have been removed also replies

 

Sounds to me, you have to redo everything, but no real issue. Just go there and apply for a new license. It will cost you some between 200-300 I think, but don´t really remember, but you pay when you get the license.

I hope that you learnt to keep your mouth shut and just finish watching the video you can watch the video on YouTube. Just tell them you watched it in YouTube .

On 1/23/2026 at 2:38 PM, BarraMarra said:

Thats the frustrating part Richard 4 days before they said turn up 23rd do full test handed the paperwork then they started asking for my old passport number what was on my original licence they wouldn't accept my answer that i had neither but it was flagged up on there system.

It shouldn’t matter at all what your old passport number is - only your current valid passport is relevant.

Something is getting lost in translation…

21 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It shouldn’t matter at all what your old passport number is - only your current valid passport is relevant.

Something is getting lost in translation…

I had the same situation renewing my 3+ years expired license, they wanted a copy of the passport used when it was issued. Luckily I had a copy on my phone and emailed it to them.

On 1/23/2026 at 1:53 PM, BarraMarra said:

over 10 yrs

Basically if it expired over 1 year ago you don't renew the old license, you are actually starting fresh. If you have a valid license from your country (if a non English speaking country you also need an IDP) you can convert that license to Thai license which is a bit simpler and easier than starting fresh.

2 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

Basically if it expired over 1 year ago you don't renew the old license, you are actually starting fresh. If you have a valid license from your country (if a non English speaking country you also need an IDP) you can convert that license to Thai license which is a bit simpler and easier than starting fresh.

I think you can only use a foreign license for the first time you get a license. If you've had a Thai license in the past, it can't be used.

2 minutes ago, gargamon said:

I think you can only use a foreign license for the first time you get a license. If you've had a Thai license in the past, it can't be used.

I'm not sure you're right about it, especially since the 🆔 number used on the license is your passport number which changes every time you renew your passport.

Just now, LukKrueng said:

I'm not sure you're right about it, especially since the 🆔 number used on the license is your passport number which changes every time you renew your passport.

They have your name and birthdate. That's all they need to find the old one.

On 1/23/2026 at 11:49 AM, BarraMarra said:

. This is when i threw my old licence at them informing them you took my money but refused to allow me to sit a test. Just another money extraction from a falang that leaves a bad taste in my Mouth.

Bwahahahahaha, a good old fashioned dummy spit always works a treat in Thailand.

I have Thai drivers license this will be my 4th on Samui I have always had an issue when renewing it I go a month before it expires make sure I’m well dressed and every time I’ve been told Come back when license expires then you have to sit through a stupid video a braking reaction test the traffic light test which I failed once when I said amber and they insist you have to say yellow I explained in UK we say amber so they made me do it again telling me to say yellow

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

I think you can only use a foreign license for the first time you get a license. If you've had a Thai license in the past, it can't be used.

Correct. I tried to avoid having to do the theory and driving tests but they would/could not "convert" my UK license for the second time.

1 hour ago, LukKrueng said:

Basically if it expired over 1 year ago you don't renew the old license, you are actually starting fresh. If you have a valid license from your country (if a non English speaking country you also need an IDP) you can convert that license to Thai license which is a bit simpler and easier than starting fresh.

1 year and it's the theory test, 3 years need the driving test as well. And you cannot convert twice to avoid the tests.

7 hours ago, gargamon said:

7 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

I'm not sure you're right about it, especially since the 🆔 number used on the license is your passport number which changes every time you renew your passport.

They have your name and birthdate. That's all they need to find the old one.

I let my Thai License lapse for more than 12 months a over a decade ago.

At the time I'd used my passport my expired license was tied to that, I was showing a rewenal passport for the license renewal.

(Now I use the number on the Yellow House book / Pink ID).

The process was normal - from scratch with the UK license.

Had to do the 'in room tests' (colour blindness, periferal vision, reaction and depth perception)

Also had to watch the 1 hour video (in Thai).

That said: as is always a common theme amongst these threads - one happens at one DLT may not necessarily be the same as what happens at another, or with different officers, on different days !! (mine was at DLT area 3 Bangkok).

5 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Correct. I tried to avoid having to do the theory and driving tests but they would/could not "convert" my UK license for the second time.

For the purposes of clarity:

Your original Driving license tied to Passport A - expired (for more than 12 months).

When attempting to get a new Driving license and tie to Passport B - you had to to the full test, as if you had no license at all...

i.e.

- Theory Exam (Multiple Choice)

- Outdoor driving assessment

- Indoor tests (colour blindness, periferal vision, reaction and depth perception)

- Watch the 1 hour video

Is that correct ?

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

For the purposes of clarity:

Your original Driving license tied to Passport A - expired (for more than 12 months).

When attempting to get a new Driving license and tie to Passport B - you had to to the full test, as if you had no license at all...

i.e.

- Theory Exam (Multiple Choice)

- Outdoor driving assessment

- Indoor tests (colour blindness, periferal vision, reaction and depth perception)

- Watch the 1 hour video

Is that correct ?

Basically yes, original 5Y licence 3+ years expired. I still had a valid UK licence but they weren't interested in that. So I had to do the whole thing. I was actually supposed to watch 5 hours of video but they took pity on me after 2 hours. The only thing that was different to starting from absolutely nothing was the new license was/is a 5Y one, not 2Y.

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

For the purposes of clarity:

Your original Driving license tied to Passport A - expired (for more than 12 months).

When attempting to get a new Driving license and tie to Passport B - you had to to the full test, as if you had no license at all...

i.e.

- Theory Exam (Multiple Choice)

- Outdoor driving assessment

- Indoor tests (colour blindness, periferal vision, reaction and depth perception)

- Watch the 1 hour video

Is that correct ?

yes mate have to do the full test.