Went to Banglamung Transport Office this morning to enquire what was needed for a first Thai license.

The lady, who was very helpful and spoke good English, gave me a list, and proceeded to make an appointment, (but not until March 12th, the soonest available).

Anyway, a successful trip, but I've just looked on the paper she gave, and it declares "Convert international licence to Thai".

I did photo the paper to include it here but something's changed on the forum and I'm not sure how to add it now.

Hopefully I'll be keeping my originals?

As I am not permo living here I'll certainly need my UK license in the future.

There you go, it's outlined.

5 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

Hopefully I'll be keeping my originals?

I did my first one a couple of months ago (in Chonburi office) and still have my UK original.

Yes you keep it. In fact you don't own it, DVLA does, so you shouldn't give it up even if asked (which you won't be). Worth noting that once you get your 5 year license after your first renewal you can use that in the UK, and elsewhere.

Thanks guys, I'm now feeling reassured.

I'll be doing car and bike licenses and while I'm here posting, would like to confirm something else that seems to have caused confusion on another thread:

The lady confirmed just the one COR and a copy (rather than 2 originals) is enough for the 2 licenses.

Obviously I mean as well as all the other copies they need....

24 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

The lady confirmed just the one COR and a copy (rather than 2 originals) is enough for the 2 licenses.

Yes the DLT have always excepted 1 original and one copy from me..however at the immigration office they may try to convince you that you need 2 originals @300 baht each.

You keep your UK licence ...converting just means you don't actually have to do the practicle

driving and rules of the road theory tests but you do have to sit through the (new) safety training video (online before hand) and do the reaction and eyesight tests on the day...remember to take actual cash money to pay at the end of the ordeal ! 😋

Yes, you get to keep your original home licences.

But they allow you to bypass the actual driving test here, simply reaction, depth of vision and color blindness tests will be done and very straight forward.

Do you have an International Driving Permit to drive in Thailand (as well as your UK driving Licence)?

This is a requirement to drive here. A UK licence on its own is not enough.

I think this is what she might be talking about. You will still keep your UK Driving Licence, but no longer need an IDP to drive in Thailand once you obtain a Thai Driving licence.

16 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Anyway, a successful trip, but I've just looked on the paper she gave, and it declares "Convert international licence to Thai".

Not to be taken literally. What they mean is issue a Thai licence based on having an international licence, as opposed to getting a Thai licence from scratch.

17 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

There you go, it's outlined.

5. Copy of International Driving Licence.......no such thing. Permit yes.

17 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Anyway, a successful trip, but I've just looked on the paper she gave, and it declares "Convert international licence to Thai".

I did photo the paper to include it here but something's changed on the forum and I'm not sure how to add it now.

Hopefully I'll be keeping my originals?

As I am not permo living here I'll certainly need my UK license in the future.

They refer to getting a new Thai licence based on your old foreign one as 'converting' it or even 'swapping' it, but you get the new one and keep the old one.

Just be aware that you can only do it once. If your Thai licence expires by more than a certain length of time ( a year, I think) then it's cancelled and to get a new one you will no longer be allowed to 'convert' or 'swap' the foreign one, you'll have to start from scratch like any Thai person. It happened to a lot of people during Covid when they were forced to stay in their home country for several years.

5 minutes ago, Guderian said:

If your Thai licence expires by more than a certain length of time ( a year, I think)

1 year and you can resurrect it with the theory test only. 3 years and its the driving test as well.

17 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Yes you keep it. In fact you don't own it, DVLA does, so you shouldn't give it up even if asked (which you won't be). Worth noting that once you get your 5 year license after your first renewal you can use that in the UK, and elsewhere.

UK driving licence holders driving in the UK have to use the UK licence, they cannot use a foreign licence as a preference.

18 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Yes you keep it. In fact you don't own it, DVLA does, so you shouldn't give it up even if asked (which you won't be). Worth noting that once you get your 5 year license after your first renewal you can use that in the UK,

It is also worth noting that UK residents with a valid UK driving licence cannot choose the use of foreign licence in preference to the UK licence

3 hours ago, phetphet said:

Do you have an International Driving Permit to drive in Thailand (as well as your UK driving Licence)?

I think this is what she might be talking about.

Yes, I got the IDP for my previous trip here, so I have both.

She didn't say my license would be swapped, it's just what was written that made me wonder.

19 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Went to Banglamung Transport Office this morning to enquire what was needed for a first Thai license.

The lady, who was very helpful and spoke good English, gave me a list, and proceeded to make an appointment, (but not until March 12th, the soonest available).

Anyway, a successful trip, but I've just looked on the paper she gave, and it declares "Convert international licence to Thai".

I did photo the paper to include it here but something's changed on the forum and I'm not sure how to add it now.

Hopefully I'll be keeping my originals?

As I am not permo living here I'll certainly need my UK license in the future.

I did my 1st Thai Driving license (Car only) 2 days ago via an agent (OneStop Visa on Soi 6 https://www.onestopservicepattaya.com/) and they told me that the DLT in Rayong is very busy at the moment so they bused me to Bangkok & had it all sorted in a couple of hours.

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

Just be aware that you can only do it once. If your Thai licence expires by more than a certain length of time ( a year, I think) then it's cancelled and to get a new one you will no longer be allowed to 'convert' or 'swap' the foreign one, you'll have to start from scratch like any Thai person.

Good to know, thanks.

I'll be over regularly so can keep it valid, unless there's another pandemic any time soon.

4 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

I did my 1st Thai Driving license (Car only) 2 days ago via an agent (OneStop Visa on Soi 6 https://www.onestopservicepattaya.com/) and they told me that the DLT in Rayong is very busy at the moment so they bused me to Bangkok & had it all sorted in a couple of hours.

All good information, but for me I'm going the slow, cheaper route.

My appointment is almost 2 months away, and it comes within my last week here for this trip, but I was reassured it will all be completed the same day, unless I fail any test I guess.

I see now another thread almost running simultaneous with this one whereby they're mentioning using agents in other provinces.

Is it worth mentioning the cost for information purposes?

And did you have to do the COR for yourself beforehand, or was it included?

4 hours ago, wil iam not said:

5. Copy of International Driving Licence.......no such thing. Permit yes.

It is all about context. In this case any driving licence not issued in Thailand is an international driving licence, as opposed to a national driving licence.

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

It is all about context. In this case any driving licence not issued in Thailand is an international driving licence, as opposed to a national driving licence.

It does say a copy of Ínternational Driving Licence" (Permit) plus licence from your country.

The 'permit' is merely a translation of your licence into English and costs a fiver from Post Office or AA or RAC.

10 hours ago, Upnotover said:

1 year and you can resurrect it with the theory test only. 3 years and its the driving test as well.

In CM last year, while renewing my 2 year Thai license that was expired more than a year, they only made me watch about 4 hours of video, then retake the reaction time test and color test.... then gave me my 5 year license. Both bike and car renewed with one COR and one medical letter.

I did not need an International Driving Permit for my initial or my renewed licenses. I had a valid US license only when getting the 2 year license.

17 hours ago, wil iam not said:

It does say a copy of Ínternational Driving Licence" (Permit) plus licence from your country.

The 'permit' is merely a translation of your licence into English and costs a fiver from Post Office or AA or RAC.

Documents used by the Thai authorities are based on translation and have to be taken in context. The context of this thread is someone with a UK licence looking to obtain a Thai licence.

When I first went the woman wanted my IDP and paid no attention to my UK licence. There was a subsequent disagreement with my wife over something else and my wife filed a formal complaint. She received a phone call from the manager apologising for what had been said. The manager said she was also at fault for asking for an IDP as a UK licence is already in English. He said there was no need to return with the UK licence, they would accept the IDP as it was only a year till renewal.

I spent my first 6 years here on ME visas so always had an IDP, different context.

Why then is an IDP needed for holders of UK, in English, licences?

18 hours ago, wil iam not said:

The 'permit' is merely a translation of your licence into English and costs a fiver from Post Office or AA or RAC.

My bolding.

Been a while since you got one methinks.

23 minutes ago, treetops said:

My bolding.

Been a while since you got one methinks.

Yes, over 10 years I have had my Thai licence, and rented a car in UK & Italy using it.

AI now tells me that since 1 April 2024 you must use somewhere, a shop, post office etc which has a PayPoint area. 1949 seems the one for Thailand.

28 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Yes, over 10 years I have had my Thai licence, and rented a car in UK & Italy using it.

AI now tells me that since 1 April 2024 you must use somewhere, a shop, post office etc which has a PayPoint area. 1949 seems the one for Thailand.

I bought my IDP from a local newsagent back in my hometown.

It's actually a 1968 one, and the cost was £5.50 in April last year.

I'm trying to add a pic here but am struggling again.

I was stopped just this morning along Beach Road and asked to produce my license, and the cop was happy enough to see it (didn't even look at my UK license which I handed at the same time) and then sent me on my merry way.

There you go.

23 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

There you go.

Should it not have a photo and details of your UK licence?

25 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

I bought my IDP from a local newsagent back in my hometown.

It's actually a 1968 one, and the cost was £5.50 in April last year.

I'm trying to add a pic here but am struggling again.

I was stopped just this morning along Beach Road and asked to produce my license, and the cop was happy enough to see it (didn't even look at my UK license which I handed at the same time) and then sent me on my merry way.

You are allowed to drive here for 3 months using your UK licence.

24 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

There you go.

No number on the front page which mine issued in September has. Just as well Plod never noticed. 😉

27 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

I bought my IDP from a local newsagent back in my hometown.

It's actually a 1968 one, and the cost was £5.50 in April last year.

I'm trying to add a pic here but am struggling again.

I was stopped just this morning along Beach Road and asked to produce my license, and the cop was happy enough to see it (didn't even look at my UK license which I handed at the same time) and then sent me on my merry way.

I guess he was using the logic that you cannot get an IDP without having a standard UK one.