Had my Driver's License renewal. I swear they have added tests to the regime that I didn't do 5 years ago.

First - Depth Percept. Line up two white plastic dowels in a box. Realistically, I've got to admit - in 19 years in Thailand I've never seen two white plastic dowels driving down the street no less me having to determine when they lines up. Silly test imho, yet quite a few people applying for the licenses didn't pass the test. Mostly women, just saying...
Make me wonder what happens to them? Taking to a special 200 THB testing room? I just don't know.

The secret to this test was to take in all of the possible visual clues you can. How far from the back edge of the table is the anchor dowel you need to line up with. There was a grid pattern in the base of the box and the metal that the dowel was anchored on had an arrow. You can use ALL of those visual clue plus watching other fail to figure out when they align. 10 years ago you'd pull a string to move the dowel. There was a knot in the string. Watch other people and then remember where the knot was in proximity to their hand. Cheating? Nah - A defensive driver looks for everything on the road to use are reference to keep you safe. I think Thais don't have the best spatial awareness and probably find this difficult to do. Just gotta think outside the box (laughs).

Color-blind test. I'm not.

Reaction test. Step on an accelerator, wait for a red light, and hit the brake. I did better than most of the younger kids there.

Peripteral test. Put you head in a gizmo with you chin on a cup and push a button when one side or the other went "white." I guess you were suppose to stare straight ahead, but I don't stare when I drive, I look. I'm constantly looking. Look to the right, look to the left - there it is! I looked. Easy-peasy.

Good. Another 5 years before I have to do that dog and pony show again.

All depends in which town you apply, as some towns, govt offices are known to be more falang friendly then the others.

Had all these tests in the past. I think last time was 4 years ago. Chatuchak.

39 minutes ago, connda said:

Good. Another 5 years before I have to do that dog and pony show again.

If you wait to renew until one day after your license expires, then you get 6 years on the renewal.

Same reaction, vision, perception, and color tests for at least 20 years. All the same. Nothing new.

People under the age of 50 can now start renewing online starting June of this year. It won't help anyone over age 50, but queues and waiting times should be reduced with fewer younger people renewing in person.

Renewing at Taling Chan is better than at Chatuchak. Shorter lines. No foreigners.

I've gotten several renewals in Pattaya and all but the peripheral tests were standard.

The reaction test in Pattaya was weird, light goes red, press the brake, fail

I've done four license renewals at Chonburi and on every occasion except for when I sat the original test, the depth of perception machine was non-operational and gathering dust in the corner.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

The reaction test in Pattaya was weird, light goes red, press the brake, fail

Maybe you were too slow 😁.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

The reaction test in Pattaya was weird, light goes red, press the brake, fail

Thats when you are supposed to floor the accelerator !!!!

Every time I renew those are the typical test I have had to do.

8 hours ago, connda said:

Had my Driver's License renewal. I swear they have added tests to the regime that I didn't do 5 years ago.

First - Depth Percept. Line up two white plastic dowels in a box. Realistically, I've got to admit - in 19 years in Thailand I've never seen two white plastic dowels driving down the street no less me having to determine when they lines up. Silly test imho, yet quite a few people applying for the licenses didn't pass the test. Mostly women, just saying...
Make me wonder what happens to them? Taking to a special 200 THB testing room? I just don't know.

The secret to this test was to take in all of the possible visual clues you can. How far from the back edge of the table is the anchor dowel you need to line up with. There was a grid pattern in the base of the box and the metal that the dowel was anchored on had an arrow. You can use ALL of those visual clue plus watching other fail to figure out when they align. 10 years ago you'd pull a string to move the dowel. There was a knot in the string. Watch other people and then remember where the knot was in proximity to their hand. Cheating? Nah - A defensive driver looks for everything on the road to use are reference to keep you safe. I think Thais don't have the best spatial awareness and probably find this difficult to do. Just gotta think outside the box (laughs).

Color-blind test. I'm not.

Reaction test. Step on an accelerator, wait for a red light, and hit the brake. I did better than most of the younger kids there.

Peripteral test. Put you head in a gizmo with you chin on a cup and push a button when one side or the other went "white." I guess you were suppose to stare straight ahead, but I don't stare when I drive, I look. I'm constantly looking. Look to the right, look to the left - there it is! I looked. Easy-peasy.

Good. Another 5 years before I have to do that dog and pony show again.

on the peripheral test in Rayong they have a new machine, when I sat down I thought the lady said when you see the light, push the button, Same as on the old machine. Damn am I going blind, don't see any lights. Lady stopped me and showed me how the machine works, I thought she said light, but she was saying white. Stupid farang - 555

1 hour ago, msbkk said:

Maybe you were too slow 😁.

Not a chance, I'm not elderly yet

9 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

If you wait to renew until one day after your license expires, then you get 6 years on the renewal.

Same reaction, vision, perception, and color tests for at least 20 years. All the same. Nothing new.

People under the age of 50 can now start renewing online starting June of this year. It won't help anyone over age 50, but queues and waiting times should be reduced with fewer younger people renewing in person.

Renewing at Taling Chan is better than at Chatuchak. Shorter lines. No foreigners.

I believe that the online renewal for the under 50s will be for Thai citizens only.

Like most tests/exams in Thailand, nobody fails!

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not a chance, I'm not elderly yet

Speed is not always a question of age. Just saying.

O

I've been required to take all the tests you describe when renewing my driver’s licence, especially for my last couple of licences, and I’ve lived in Thailand for over 20 years. Also, a computer test on the Rules of the Road and sitting through a 30-minute video, all in Thai. I usually try to slip out of that one after about 5 minutes.

12 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

All depends in which town you apply, as some towns, govt offices are known to be more falang friendly then the others.

Yep, I renewed my license 2 months ago. Did the online bit then brake pedal and that was it

FAKE NEWS - I have had those tests for 20 years in Thailand.

There must be a load of colour blind people in Thailand as many don’t know the difference between red and green.

1 hour ago, thaiowl said:

Like most tests/exams in Thailand, nobody fails!

When I went the test centre in Pattaya 2 young male Thais failed the colour blind test and were asked to leave, no problem just jumped on their motor bike and rode back into town.

13 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

If you wait to renew until one day after your license expires, then you get 6 years on the renewal.

Same reaction, vision, perception, and color tests for at least 20 years. All the same. Nothing new.

People under the age of 50 can now start renewing online starting June of this year. It won't help anyone over age 50, but queues and waiting times should be reduced with fewer younger people renewing in person.

Renewing at Taling Chan is better than at Chatuchak. Shorter lines. No foreigners.

If you end up getting in accident without a valid DL, your insurance company can refuse coverage. Not a good idea.

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I believe that the online renewal for the under 50s will be for Thai citizens only.

Maybe, maybe not - time will tell. Doesn't affect me so I don't care.

I passed the tests while temporarily almost blind in one eye. A Thai guy in front of me got three tries on the colour test and failed.

2 hours ago, thaiowl said:

Like most tests/exams in Thailand, nobody fails!

That's what I'm wonders. Quite a few Thais - all young - failed the depth perception test. Makes me wonder how they get passed to get their license???

10 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

There must be a load of colour blind people in Thailand as many don’t know the difference between red and green.

Instestingly, the "Yellow" light was actually white with a green tinge. So I can see how people can screw up that. However, the "Green" is a dark green, so if you just judge by brightness alone, you can pass.

1 hour ago, EvetsKram said:

Yep, I renewed my license 2 months ago. Did the online bit then brake pedal and that was it

Same here - renewed last month - Previously all of the 'classroom practical tests' were carried out as you walked in a line around the room (DLT Area 3 BKK) - [Colour blindness - Periferal vision - proximity sticks - reaction]...

One month ago - it was only the reaction test - see red, stamp on the brake - that was it (DLT Area 3 BKK).

How many of the school kids 14 years old riding on motor bikes have passed a test, I would say none meaning they have no insurance.

Amazes me out side the school a big hoarding promoting the wearing of crash hats, very if any of the kids ever do and the teachers just stand there and say nowt.

12 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

How many of the school kids 14 years old riding on motor bikes have passed a test, I would say none meaning they have no insurance.

Amazes me out side the school a big hoarding promoting the wearing of crash hats, very if any of the kids ever do and the teachers just stand there and say nowt.

A lot of the smaller primary schools have closed down where we live (cost savings?)......and we now see primary school aged kids riding motorbikes to and from school

16 hours ago, connda said:

Good. Another 5 years before I have to do that dog and pony show again

And what about the documentation requirements in Lamphun

that you asked about in the other thread ?

15 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

If you wait to renew until one day after your license expires, then you get 6 years on the renewal.

Same reaction, vision, perception, and color tests for at least 20 years. All the same. Nothing new.

People under the age of 50 can now start renewing online starting June of this year. It won't help anyone over age 50, but queues and waiting times should be reduced with fewer younger people renewing in person.

Renewing at Taling Chan is better than at Chatuchak. Shorter lines. No foreigners.

under 55 i read.. though i might be wrong.