Driver's Lisence Our Recent Story

[bangkokbanks]

After two full time years here my wife and I purchased our first car in Thailand. The ISUZU MU7, we love it despite what some falong have said about it. My wife is Thai but after 15 years in America one might say her blood is Thai but her culture is not. We both learned a lot about purchasing a car, the insurance and then the driver's license. I have read most of the threads on Thai Visa but still had questions. I know it is hard to be general because everyone has a different case with regard to various issues. I have a work permit and Thai Wife Visa. For me the Thai wife visa was less hassle than the work visa, and in reality it is true; an easy visa to get if you are married. Buying a car is simple arguing with the wife about who is going to officially own it, was not easy. I let the boss have her car. I did not know until now that in Thailand only one person can own a car and regarding property I am to understand only one person can be on title. We met in the States, she is a US citizen and mother of our kids for 9 years, for me no problem she can own it all, she does anyway. I know for many that is not the case, and caution should be used with some of the sweet Thai girls we meet here. Sweet until we say I do; I always say.

We had purchased our car before we had a driver's license, not a good idea. I had learned that by driving the car off of the lot we were responsible if any thing had happened to the car or if we hit anyone (not the insurance company). What I learned is your international driver's license and even your license from what ever country you are from will work fine for the first three months of your stay here, after that you must have a Thai driver's license for the insurance company to cover you and not to be hassled by the police. All of this has been stated here before it is just that I forgot about the part of being here longer than three months, perhaps my eagerness to drive got the better of me.

I had read on the pages of Thai Visa some expats discussing the fact that if one lets his driver's license expire; say a few days after the expiration date; then a five year license will be issued. When I told the wife about this, she was as surprised as I was, we both had a good laugh about it but being in Thailand did not think this was impossible. The wife got on the phone to her brothers for verification, "yes that is true" they said. Still not convinced she asked our examiner at the Department of Transportation to verify. And I am happy to report (this is now a few days old) that yes if one lets the license expire for a day or two, a five year license will be given but if not (and this is fuzzy) you will be issued another one year temporary. I say it is fuzzy because even the wife had some confusion with the way the officer expressed her subjective advice. We were told however since we were issued our license in December, that it will expire in December (of course) therefore do not wait until January to come back otherwise you will have to re-examine. That I can say we clearly understood from the officer.

For those of your not licensed yet you can easily obtain a Thai license without taking a written or driving test by presenting the following: a non immigrant visa for one year, your driver's license from your home country or an international driver's license, a local doctor sign off (see below) along with a statement of residency from your embassy (only if you do not have a work permit). I can verify all you will need to do is show up with copies of your passport, the visa stamps and copies of your license with the originals and make sure to have a Thai with you to fill out the application. You will have your license in a about a half hour, at least for me that was true.

In the wife's case it was just slightly different. She had trouble because we were married in the states. She took on my last name, her California driver's license has my last name on it but her Thai ID here is her family name, the DOT did not accept this. We had to go home and dig out the marriage certificate and make a copy to present to the officer. After that, there was no problem for her because the marriage cert mentioned her real name here in Thailand.

The doctor part: One can go to any hospital for the driver's license sign off. Some are lengthy and mildly expensive. We were lucky to know a friend who has driven a taxi for twenty years. He told me to go where all the taxi drivers go. We were applying at Mo Chit the Department of Transportation's headquarters in Bangkok. Simple, take the BTS to Mo Chit hang a right at the bottom of the stairs about a two minute walk and you are there. We were told not to go to get a doctor sign off until we got to Mo Chit. I am told (not sure if it is true or not) that the place I am about to tell you is only known by Taxi drivers. It costs us 80 baht each and about 5 minutes for the two of us to get our sign off sheet. We are told they just recently raised the price from 50 baht. One just needs to continue walking past the DOT, keep going until you come to a little soi, cross the Soi (sorry cannot remember name) but it is the only Soi next to the DOT going in the opposite direction of Mo Chit. Cross the soi staying on the same street as DOT and shortly to your left will be a very small clinic. It is run down and hardly looks like a doctor's office, instead more like an ex noodle shop. The walls are painted that awful dark depressing green color. It looks like a Chinese shop. We walked in and saw one girl in there just prepping and stamping the DOT documents ready for that day's business. They told us to walk to the back; it was something out of a movie. My wife saw the doctor slumped over his desk asleep mind you this is 10 am. She looked at me laughing "what should I do," "wake him up" I said. He was snoring but she did manage to knock on the desk a few times and say sorry along with a Sawasdee. He was very nice, took my passport and her Thai ID...we were out of there in 5 minutes.

Before going, I had read Thai visa and many other web sites. I got good information but contradicting. My lesson in Thailand is that there is a certain way of doing things, it has its own order and is not so backwards like some think. Just different. Going with the flow is the best course of action even with a hot headed wife from the south. I will say I can read and speak Thai conversationally but basically kept my mouth shut, it always keeps me out of trouble.

Before ending, I have to mention; there was no reason to bribe any official we met that day. I think if we did it would have been taken the wrong way.

Cheers

[mogoso]

After two full time years here my wife and I purchased our first car in Thailand. In the

Before going, I had read Thai visa and many other web sites. I got good information but contradicting. My lesson in Thailand is that there is a certain way of doing things, it has its own order and is not so backwards like some think. Just different. Going with the flow is the best course of action even with a hot headed wife from the south. I will say I can read and speak Thai conversationally but basically kept my mouth shut, it always keeps me out of trouble.

I think thats good advice in most circumstances. I don't mind quietly standing there grinning like an idiot as long as what I'm trying to get accomblished, gets done. mai pen rai

Before ending, I have to mention; there was no reason to bribe any official we met that day. I think if we did it would have been taken the wrong way.

Cheers