Drivers Licence In Pattaya

[Lost in LOS]

I am posting here since it appears there are different rules for different locations and I would like up to date info for pattaya

After 2 years its about time I get a Thai Drivers License. Reading the license thread it seems to be a real hassle if you want to have a car and motorcycle license since I would have to borrow a car and bring that and my motorcycle at the same time. Not an easy or convenient thing to do.

I would like to get it soon but there isnt a rush. Reading the thread it appears if I bring my US drivers license [has motorcycle also] and a International Drivers License I dont have to take either the written nor the driving test. Is this true in Pattaya as of this date. I am going to visit the US in April and can get an international DL then if it will save me the hassle of the driving and written tests. the cost is not an issue.

thanks in advance

jimmy

[JohnC]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

[sweetchariot]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

I was told that is because you cannot do it in the afternoon?

[JohnC]

You cannot take the written test in the afternoon, you can get a licence with an IDP , done it three times with friends/partners and renewed mine last May in the afternoon.

Did my friends last Month at 3pm, no problem, he did the three checks listed above and was out in 20 mins.

[begsaresponse]

Just thought I would say that the US driving licence is not valid in Thailand. It is important as other have said to hold an International Driving Permit or Licence.

I would also just point out that an international driving permit should be in the form of a small book. Its contents should be in different languages. Also with a photograph of yourself contained within.

I have met many people who think they have an international driving permit in the form of a plastic card. This type of 'international driving permit' is not acceptable in Thailand.

begs

[fresnoboy]

I went to the License Dept. on 29 December 2007 with my Nevada license and Medical certificate,photos, and was in/out in 1 hour after doing the tests. But, as you may know, anything can happen !

[begsaresponse]

I went to the License Dept. on 29 December 2007 with my Nevada license and Medical certificate,photos, and was in/out in 1 hour after doing the tests. But, as you may know, anything can happen !

Well there you go, what the hel_l do I know!!!!!!!!! But this is Thailand.

[Merangue]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

Can you give me any more info on the colour test part? I have a valid UK license but i am colour blind. In the UK i passed the colour test that was required for driving but failed pretty much every other test they had.

[sumrit]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

Can you give me any more info on the colour test part? I have a valid UK license but i am colour blind. In the UK i passed the colour test that was required for driving but failed pretty much every other test they had.

I was in the same position, had a UK licence but knew I was colour blind. There's no need to worry. In the Pattaya office they have a large chart on the wall covered in different coloured dots (looks like a large page from one of those colour blindness books but without a hidden number) and somebody just points to different dots and asks you what colour they are. It's as simple as that.

[Bagwan]

When I took out a Thai driving licence several years ago I showed my UK driving licence, passport and house documents. I don't recall being asked for anything else. The nice young lady who dealt with me said that I didn't need to take a driving test. I offered that from what I had seen she would have difficulty in finding a Thai whom I considered qualified to test my driving skills. Her wide grin signified to me that she agreed. I did however have to take a written test of, I think, 30 questions of which 25 answers had to be correct. Two of the questions were was it lawful for a monk to hold a driving licence and was it lawful to drive a tracked vehicle on public roads. The relevance for a farang escaped me since I had no plans to become a monk (quite to the contrary!) and I had left my Centurion tank back in the UK.

I took the test twice, each time scoring 24 answers correct. I was told to keep taking the test until I reached the magic figure. So tee'd off was I that I left the office in search of a beer. Calming down overnight I presented myself back at the office at 0800 the following morning and said that I would stay there taking the dam_n test until I passed - or they ran out of paper. To my surprise the nice young lady told me that that would not be necessary as I had passed the test. I wasn't going to argue. She then conducted me through the rest of the licence issuing procedure telling me how poorly paid the office staff were. When I paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

The nice young lady then escorted me off the premises telling me on the way that she lived only a few hundred yards from my house, she was 24 years old, single and had no babies. I wrestled with the image of we doing the naughty, she in her Civil Service uniform. One year later I sought her out to assist me obtaining a 5 year licence which she did. She was decidedly frosty when I collected it, my wife by my side. Had me wondering how many farangs she had indicated her availability to. Anybody here get lucky? I was already spoken for or I would certainly given her a spin.

[JohnC]

paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

That was a bit excessive! The one year licence is 105 baht!

was in the same position, had a UK licence but knew I was colour blind. There's no need to worry. In the Pattaya office they have a large chart on the wall covered in different coloured dots (looks like a large page from one of those colour blindness books but without a hidden number) and somebody just points to different dots and asks you what colour they are. It's as simple as that.

But those dots are coloured! the whole idea is that you can identify different colours therefore if the poster is colour blind how will he know the difference? It may well be they only have a problem with specific colours in which case he may be OK!

[sumrit]

paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

That was a bit excessive! The one year licence is 105 baht!

was in the same position, had a UK licence but knew I was colour blind. There's no need to worry. In the Pattaya office they have a large chart on the wall covered in different coloured dots (looks like a large page from one of those colour blindness books but without a hidden number) and somebody just points to different dots and asks you what colour they are. It's as simple as that.

But those dots are coloured! the whole idea is that you can identify different colours therefore if the poster is colour blind how will he know the difference? It may well be they only have a problem with specific colours in which case he may be OK!

Colour blindness doesn't mean you can't see different colours. When you're colour blind your eyes are more suceptable to some colours than they are others. For example I am red/green (the most common) colour blind, I see blue as normal but I see green more vividly than normal and I only see about 80% of red that nomal people would see. I still see the same colour reds and greens that everybody else sees, just not the same strengths. So when there's a number hidden in the dots it's more difficult for a colour blind person to see it. If you just show them a single primary colour they will see the same colour as you do, if you show them a mixed colour such as brown (red and green mixed) they will see a different shade to you (however as he was told that colour was brown thats what he'll call it). Most of the time it's not a problem and we can still see the colour of the traffic lights.

[sweetchariot]

When I took out a Thai driving licence several years ago I showed my UK driving licence, passport and house documents. I don't recall being asked for anything else. The nice young lady who dealt with me said that I didn't need to take a driving test. I offered that from what I had seen she would have difficulty in finding a Thai whom I considered qualified to test my driving skills. Her wide grin signified to me that she agreed. I did however have to take a written test of, I think, 30 questions of which 25 answers had to be correct. Two of the questions were was it lawful for a monk to hold a driving licence and was it lawful to drive a tracked vehicle on public roads. The relevance for a farang escaped me since I had no plans to become a monk (quite to the contrary!) and I had left my Centurion tank back in the UK.

I took the test twice, each time scoring 24 answers correct. I was told to keep taking the test until I reached the magic figure. So tee'd off was I that I left the office in search of a beer. Calming down overnight I presented myself back at the office at 0800 the following morning and said that I would stay there taking the dam_n test until I passed - or they ran out of paper. To my surprise the nice young lady told me that that would not be necessary as I had passed the test. I wasn't going to argue. She then conducted me through the rest of the licence issuing procedure telling me how poorly paid the office staff were. When I paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

The nice young lady then escorted me off the premises telling me on the way that she lived only a few hundred yards from my house, she was 24 years old, single and had no babies. I wrestled with the image of we doing the naughty, she in her Civil Service uniform. One year later I sought her out to assist me obtaining a 5 year licence which she did. She was decidedly frosty when I collected it, my wife by my side. Had me wondering how many farangs she had indicated her availability to. Anybody here get lucky? I was already spoken for or I would certainly given her a spin.

This ounds like it was a few years ago. These days you don't need to sit any test apart from the color/ depth perception/ reaction one. I sat the written test for motorbikes, as I do not have a UK bike license, and the passmark was 24 (80%). Sounds like they saw you coming.

[JohnC]

Colour blindness doesn't mean you can't see different colours. When you're colour blind your eyes are more suceptable to some colours than they are others. For example I am red/green (the most common) colour blind, I see blue as normal but I see green more vividly than normal and I only see about 80% of red that nomal people would see. I still see the same colour reds and greens that everybody else sees, just not the same strengths. So when there's a number hidden in the dots it's more difficult for a colour blind person to see it. If you just show them a single primary colour they will see the same colour as you do, if you show them a mixed colour such as brown (red and green mixed) they will see a different shade to you (however as he was told that colour was brown thats what he'll call it). Most of the time it's not a problem and we can still see the colour of the traffic lights.

Thanks for that clarification, that makes sense and presumably the poster will have no problem.

[Merangue]

Thanks for the swift replies folks it eases my worries somewhat.

Of 22 dot tests in the UK i failed 21. The only one i passed was the Traffic light one. Red Amber Green.

Sumrit is right however. If i see a block of one colour i usually have little problem.

I have a tendency to get a lot of Colours mixed up. Red/Browns, Green/Browns, Purple/Blue etc. 9 times out of ten i can generally get the colour right from association with particular objects but if someone were to paint thier Lawn the correct shade of light brown i would think it Green.

I am however exceptionally good at seeing different shades

Incidentally it is estimated that 1 in 8 men and 1 in 10 women are colour blind to a greater or lesser extent. However, approximately 95% of them do not know unless they have been tested. Of those who don't know most are Blue/Green Deficient.

Edited January 11, 2008 by Merangue

[sweetchariot]

If you are worried about the colour test it may be worthwhile taking a Thai speaker with you, and making a contribution to their benevolent fund. A few hundred baht can move mountains over here.

[NanLaew]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

Sounds like I have all the paper needed to get a license when I get back next month.

Can someone please post either the directions to the driving license office or a link to a previous thread that does?

Many thanks!

[Pattaya_Fox]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

Sounds like I have all the paper needed to get a license when I get back next month.

Can someone please post either the directions to the driving license office or a link to a previous thread that does?

Many thanks!

This Topic should Help

[wilko]

May I draw your attention to this thread? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...driving+licence

Also you might consider getting your licence elsewhere than Pattaya as the place is always chaotic.

Edited January 16, 2008 by wilko

[wilko]

try Ao Udom

[Agenda]

Now they issue plastic driving license. If you have your driving license in English, you don't need to pass tests for driving and rules. But all categories you want your thai licences to be for, should be listed your home country's card. After giving all papers, you have to pass very easy tests for reaction.

[wilko]

the trouble with "color blindness" is that when driving in poor visibility (rain) or at night....traffic lights don't have the decency to show up on their own they are part of a maelstrom of blurred and flashing lights that confront the driver......with "normal" vision you act instinctively to these scenarios but if you are color blind it takes more time (fractions of a second) to sort the wheat from the chaff....you have to think about it.....this often means that it is too late to take the appropriate action.

[Lost in LOS]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

My experience

applied online to auto club in America and got my international license in two weeks. got my residence permit at the immigration [copy of passport, copy of visa page, proof where i live & 2 pictures] double for two licenses

[if your drivers license and international drivers license has car and motorcycle on them you don't need to take physical or written tests]

went to get my license with my Thai & English speaking maid [a must in my opinion since everything at the office is in Thai including paperwork]

fill out two of their forms for each license [motorcycle and car] and take number. if you want both licenses, everything below is doubled. go to window #4 and bring the following:

your own pen

both forms filled out

residence certificate

gave them two pics each [they only wanted one if i got the new plastic license [they take the pic on the computer]. plastic license is the way to go

passport with copy of title and visa pages

international drivers license with copy of my language page and picture page with info

US drivers license with copy front and back

health certificate from any doctors office

money [105 baht car and 55 motorcycle] could be slightly more for the plastic cards [like credit cards]

you have to take a color blindness test. [cover each eye and look at a chart with different size and different color dots randomly on it, impossible to memorize for those who are color blind]

take a reaction test where you step on gas and when red light comes on step on brake. made a mistake of wearing clogs and almost failed as they were flopping around, wear shoes. [there is a copy machine stand across the street if you need copies]

left jomtien at 12 noon and returned at 4pm with two licenses

hope this helps

[longball53098]

This last report was from the middle of last month,,,,,,,,,,,February 2008,,,,,,,,,,,,,today the 23rd March 2008 the PCEC had a Thai man give a small report about the "new" style Thai license,,,,,,,,picture is embedded into the license, the license is a credit card type of document,,,,,,,,he indicated that this was what is being used now,,,,,,,,,,the application and the license is done in English as well as Thai.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,my question?

Has anyone just recently applied for and received this new style license here in the Pattaya/Banglamung Land Transport office?

If so can you give the particulars as to cost and any changes to the documents needed to get the license?

The man this morning says that they still issue automobile and motorcycle separately,,,,,,,

So again has anyone had this new license issued here in Pattaya,,,,,,,,,,,,or even Rayong?

Thanks

[tattoodrob]

This last report was from the middle of last month,,,,,,,,,,,February 2008,,,,,,,,,,,,,today the 23rd March 2008 the PCEC had a Thai man give a small report about the "new" style Thai license,,,,,,,,picture is embedded into the license, the license is a credit card type of document,,,,,,,,he indicated that this was what is being used now,,,,,,,,,,the application and the license is done in English as well as Thai.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,my question?

Has anyone just recently applied for and received this new style license here in the Pattaya/Banglamung Land Transport office?

If so can you give the particulars as to cost and any changes to the documents needed to get the license?

The man this morning says that they still issue automobile and motorcycle separately,,,,,,,

So again has anyone had this new license issued here in Pattaya,,,,,,,,,,,,or even Rayong?

Thanks

answers to your question

yes....about a month ago now.

cost was aprox 60 bt more(cant remember exact amount)for each plastic licence.documents needed are same,just no photos as they do that now.

yes seperate licence issued for bike/car

yes again...was issued in pattaya.

hope this helps you.

[eefoo]

Colour blindness test...... Traffic lights .......... Hmmmmm. I wonder if anyone has actually mentioned to Thai drivers that the lights change colour?

[Bertil]

When I paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

That was a bit excessive! The one year licence is 105 baht!

I would like to know the REAL price.

Is it 500 or 105??

[tattoodrob]

When I paid for the licence I fished out a 1000 baht note and when the 500 baht change was offered the notes were spread like a fan, the implication obvious. I left behind one of the 100 baht notes.

That was a bit excessive! The one year licence is 105 baht!

I would like to know the REAL price.

Is it 500 or 105??

105 bt for paper licence,a little extra for plastic but nowhere nr 500 bt!!!

[sweetchariot]

105 baht for one year. When this expires you go back to get a 5 year license for 525 baht.

[Asianrider]

No test required in Pattaya if you have an IDP except for the three small tests in the office which are, depth perception, reaction test and colour test all done in 2 mins.

You will need a medical certificate despite some reports to the contrary, these can be obtained from any doctors surgery for around 100baht, you will also need a certificate of residence (Jomtien Immigration 200baht) or a work permit. Dont forget some pics, two for each licence and copies of your passport, main page, visa page etc.

Take a pen and if you can someone thta speaks Thai, around mid afternoon it gets quiet early mornings are normally mahem! I think thats it.

JohnC is spot on here. Got my Car & Motorbike license 2 weeks. Only mistake i made was arriving about 11am, the whole thing took 5 hours because they stopped for lunch at 12:15 for 45min plus to eat. A lot of thai's and foreigners were queuing up without the right paperwork.

I failed the depth test first, young Thai lady said one more time or i would have to come back tomorrow. Luckily i passed.

Since then i have used the Thai licence as ID in the banks, rather than my passport. They were fine with this.