Got My Thai License Today, Passed The Tests!

[kevdulounge]

Hello,

I just wanted to share my experience, I passed the written and driving test, as I didn't have foreign license to produce.

I went the Chatuchak's Dept. of Land transportation this morning. The sukhumvit office (nearer to where I live) doesn't seem to exist anymore. Anyway, the Dept is a close walk from BTS Mochit. I arrived there at 8:30 am. The hardest thing was to find building 4, where I had to go.

I didn't bring an interpreter with me, and I speak near to no thai at all.

First I had to go throught a colour blindness test, then a reactivness and depth vision test. i didn't see them fail anyone, even tho some people didn't seem to have much more reactivness than a dead cow. Anyways :

I must say that all along, my not speaking thai wasn't a problem. They didn't speak english either, but had docs in english, and we've always found a way to understand eachothers.

I then proceeded to a room where I was showed a road / trafic rules DVD in english. it lasted for 1:30, and it made me realise that most Thai people don't know their own driving regulation. Most cars we see 'round here shouldn't be on the roads either.

They I went to a big room with about a hundreed computer booths. I was given a card to insert into the machine, and the test began. I got 30 questions, 60 minutes to answer them all. There was several bugs with the questions, several translation mistake also, and I did 7 mistakes out of 30. It was good enough for them not to fail me.

I was asked to proceed to the driving yard. There I got to chose between an automatic or a shift car. Took the auto (as I learned on an auto back home). They ask me to go straight forward, then backwards, then to park between yellow line, then parrallel. 5 minutes after the test had began, it was done.

Finally I was given the driving license at 12pm.

The overall cost was 305 bahts all together (with the auto car rental), and took no more than 3 hours.

So if you can't speak Thai, you don't need to come with an interpreter in Chatuchak. You'll go to faarang counters, and wont have to queue like the Thais. if you go with an interpreter you might have to queue.

Thanks for reading

[PattayaParent]

Congratulations.

Drive safetly!

[wca01]

You are a very good example. Congratulations. I am the bad one: Since 1991 I drive in Thailand with an IDL only. (But never had any problem either with the police nor the insurance company.)

Didier

[jingjingna]

Congratulations, passing the test here is a piece of cake though, wouldn't you say?

[Petch01]

Congratulations.

Petch01

[Crossy]

Yep, well done

And, this thread should be required reading for those of us (they know who they are) who put getting a Thai licence in the 'too hard' bin!

[absolutelyBangkok]

Congrats, you did it!!!

Was a real challenge, was it? Not the test, but moving your ass to get it done ...

[bkkperson]

What is the written test like for those who havent passed any test easy?

Very rude of me.....nice 1 dude congrats

[designersing]

Hello,

I just wanted to share my experience, I passed the written and driving test, as I didn't have foreign license to produce.

I went the Chatuchak's Dept. of Land transportation this morning. The sukhumvit office (nearer to where I live) doesn't seem to exist anymore. Anyway, the Dept is a close walk from BTS Mochit. I arrived there at 8:30 am. The hardest thing was to find building 4, where I had to go.

I didn't bring an interpreter with me, and I speak near to no thai at all.

First I had to go throught a colour blindness test, then a reactivness and depth vision test. i didn't see them fail anyone, even tho some people didn't seem to have much more reactivness than a dead cow. Anyways :

I must say that all along, my not speaking thai wasn't a problem. They didn't speak english either, but had docs in english, and we've always found a way to understand eachothers.

I then proceeded to a room where I was showed a road / trafic rules DVD in english. it lasted for 1:30, and it made me realise that most Thai people don't know their own driving regulation. Most cars we see 'round here shouldn't be on the roads either.

They I went to a big room with about a hundreed computer booths. I was given a card to insert into the machine, and the test began. I got 30 questions, 60 minutes to answer them all. There was several bugs with the questions, several translation mistake also, and I did 7 mistakes out of 30. It was good enough for them not to fail me.

I was asked to proceed to the driving yard. There I got to chose between an automatic or a shift car. Took the auto (as I learned on an auto back home). They ask me to go straight forward, then backwards, then to park between yellow line, then parrallel. 5 minutes after the test had began, it was done.

Finally I was given the driving license at 12pm.

The overall cost was 305 bahts all together (with the auto car rental), and took no more than 3 hours.

So if you can't speak Thai, you don't need to come with an interpreter in Chatuchak. You'll go to faarang counters, and wont have to queue like the Thais. if you go with an interpreter you might have to queue.

Thanks for reading

hey congrats Kev! Well done, I would also like to do my thai driving licence later this year, can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa? drive safely out there!

[Crossy]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

[designersing]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

thanks crossy, also I would need the medical certificate, is there anything else I would need to take with me?

thanks in advance

[Crossy]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

thanks crossy, also I would need the medical certificate, is there anything else I would need to take with me?

thanks in advance

The pinned thread at the top of this forum has the full details

IIRC you need:-

1. Medical cert.
   
2. Address confirmation letter from your embassy or immigration (most immigration offices will only issue if you're doing 90 day reports), a work permit passes for the address confirmation if you have one.
   
3. Home country licence and IDP if you have one (avoids the test)
   
4. Passport with non-immigrant visa
   
5. Photocopies of everything (PP photo page, latest stamp, arrival card)
   
6. A Thai if you're not going to the office near Chatuchak (most don't have English forms).
   
7. Correctly sized photos*
   

*Photos can be obtained at the office (bigger offices are now doing proper photos printed onto the licence so no requirement).

I think that's all. If you want a bike licence as well as car you'll need extra copies and do another test.

[egg]

Hi,,

l am using my IDP but l have no objection to getting a Thai drivng licence ,,, my only problem is that l am colour blind ,,, how much importance do they place on that test ?? ,,,, never had to do one in 37 years of driving in Oz ,,

cheers

egg

[designersing]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

thanks crossy, also I would need the medical certificate, is there anything else I would need to take with me?

thanks in advance

The pinned thread at the top of this forum has the full details

IIRC you need:-

1. Medical cert.
   
2. Address confirmation letter from your embassy or immigration (most immigration offices will only issue if you're doing 90 day reports), a work permit passes for the address confirmation if you have one.
   
3. Home country licence and IDP if you have one (avoids the test)
   
4. Passport with non-immigrant visa
   
5. Photocopies of everything (PP photo page, latest stamp, arrival card)
   
6. A Thai if you're not going to the office near Chatuchak (most don't have English forms).
   
7. Correctly sized photos*
   

*Photos can be obtained at the office (bigger offices are now doing proper photos printed onto the licence so no requirement).

I think that's all. If you want a bike licence as well as car you'll need extra copies and do another test.

thanks for the info, also for pointing out the info at the top of page (maybe I do need my eyes testing?!) Good point about the motorbike licence too, thanks for your help and info mate My Plan is to get the non o, medical, address certified, take both tests and then hopefully I will be able to drive my folks around (the bend) when they arrive in june!

Cheers!

[kevdulounge]

Hey, thank you so much to all of you, congratulating me

To answer your questions: Yes the driving test was piece of cake, and the hard part was to be in Chatuchak at 8:00 am and finding the right building. I'm no early bird, you see...

The writing test wasn't so easy. I got 7 wrong out of 30, and I beleive one more mistake would have been one too many. Also, as I said, the testing program (on the computer) was full of bugs. It asked questions, and the possible answers had nothing to do with the question...

Some of the funny questions I had:

- Is it illegal to:

Drive after consuming alcohol or drugs

Drive after consuming a diaoreha medecine

Drive with plates you made yourself

Drive without insurance

But some questions were more tricky... They'd show you an image of a trafic situation, and they'd ask you who should pass first.

Just watch the DVD closely, and you'll pass the test allright.

Another reason to pass the test: The license can be used as an ID card. You can even use to to flight within thailand :-)

[AlexLah]

Better to bring a Thai speaker with ya.

I showed my DL (which is not an IDL) and after a bit of talking from my Thai friend it was accepted as an IDL.

Did the eye test and failed on the depth test.

Explained the guy that I had an accident with one eye that made it difficult for me to see depth.

OK he said watch my signal. Pushed the button and waited for the sign, spot on, ha ha .

Got the one year DL.

Just make sure that your Thai DL is expired when you go for the extension for 5 years.

Just takes half hour.

Cheers,

Alie

[corkscrew]

Yep, well done

And, this thread should be required reading for those of us (they know who they are) who put getting a Thai licence in the 'too hard' bin!

Crossy, you are right!

[corkscrew]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

thanks crossy, also I would need the medical certificate, is there anything else I would need to take with me?

thanks in advance

The pinned thread at the top of this forum has the full details

IIRC you need:-

1. Medical cert.
   
2. Address confirmation letter from your embassy or immigration (most immigration offices will only issue if you're doing 90 day reports), a work permit passes for the address confirmation if you have one.
   
3. Home country licence and IDP if you have one (avoids the test)
   
4. Passport with non-immigrant visa
   
5. Photocopies of everything (PP photo page, latest stamp, arrival card)
   
6. A Thai if you're not going to the office near Chatuchak (most don't have English forms).
   
7. Correctly sized photos*
   

*Photos can be obtained at the office (bigger offices are now doing proper photos printed onto the licence so no requirement).

I think that's all. If you want a bike licence as well as car you'll need extra copies and do another test.

Crossy, if you are not a lawyer you should be one. You think like one...and give advice like one.

[Crossy]

Crossy, if you are not a lawyer you should be one. You think like one...and give advice like one.

Hmmmm, this could be construed as an insult I'm not a lawyer, just a consultant engineer so I'll take it as a complement :D

BTW Yesterday I used my Thai licence to check-in on a domestic flight in INDIA, accepted without even a blink

[tgeezer]

can you do it on a tourist visa or would it be better to get non immigrant visa?

You must have a non-immigrant visa (any class) in order to obtain a Thai licence.

thanks crossy, also I would need the medical certificate, is there anything else I would need to take with me?

thanks in advance

The pinned thread at the top of this forum has the full details

IIRC you need:-

1. Medical cert.
   
2. Address confirmation letter from your embassy or immigration (most immigration offices will only issue if you're doing 90 day reports), a work permit passes for the address confirmation if you have one.
   
3. Home country licence and IDP if you have one (avoids the test)
   
4. Passport with non-immigrant visa
   
5. Photocopies of everything (PP photo page, latest stamp, arrival card)
   
6. A Thai if you're not going to the office near Chatuchak (most don't have English forms).
   
7. Correctly sized photos*
   

*Photos can be obtained at the office (bigger offices are now doing proper photos printed onto the licence so no requirement).

I think that's all. If you want a bike licence as well as car you'll need extra copies and do another test.

If you go for the Immigration letter it takes a month, I have three weeks to wait on mine; apparantly Immigration send it to local police who verify the address and that you live there, it is free.