Converting Int'l Driving Permit Into Thai Local

[Trevor]

I have a Non-B visa, UK & Int'l licences.

Some say possession of a Thai licence (a 'local ID' in Thai language) lets the holder get away with paying Thai entry prices for cultural attractions -- which could add up to quite a saving over a year.

Is it worth the hassle and expense of sitting the test, or can tea money expedite?

Thanks to anyone who's been down this route.

[Captain Chaos]

I doubt you'll even have to take the test, apart from the colour vision check.

I just presented my UK (the EU version) paper license along with passport copy, WP copy, letter from the embassy, and medical certificate and the licenses were produced within 30 minutes or so as I recall.

Total cost (for two licences, car & bike) was something like 500 Baht, including the medical. No tea money or messing about involved.

I think you have to go to the appropriate license centre for wherever your registered address in Thailand is - mine is at the place on Suk Rd near On Nut. As TIT others might operate differently!

Final piece of advice: try going this week, or another when there is a public holiday and a lot of the locals have gone up country - it reduces the queues a lot!

No idea about paying Thai admission prices but I would say it is worth it if you drive regularly. It makes sure there are no insurance 'loopholes' should you have a prang. Also gives you a government issued ID in Thai, which the police generally seem to accept.

HTH

[grahamb]

I agree - getting the Thai licence was easy. I went to the main Transport Department place near Chatuchak and had to do the colour blind test, reaction test and a test that I think was testing stereoscopic vision. All were simple, none involved going anywhere near a vehicle...

One thing to be aware of: you need the correct size photos. I took along standard passport photos which were too big. There is an enterprising little stand in the office that takes photos the correct size and prints them out for you. About B70 for all the ones I needed IIRC.

[honeyen]

Some say possession of a Thai licence (a 'local ID' in Thai language) lets the holder get away with paying Thai entry prices for cultural attractions -- which could add up to quite a saving over a year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As long as you are a farang I don't think you could get away with that though.

[astral]

If you are here on a Non-Imm visa you should get the Thai driving licence to stay on the right side of the law and insurance rules.

No test needed if you have the IDP, nor tea money.

It may get you into events at Thai prices.

A Thai Taxpayer card is even better.

[bkk_mike]

Some say possession of a Thai licence (a 'local ID' in Thai language) lets the holder get away with paying Thai entry prices for cultural attractions -- which could add up to quite a saving over a year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As long as you are a farang I don't think you could get away with that though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why not - I've managed to pay local prices for a few places - Safari World / Siam Park just by getting my wife to point out that we live locally. The farang price does seem to really mean tourist price, not local price in a lot of places...

(I have no issues paying to enter Wat Phra Kheo though - I'm not going to try and persuade them I've become a Buddhist, and it is fairly obvious I'm not Thai).

However, the thing is, you should get a local licence anyway. I believe the law is that you can only drive on the IDP for the first 3 months after entering the country... - after that you need a Thai licence to drive here...

Edited January 5, 2005 by bkk_mike

[astral]

Never mind the price savings.

Watch out for the insurance problems!!