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Drivers License Renewal In Phuket

chiang mai

By chiang mai
in Phuket

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chiang mai Star Member

chiang mai

Posted
Posted

I was somewhat hopeful a few weeks ago when a farang assistant at the Phuket Immigration Office told me that the process for renewing a driving license had been improved and there was now no cost involved, hah, a confidence building trap if ever there was one!

I suppose it may be true that there is no cost involved in getting Immigration Office approval for a drivers license renewal, if you own your own property in Phuket. But if you are a renter you will require not only your rental/lease agreement but also a copy of the ID card of the owner of the property you rent/lease from, in many cases, certainly in mine, that owner may be a non-resident expat who has acquired a rental property as an investment thus the idea of a getting a copy of his/her ID card is out of the question.

The solution of course was to take the short cut and for a fee of 300 baht this was done, receipts regrettably cannot be issued under such circumstances, are you sure, yes!

And whilst I'm having a gentle low key moan about this event: what's with the girls at the drivers license office? Do they not like life, their jobs or anything at all - three out of four were horribly surly, bordering on aggressive, for goodness sake, it's not too difficult to be half way pleasant in a customer facing role, surely.

Big sigh, all done, feeling much better now that I've shared this with my loving expat community. :0

Felt 35 Platinum Member

Felt 35

Posted
Posted
involved in getting Immigration Office approval for a drivers license renewal

I don’t understand. Is there something new also for renewing your driving licence now?

I thought we needed only the notification of address from Immigration.

Please explain if anything new. I have a couple of years left on my current licence, but well time runs.

Thanks.

chiang mai Star Member

chiang mai

Posted
  • Author
Posted
involved in getting Immigration Office approval for a drivers license renewal

I don’t understand. Is there something new also for renewing your driving licence now?

I thought we needed only the notification of address from Immigration.

Please explain if anything new. I have a couple of years left on my current licence, but well time runs.

Thanks.

You need an approved signed form from Immigration Office to accompany your drivers license application/renewal .

LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted (edited)

Went and did the same thing.. My landlord is a farang and not in Thailand.. no chance of his ID or passport..

I explained this.. Bit of a smile.. Officer said they should have it.. but smile.. this time.. no problem.. Wai.. Thank the officer.. Thank the immigration volunteer who helped explain I couldnt get those docs.. And I was issued it.. no fee no bribe no cost no problem..

Then to the DMV.. I arrived at 3:30 to discover they actually close at 3:30.. They all smiled, one older one flirted with me heavily, while she got the other lady to speed input my details.. And hurried me into the other room, and begged the lady to process 'just one more' even tho it was after the time by about 10 mins by then.. This they did. From walking in the door to walking out the door with 2 new licenses was less than 15 minutes.

My experience was the opposite.. everyone was super ncie and went out of their way to help me.. hel_l I had one of the women asking if I had a wife, if I had kids, and when I said I didn't have any (even tho I said I had a wife) she joked that she could give me kids.. I pointed out my wife might not like that and she suggested we didnt have to tell her. Now I dont know what getting a driving license renewal done back in the west but I doubt anyone would have been offering to bear my children while she did the forms.

Edited by LivinLOS
Felt 35 Platinum Member

Felt 35

Posted
Posted
You need an approved signed form from Immigration Office to accompany your drivers license application/renewal .

Okay approval from immigration … and to get that approval if I understand correctly I need ID from my landlord or do the landlord have to follow me to the immigration office?

The last time (3 years ago) I used income statement from my Embassy, where my address is stated, so that’s not good anymore!

Hmm…for me it seems they are taking up again old rules and if I not remember wrong this is what you needed from your landlord some 10-12 years plus ago for getting a notification of address.

Anyway good to know.

Thanks.

chiang mai Star Member

chiang mai

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Went and did the same thing.. My landlord is a farang and not in Thailand.. no chance of his ID or passport..

I explained this.. Bit of a smile.. Officer said they should have it.. but smile.. this time.. no problem.. Wai.. Thank the officer.. Thank the immigration volunteer who helped explain I couldnt get those docs.. And I was issued it.. no fee no bribe no cost no problem..

Then to the DMV.. I arrived at 3:30 to discover they actually close at 3:30.. They all smiled, one older one flirted with me heavily, while she got the other lady to speed input my details.. And hurried me into the other room, and begged the lady to process 'just one more' even tho it was after the time by about 10 mins by then.. This they did. From walking in the door to walking out the door with 2 new licenses was less than 15 minutes.

My experience was the opposite.. everyone was super ncie and went out of their way to help me.. hel_l I had one of the women asking if I had a wife, if I had kids, and when I said I didn't have any (even tho I said I had a wife) she joked that she could give me kids.. I pointed out my wife might not like that and she suggested we didnt have to tell her. Now I dont know what getting a driving license renewal done back in the west but I doubt anyone would have been offering to bear my children while she did the forms.

Can I come with you, the next time you go to DMV? No play on words intended. :)

LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted
Can I come with you, the next time you go to DMV? No play on words intended. :)

In the car section theres a little kinda dumpy one.. Who always makes eyes at me.. So I took her some cakes !! Now I am treated like a prince, no taking tickets or waiting in lines.. Am whisked out the back, cold glass of water appears at my hand.. And they run the book all around the office for me while kha kha ing.. One of the ladies back there told me I have lovely eyes, which is pure bullshit as I was hungover as hel_l and if by lovely she meant 'black bagged and haggard' she would have been right on the mark. I am under no illusions of my Brad Pitt'ness but they still flirt, rub my arm, and generally be as nice as people could be.

I told my brother this story and he just laughed.. Said he wouldnt have the guts to simply take the fat girl cakes.. I also notice I get the usual take a ticket and wait in line when I take my GF.. You think having someone to do the forms might be a help but its totally counter productive.. Without anyone I can be the 'smiling but useless farang' who they can all mother and pet.

I am the first to be a moaner when Thailand is a pain in the arse, when a system is unfair or when something hits my buttons.. But the office gals in the DMV office have been pure sweeties to me.

pagallim Platinum Member

pagallim

Posted
Posted

Below a post I did a week or so ago on Retirement Visas, and whether there had been any recent change.

Mine renewed 3rd August, no differences from last year. One thing that I do know has changed, is the Residency Certificate (obtaining a driving licence etc). Before, all that was required was proof of accommodation, copy of passport, and photographs (before done in an upstairs office in Phuket Immigration). Now (apparently from some 2 weeks ago), a copy of the property owner's ID card, along with the owner's signature is needed, and the process is done at the usual desks on the main floor. I believe that in some cases this has caused severe grief to applicants, as it's not unusual for the land registration documents to be out of date, and the 'registered' owner might even be dead! If you need one of these (for driving licence renewal etc), best to allow plenty of time, and speak to one of the volunteers in the Immigration Office first.

LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted
Do you need to take all the eye sight tests if you bring with your International driving licence?

Thanks

:)

2 maybe 3 years ago when I got my 1 year I did..

Eye color tests.. Eye peripheral vision tests.. and a reaction test.

I also had to do the multiple choice written test which common knowledge on the forums said I wouldnt have to.

EDIT :: Didnt have to do any tests to get my 5 year.. Just took in my one year and they processed it to a 5.

stevenl Star Member

stevenl

Posted
Posted (edited)
Didnt have to do any tests to get my 5 year.. Just took in my one year and they processed it to a 5.

Same for me.

Renewed last April, and had to do it all. That was 5 to 5 though.

Edited by stevenl
LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted
Renewed last April, and had to do it all. That was 5 to 5 though.

I think they do that on 5 to 5 as people get older (no offence intended) to make sure they can still see and react enough to drive as they age ??

stevenl Star Member

stevenl

Posted
Posted
Renewed last April, and had to do it all. That was 5 to 5 though.

I think they do that on 5 to 5 as people get older (no offence intended) to make sure they can still see and react enough to drive as they age ??

I would be offended, but they did the same with my (step)son who is not even 30 years old :)

So yes, could be, maybe 1-5 they don't bother, 5-5 they do check.

LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted
LivinLOS, your incident with the cakes smacks of total corruption!! Remember the pastrygate scandal..... :D

Simon

Hey.. I never claimed to be an angel (thanks burlosconi :) )..

And it depends on what your definition of 'is' is :D !!

chiang mai Star Member

chiang mai

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Didnt have to do any tests to get my 5 year.. Just took in my one year and they processed it to a 5.

Same for me.

In my case I was renewing a five year license so be prepared.

  • 8 months later...
oMega69 Silver Member

oMega69

Posted
Posted

Remember . . for 1 years license its enof with Tourist Visa But for 5 years license you need a Non Immigrant Visa . ., No need for WP any more .

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