International Driving Licence

[sadako]

Hi to ya all !

Moving to Thailand soon . Wondering if any of you may know where and how to get hold of an international or Thai drivers licence on arrival in Thailand . Do I need to take a test ? I hear it is easy with a non-immigrant or tourist visa ?

Confused Sadako.........

[BaanOz]

Hi to ya all !

Moving to Thailand soon . Wondering if any of you may know where and how to get hold of an international or Thai drivers licence on arrival in Thailand . Do I need to take a test ? I hear it is easy with a non-immigrant or tourist visa ?

Confused Sadako.........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try your local motorist association for a international driver licence.

In Australia it's the NRMA and you just need your car licence and a photo to apply. I think they last for 12 months.

Cheers BaanOz

[chuchok]

Hi to ya all !

Moving to Thailand soon . Wondering if any of you may know where and how to get hold of an international or Thai drivers licence on arrival in Thailand . Do I need to take a test ? I hear it is easy with a non-immigrant or tourist visa ?

Confused Sadako.........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try your local motorist association for a international driver licence.

In Australia it's the NRMA and you just need your car licence and a photo to apply. I think they last for 12 months.

Cheers BaanOz

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

same for NZ.All I have to do is e-mail a copy of my kiwi licence to the Automobile Association of NZ, with a payment of $15 and hey presto...I've got an Int'l licience.They will even post it for free.

[Axel]

You don't say where you come from.

Anyway, you need to bring your own licence and an IDL issued in your country.

Passport with valid Non-immigrant Visa. (Individuals with a Tourist Visa don't qualify)

Present residence address certified by embassy or Immigration Bureau

Medical certificate stating good health

2 photographs.

Go in person to the Land transport office in charge for the address you show as residence. The general test will be waived but you have to make a test for colour blindness.

First licence will be issued at Baht 105, valid for one year.

[sadako]

Thanks guys , ( I am in the UK ) so where is a good place to get a medical certificate for the purpose of a driving licence , does it have to be in Thai ? Any doctors surgery ? Or place that does blindness test ?

Thanks again ,

Sadako ( she never sleeps )

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Hi to ya all !

Moving to Thailand soon . Wondering if any of you may know where and how to get hold of an international or Thai drivers licence on arrival in Thailand . Do I need to take a test ? I hear it is easy with a non-immigrant or tourist visa ?

Confused Sadako.........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Get an International Permit in the UK before you leave and you need a Non-Immigrant visa to get a Thai license. A tourist is ineligible.

[Crossy]

Thanks guys , ( I am in the UK ) so where is a good place to get a medical certificate for the purpose of a driving licence , does it have to be in Thai ? Any doctors surgery ? Or place that does blindness test ?

Thanks again ,

Sadako ( she never sleeps )

Any hospital in Thailand will issue the certificate for a nominal fee, just tell them it is for a driving licence, even my local place speak good enough English to understand what I want (with appropriate 'driving' actions).

It will be in Thai but don't worry, it says you are in good health.

As long as you have an IDP (from the RAC) you won't have to demonstrate that you can drive when you apply for the licence here, just a simple colour blindness and reaction test. Apparently I failed the 'depth peception' test it's a real dog to do but they let me have a licence anyway.

[Neeranam]

If you can get an International License, why bother with a Thai one?

In my eperience, having a Thai one does no good at all when stopped by the police, a common event, if you didn't know.

When I used to show them my British one it confused them and they usually let me go without a fine(bribe). Sometimes woth the Thai one they tale it straight off me and I have to pick it up from the station and pay a fine, well actually the wife sorts it out.

If you want a Thai one, but again I can't see any benefits, it is a lot easier to get upcountry than Bangkok.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If you can get an International License, why bother with a Thai one?

In my eperience, having a Thai one does no good at all when stopped by the police, a common event, if you didn't know.

When I used to show them my British one it confused them and they usually let me go without a fine(bribe). Sometimes woth the Thai one they tale it straight off me and I have to pick it up from the station and pay a fine, well actually the wife sorts it out.

If you want a Thai one, but again I can't see any benefits, it is a lot easier to get upcountry than Bangkok.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

International Permits only have a one year period of validity.

[Dragonman]

Sadako. May I congratulate you on your bravery in wanting to drive in Thailand. Having just driven 1300 miles over Songkran I feel privileged to still be alive I have a thai licence, but as stated you can get by on an International, as long as you keep an ample supply of 100 baht notes inside. My latest stop by police was for following the speed limit but was told it had been reduced for the holidays. A fact only told to the police

If you have a reasonable standard of driving it will probably raise the level of competent drivers to a handful

[Khutan]

....so where is a good place to get a medical certificate for the purpose of a driving licence , does it have to be in Thai ? Any doctors surgery ? Or place that does blindness test ?

Thanks again ,

Sadako ( she never sleeps )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Blindness test is done at the Traffic Branch, they point at these dots on the wall and ask you to say the name of the colours in English.

Medical Certificate - I went to a local clinic in a Soi, my wife asked for my passport and 50 Baht, told me to sit down.

She returned later with a certificate, 50 baht if healthy 75 baht if you want to be sick....

The last medical I did, was the reverse - done by my company at the most expensive hospital in Thailand, including a full body scan. Took almost all day, and I was found to be healthy. Certificate looked about the same.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

....so where is a good place to get a medical certificate for the purpose of a driving licence , does it have to be in Thai ? Any doctors surgery ? Or place that does blindness test ?

Thanks again ,

Sadako ( she never sleeps )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Blindness test is done at the Traffic Branch, they point at these dots on the wall and ask you to say the name of the colours in English.

Medical Certificate - I went to a local clinic in a Soi, my wife asked for my passport and 50 Baht, told me to sit down.

She returned later with a certificate, 50 baht if healthy 75 baht if you want to be sick....

The last medical I did, was the reverse - done by my company at the most expensive hospital in Thailand, including a full body scan. Took almost all day, and I was found to be healthy. Certificate looked about the same.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

T i T

[Crossy]

If you can get an International License, why bother with a Thai one?

In my eperience, having a Thai one does no good at all when stopped by the police, a common event, if you didn't know.

When I used to show them my British one it confused them and they usually let me go without a fine(bribe). Sometimes woth the Thai one they tale it straight off me and I have to pick it up from the station and pay a fine, well actually the wife sorts it out.

If you want a Thai one, but again I can't see any benefits, it is a lot easier to get upcountry than Bangkok.

The big advantage of having a Thai licence is that is an acceptable form of ID, so you don't have to carry your valuable passport around with you. Sometimes it will also get you local admission prices to parks etc.

You are also only officially permitted to drive for 3 months with an IDP, if you are here on an extension of stay the IDP is invalid, the law is that you should have a local licence. Honestly, it is so easy to get, why not. Mine took about 2 hours, mostly waiting, you do need a Thai speaker though as all the forms are Thai only.

Comply with the law, then if (when) you have an accident you are 100% legal. It's all very well palming off a copper with some odd piece of paper but if someone is dead woe betide you if you (as the foreigner) is not in full CYA mode.

That said, if I get stopped I give the man my (expired) Belgian ID card along with the requisite 300 Baht