Driving/Riding License In Phuket

[Madivad]

Admittedly I haven't done a lot of research on here recently, but everyone has an opinion on things they haven't done when speaking to them publicly. Someone tried to inform me the other day, "don't go to Phuket town, it takes too long. Go to Phang Nga instead. The longer travelling time is covered in the shorter time you'll spend at the transport office"

Well, I went and got my license yesterday and have to admit I was very pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it actually was!

I pulled into the carpark spot on 8:30am. The line was long, out the door and off the verandah area on both sides and I really thought I was in for a big day. I lined up and by

8:50 I had my documents checked.

8:55 wrote my name down, signed every page and aat down

9:00 a video (in thai) plays telling you how to do the tests

9:15 a thai woman gets up and starts talking in thai for about 15 minutes.

9:30 testing starts, many thai fail the reaction test and their sheets get put to the side. As the woman doing the testing gets towards the bottom of the pile (where I expect mine to be) she pulls out all those who have failed and test them again. Ok. This is Thailand.

9:45 I do my reaction test. 3 perfect results (although one only had one led left to go!) and then did the colourblind test (didn't do the depth perception test, although the machine was there!)

9:48 wrote my name in another book and told to see the information lady.

9:50 see information lady and she gives me a ticket

9:50 I don't sit down because my ticket is called before I get to my seat. She goes through my papers again an shows me how my name would appear. She got my surname and Christian names mixed up. Fixed it. Told to go to counter 5

9:55 she calls me into her little cubicle and takes my photo and I sit back down

9:59 she hands me my licenses and I'm out the door before 10:00am!

Considering I thought it was going to be at least a half day affair, it was over in an hour and a half.

Although quicker, I was less prepared the day before when I got my residence certificate from immigration. Had to visit that counter 3 times before I got it all right!

[Madivad]

Just in case anyone asks, I got both car and bike licenses. I took with me my:

- passport (didn't look at it),

- 2x photocopy of passport data and visa pages

- Australian drivers license (again, didn't ask),

- 2x photocopy of same (she gave one back :S)

- international driving permit (she wanted to see this),

- 2x photocopy of IDP

- medical certificate and copy

- residence certificate and 2x photocopies however she wanted the original on this and gave me the photocopy back

All up I paid 300B for the residence certificate from immigration the day before, 160B for the licenses and 220B for the smart cards (apparently I could have saved 20B if I told her I didn't want the covers. Oh well). That's 380B for the actual licenses. Total: 680B

And you don't need to take photos, they do it digitally and print it straight onto the cards.

[ScubaBuddha]

Yeah I had a similar experience. It may have been even quicker, and I arrived about noon. Part of the reason it was so quick is you had a foreign license that is recognized here. I assume Aussie licenses have pictures on the back of what you can drive? When I did it I brought in my California license which was endorsed for motorcycle, but it just says "Class C, M1" and so they asked me to bring a printout of the DMV website page explaining the classes. I have never heard it suggested you drive to Phang Na. That seems a little absurd.

[Semper]

Madivad.

Now all you have to do, is to learn how to drive in Thailand.

[schlog]

Yeah I had a similar experience. It may have been even quicker, and I arrived about noon. Part of the reason it was so quick is you had a foreign license that is recognized here. I assume Aussie licenses have pictures on the back of what you can drive? When I did it I brought in my California license which was endorsed for motorcycle, but it just says "Class C, M1" and so they asked me to bring a printout of the DMV website page explaining the classes. I have never heard it suggested you drive to Phang Na. That seems a little absurd.

Not absurd if you stay in north Phuket. In PhangNga you need only 5 min.

300B for the residence certificate from immigration......wow are you kidding?????

[Semper]

Yeah I had a similar experience. It may have been even quicker, and I arrived about noon. Part of the reason it was so quick is you had a foreign license that is recognized here. I assume Aussie licenses have pictures on the back of what you can drive? When I did it I brought in my California license which was endorsed for motorcycle, but it just says "Class C, M1" and so they asked me to bring a printout of the DMV website page explaining the classes. I have never heard it suggested you drive to Phang Na. That seems a little absurd.

Not absurd if you stay in north Phuket. In PhangNga you need only 5 min.

300B for the residence certificate from immigration......wow are you kidding?????

In CM it's 500 B.

[Madivad]

At least I'm not the only one that gets ripped off this way. I must have one of those faces, because everytime I smile and try to "question" these unprescribed fees, I never get an, "oh ok, no problem".

[ScubaBuddha]

Not absurd if you stay in north Phuket. In PhangNga you need only 5 min.

Fair point, but I think 95% of farang live south of Heroines.

[Old Croc]

My experience a few months back was very similar, except I was called up for the reaction test much earlier than expected. I too thought I was on the bottom of the pile.

Went on a monday, not recommended, hoards seem to go on that day, and I thought I was in for a long day. However, once the reaction test was completed, the last bit happened very quickly. Suddenly found myself outside with the little prize in hand and they even took a reasonable photo of a very difficult subject!

300 baht seems to be the standard price for the residency certificate. There was a thread about it a little while back.

[schlog]

Gave them every time 100B tip and they never asked for more. Handed PP with 100B and smile and they fill in the form. Pleasant.

[grumpyoldman]

Madivad.

Now all you have to do, is to learn how to drive in Thailand.

Exactly, I wonder if the video shows you how to ride the bike on the sidewalk to get around traffic? lol...

[Yaroon]

I got a total new bike licence 11 months ago..took me a few hours..

What about renewing a licence? my 1 year temp licence runs out end of this month. Easy to renew?

[LivinginKata]

I got a total new bike licence 11 months ago..took me a few hours..

What about renewing a licence? my 1 year temp licence runs out end of this month. Easy to renew?

You will need a recent residency certificate from Immigration, Passport + copy of relevant pages, medical certificate, Thai licence. Apply the day after it expires, get there before 09.00 for the vision tests, might have to sit through hour video, end up with a 5 year licence.