Thai Drivers License Renewal Question

[MJo]

I did spend a lot of time on this document. I started writing it in 2007 and have updated it each time I have renewed as the prices and policies change. I have also personally taken many people through this process. So, I stand by my help guide as written. Of course, this is Thailand so policies and procedures may change based on the day and who is in charge during that shift. I will say though, that has not been my experience. Everyone I have walked through this process has encountered exactly what I wrote in my document.

The biggest thing is that you should get IDP or have your home country DL translated and verified by your embassy and you don't need to spend whole day doing written tests and useless drive test in the parking lot. Saves lot of time and effort.

And if you choose to take the tests, or do not have valid home country DL there is no need to have copies and print outs for DL classes from the net.

But as you said TiT and if your lucky just your home country DL will do. Obviously you had bad luck and made to take the tests just because you did not have embassy stamped copy of you home country DL.

[Kwasaki]

I did spend a lot of time on this document. I started writing it in 2007 and have updated it each time I have renewed as the prices and policies change. I have also personally taken many people through this process. So, I stand by my help guide as written. Of course, this is Thailand so policies and procedures may change based on the day and who is in charge during that shift. I will say though, that has not been my experience. Everyone I have walked through this process has encountered exactly what I wrote in my document.

The biggest thing is that you should get IDP or have your home country DL translated and verified by your embassy and you don't need to spend whole day doing written tests and useless drive test in the parking lot. Saves lot of time and effort.

And if you choose to take the tests, or do not have valid home country DL there is no need to have copies and print outs for DL classes from the net.

But as you said TiT and if your lucky just your home country DL will do. Obviously you had bad luck and made to take the tests just because you did not have embassy stamped copy of you home country DL.

Many provinces use different ways of going about renewal, so go to your local DLT and ask what is required, easy, you do not need a IDP to get a Thai driving license for renewal or a first time 1 year Thai license, IDP's are NOT translated into Thai.

Your full valid driving license with a photo and translated to English if it is not already done so is OK.

[MJo]

Many provinces use different ways of going about renewal, so go to your local DLT and ask what is required, easy, you do not need a IDP to get a Thai driving license for renewal or a first time 1 year Thai license, IDP's are NOT translated into Thai.

Your full valid driving license with a photo and translated to English if it is not already done so is OK.

Your twisting my words now. I replied to earlier posts in the thread and never claimed you need to have IDP etc.

The manual from DS we are discussing states that you need home country DL, printouts from internet explaining the licence classes AND you need to take full written test and drive test as well.

I'm just pointing out that with IDP or embassy certified copy of your home country DL translated to english (if not already in english) and you don't need to take the full written exam and drive test.

As this is Thailand, some locations accept english home country DL without embassy stamp. Unfortunately this was not the case with DS as he needed to do the exam and drive test.

So there is two ways to get your Thai DL

1. Convert your existing DL from home (present IDP or embassy certified copy in english)

2. Qualify for one (as Thais do when applying first DL) by passing a written exam and drive test

Both ways above are subject to color blindness and reaction tests etc done at DLT,

[sbk]

MJo did not make it clear in his post that he was stating a non-english DL needs to be translated into English so many (including myself) assumed he was implying it had to be translated into Thai. It is Thailand, after all. .Hhaving used my valid US DL to obtain a Thai one, I can tell you that it does not need to be translated into Thai but I have no experience with non-English DL so don't know if MJo is correct or not. So, lets just drop the petty bickering regarding this and MOVE ON

[JohanJanssen]

As far as I recall, when I went to uprate my one-year licence to the 5-year one at Rayong, they didn't require anything except the expiring/expired licence.

Incidentally, an acquaintance who went there for his second 5-year renewal a few days ago said he had to sit through a 2-hour film demonstrating all the 'do's and dont's' of driving on roads in Thailand. He said it was like watching what happens on the roads every day. He had the impression this was a new requirement for everybody seeking renewal, no other tests required.

It would be interesting to hear if other offices are doing the same thing.

I had to renew my 5 yr licence at Pattaya a few months ago. I got there a week after it expired and had to sit in the TV room and watch the traffic accidents etc, do the reaction test, the colour chart test and that was it.

The lady explained to me that had I renewed it before expiry, they just renew it. But if expired you have to do the tests.

Further to that, all licences in Thailand expire on your birthday and because I renewed mine after my birthday, it was renewed for 5yrs 11 months. Great.

Been in the Pattaya Office behind Regent School today. Renewal 5 years expires 28/05/12 had to do all the tests you had to do. So the lady told you wrong. Strange is that all the information say you need a medical certificate but when you bring it they do not want it? My gf did not pas the break test, will try Rayong next week.

[Jayman]

The reaction and color test can hardly be called a "test". It's more like a game. Everyone needs to take them to prove they still have the function to operate a motor vehicle and it takes less than 5 min. If you can't pass either one it's probably best you don't drive.

And the difference between renew before and after expire is more to do with having to waste 2 hours watching a movie and the possibility of actually taking the written test again.

[Langsuan Man]

The reaction and color test can hardly be called a "test". It's more like a game. Everyone needs to take them to prove they still have the function to operate a motor vehicle and it takes less than 5 min. If you can't pass either one it's probably best you don't drive.

And the difference between renew before and after expire is more to do with having to waste 2 hours watching a movie and the possibility of actually taking the written test again.

Yes, but it is fun to watch how many Thais fail the reaction test, shows you just why you sit at a stop light and when if turns green only four or five cars get through the intersection

[Jayman]

The reaction and color test can hardly be called a "test". It's more like a game. Everyone needs to take them to prove they still have the function to operate a motor vehicle and it takes less than 5 min. If you can't pass either one it's probably best you don't drive.

And the difference between renew before and after expire is more to do with having to waste 2 hours watching a movie and the possibility of actually taking the written test again.

Yes, but it is fun to watch how many Thais fail the reaction test, shows you just why you sit at a stop light and when if turns green only four or five cars get through the intersection

Like I said, if you can't complete the eye and reaction test then you really have no business behind the wheel of a potentially lethal weapon.