Thai Motorcycle License With 125Cc Endorsement?

[manarak]

I am planning to get Thai driving licenses for both cars and motorcycles.

I am currently holding a Swiss license for cars and motorcycles up to 125cc.

My international driving permit shows category A (motorcycles allowed), but there is a footnote saying up to 125cc only.

Question: will I have to take a theory and driving test to get the Thai motorcycle license?

I will be applying in Pattaya.

[stevenl]

Officially: yes, test and theory. In real life: who knows.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

If your license is in English and valid if you take it down to the Office in Pattaya, they should just issue you a new 1 year license for both car and motorbike (1 for each) after a eye test. Take your license, not your International Permit. It also helps to have a Thai speaker with you just to make thing smoother. You will also need your passport and a letter of residence from innigration of were your living. A work permit or Yellow book also works.

In 1 year you can renew to a 5 year license

[stevenl]

If your license is in English and valid if you take it down to the Office in Pattaya, they should just issue you a new 1 year license for both car and motorbike (1 for each) after a eye test.

Since he does not have a valid license for motorbikes they should not.

I'm not sure, but isn't the Swiss license non-English? If so, take an international one, will save you, at least for the car and maybe for the bike, the exam.

[naboo]

My motorbike endorsement up to 125cc was not enough for the Thai motorbike licence, only the car. So I drove around in a circle on a 110cc auto scooter, sat the theory test and was OK for big bikes.

[manarak]

Thanks for the replies.

Maybe I can talk myself through... show them my Swiss license (in German), and then show them the international permit, saying that's the translation in English. The IDP just says cat A permitted, the footnote is difficult to see.

Fingers crossed!

[stevenl]

Thanks for the replies.

Maybe I can talk myself through... show them my Swiss license (in German), and then show them the international permit, saying that's the translation in English. The IDP just says cat A permitted, the footnote is difficult to see.

Fingers crossed!

Yes, good luck, it might work. Worst case is you'll have to do the practical and theory exam.

[manarak]

I just came back from applying for the licenses.

It was totally painless, they don't look thoroughly at the original licenses or the footnotes.

Categories A and B on the international permit were good enough and I only had to take the color, depth of field vision and reaction tests before my car and motorcycle licenses were issued.

In at 10:00, out at 11:00, about 360 baht, but the receipts say 105 baht and 55 baht... Mai bpen rai

:-)