Submitting and loosing your Thai Licence in Canada

[rotorbreeze]

I made a mistake in telling the BC licensing Office I had a scooter driving license ...now renewed for 5 yrs...I told them I have driven a scooter for years here and feel qualified to drive a scooter in Canada. I bought the scooter and licensed it, insured at dealership and drove it to take my written test follow the procedure in getting a Class 6 for motorbike as I have driven for 40 yrs with my class 5.

ICBC supervisor said I have to give up/ or show of disposal my Thai Driving license...WHF! Dam it took me days and time to get this now the flip-pen government here in (becoming a 3rd world country) Canada want me to destroy this as "they say I can not hold more than one drivers license"

I need a connection in licensing Office to type a letter in THAI, stating I have submitted my Thai license due to the sale of motor bike I have in Pattaya. Will pay for this...need to do via email pdf file

Please help me

Ron

[Maestro]

To the best of my knowledge, a Thai driver's license does not lose its validity nor must it be surrendered when the vehicle for whose category the license is valid is sold. It would surprise me if the same were not true also for Canada. Therefore, I believe that the Thai licensing office cannot truthfully issue a statement that you have surrendered your Thai license for this purpose. Are you sure you have not misunderstood the employee of the Canadian licensing office.

If you have to surrender your Thai license anywhere you may have to do so to the Canadian licensing office in return for getting the Canadian license without having to go through the regular tests for the Canadian license, if these are the Canadian regulations.

If you chose to trade in your Thai driving license for a Canadian license you will be free, on your next visit to to Thailand, to report it lost – and lost to you it will indeed be – and get a replacement issued to you, which will probably be easier if you have a photocopy of the lost license.

[rotorbreeze]

To the best of my knowledge, a Thai driver's license does not lose its validity nor must it be surrendered when the vehicle for whose category the license is valid is sold. It would surprise me if the same were not true also for Canada. Therefore, I believe that the Thai licensing office cannot truthfully issue a statement that you have surrendered you Thai license for this purpose. Are you sure you have not misunderstood the employee of the Canadian licensing office.

If you have to surrender your Thai license anywhere you may have to do so to the Canadian licensing office in return for getting the Canadian license without having to go through the regular test for the Canadian license, if these are the Canadian regulations.

MAESTRO

Yes the license office wants me to surrender my Thai license, I told the office I had mail back to Thailand my license so I do not have it in Canada..she said she needs a letter to confirm this ...stupid egh just as stupid as the law the government made up..the Chinese business people face the same problem in getting their drivers license. I will return to Thailand and see if I can get a letter saying I do not need a Thai drivers license and can use my International licence...this should make my applications for my class6 scooter licence valid.

[Maestro]

If you do not have your Thai driver's license with you in Canada you have nothing to trade in for the Canadian license. Anybody could come and say he has a Thai license for such-and-such vehicle category even if it were not true. If you are only temporarily in Canada you could have obtained an international permit in Thailand before your departure and with it you would be allowed to drive in Canada for a limited period.

[wayned]

In the US each state has it's own driver's liscense. If you move to another state you have to get a new liscense in that state witin a certain period of time. You have to give in the liscense from the old state. The rule is in place so that you only have 1 liscense and are not able to chose which liscense you will show the p0olice when you are stopped for drunk driving again. Makes sense to me since there is not one liscense for the entire country.

[Mario2008]

1 post commenting on moderation removed.

[Gone]

Something fishy here. I am also Canadian but have been in Thailand for 13 years only to return a few times for short work contracts. I just get an International Drivers license from Chonburi when I work abroad and that includes Canada and use it.

First off I have never heard of a "scooter" license. I think you mean Motorcycle license.

If you want to get a Motorcycle license in Canada you have to take the normal steps to get one but in no way do you need to surrender your license from Thailand. If you were trying to tell them that because you have a Thai Motorcycle license and wanted to kind of "trade it in" for a Canadian motorbike license you CANNOT.

ICBC stands for Insurance Company of British Columbia. They have nothing to do with you getting a bike license. It is any Canadian licence bureau that issues licenses. And they know about Thai drivers licenses and have way higher standards so you need to take their tests and cannot just exchange the same you can do if you come to Thailand and show your Canadian DL and get a Thai license. It just don't work that way in Canada.

Either way, you never have to surrender your Thai license to anyone as you just tell them you need it for when you visit Thailand.

The Thai Land and Transport offices in Thailand will issue no such letter I'm sure 110%.

You are barking up the wrong tree mate. Just take your drivers license in Canada and get your bike license, simple really.

[NanLaew]

... or the OP can send me 10,000 baht and I will get the letter he needs.

[WilliamCave]

Hi, I am also Canadian and carry both drivers license Thai and Alberta .

In Canada your not allowed to carry 2 drivers license from different provinces . Does not say from other countries.

As the other Canadian said you need to go through the steps in Canada to get your motor cycle license and it sounds like you just want to swap Thai to Canadian you can't as the poster has said.

[lopburi3]

Are DL issued by province in Canada by chance? In the USA they are issued by state so you can not hold in more than one at a time. Sounds as if they believe Thailand is a province of Canada so you have to give up that DL to obtain in the province you are making application?

[seedy]

Are DL issued by province in Canada by chance?

Correct - issued by each province or territory.

But you are asked - for example when changing residence from one province to another - do you have any other drivers license ?

Just say NO

[rotorbreeze]

Something fishy here. I am also Canadian but have been in Thailand for 13 years only to return a few times for short work contracts. I just get an International Drivers license from Chonburi when I work abroad and that includes Canada and use it.

First off I have never heard of a "scooter" license. I think you mean Motorcycle license.

If you want to get a Motorcycle license in Canada you have to take the normal steps to get one but in no way do you need to surrender your license from Thailand. If you were trying to tell them that because you have a Thai Motorcycle license and wanted to kind of "trade it in" for a Canadian motorbike license you CANNOT.

ICBC stands for Insurance Company of British Columbia. They have nothing to do with you getting a bike license. It is any Canadian licence bureau that issues licenses. And they know about Thai drivers licenses and have way higher standards so you need to take their tests and cannot just exchange the same you can do if you come to Thailand and show your Canadian DL and get a Thai license. It just don't work that way in Canada.

Either way, you never have to surrender your Thai license to anyone as you just tell them you need it for when you visit Thailand.

The Thai Land and Transport offices in Thailand will issue no such letter I'm sure 110%.

You are barking up the wrong tree mate. Just take your drivers license in Canada and get your bike license, simple really.

I have gotten some great information from a friend..I will continue driving my motor scooter here in Vancouver BC and have copy of my Passport showing my leaving Date from Thailand and my Thai Motor cycle license. I leave for Thailand in August, once in Chonburi will see if I can get a replacement and show them the photo copy of my lost/surrendered license...if a re-issue with out all the BS I will have this license extra one to give to the licensing office back in BC, this will clear the notes on my record showing me with a Thai license and allow me to upgrade my Enhanced BC Drivers License to a Class 6!...problem solved. Still will have the valuable document of Thai motorcycle license in that I not need to carry my Cdn Passport (have copy in wallet) for hotel booking and oh yes less problems when I get road side checks...THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMMENTS AND IDEAS...

[ubonjoe]

It looks like it that you are required to give up your license when moving from another country. Which is what they would consider your are doing when you show your Thai license to prove driving experience.

Giving up your previous licence

Info

As of January 7, 2013, please note than when you qualify for your new B.C. licence, you’ll need to surrender your previous licence to ICBC.

B.C. law requires that you only have one driver's licence.

From: http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/moving-dl/other

[lopburi3]

But that would be a license from Canada - not from a foreign country.

[ubonjoe]

Webpage is info for moving from another country.

[ubonjoe]

Noticed that link was incomplete. This one works: http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/moving-dl/other_most

[lopburi3]

Seems to be specific to only B.C. and seems like a dumb law as most major countries are exempted. But agree as written it is the law for those moving there and it appears they define that as anyone previously having a DL and wanting one in that province. I suspect if Thailand objected they would also be exempted (as Thailand does require use of a Thai DL for those staying longer than tourist stays). Not a logical law.

[Gone]

Seems to be specific to only B.C. and seems like a dumb law as most major countries are exempted. But agree as written it is the law for those moving there and it appears they define that as anyone previously having a DL and wanting one in that province. I suspect if Thailand objected they would also be exempted (as Thailand does require use of a Thai DL for those staying longer than tourist stays). Not a logical law.

There is nothing logical about BC anyways or ICBC.

It's very simple really, if you move from Thailand to BC and you are a Canadian resident and want to apply for a license and they ask you do you have any license now you just say no. Keep your Thai license for when you come back to Thailand and us your BC license when in Canada.

You can still drive anywhere in Canada with any provincial license so no problems. I used to have a BC licence (now changed to Alberta) and I still have both my Thai licenses and my International license for when I work in other countries.

[Gumballl]

In the US each state has it's own driver's liscense. If you move to another state you have to get a new liscense in that state witin a certain period of time. You have to give in the liscense from the old state. The rule is in place so that you only have 1 liscense and are not able to chose which liscense you will show the p0olice when you are stopped for drunk driving again. Makes sense to me since there is not one liscense for the entire country.

This is only true if the applicant is honest when filing their application for the license. I held two driver's licenses (the first from WA, the second from MD). I had previously lived in MD, and when I returned, I told the MVA (MD Vehicle Administration) that I had lost my driver's license. They replaced it for $15. There were no nationwide checks to see if I had another license elsewhere.

As for the OP, he needs to learn to separate his two "worlds"... the one in Thailand and the other in Canada. Neither country will know jack about the other with respect to something as trivial as a driver's license.

[rotorbreeze]

In the US each state has it's own driver's liscense. If you move to another state you have to get a new liscense in that state witin a certain period of time. You have to give in the liscense from the old state. The rule is in place so that you only have 1 liscense and are not able to chose which liscense you will show the p0olice when you are stopped for drunk driving again. Makes sense to me since there is not one liscense for the entire country.

This is only true if the applicant is honest when filing their application for the license. I held two driver's licenses (the first from WA, the second from MD). I had previously lived in MD, and when I returned, I told the MVA (MD Vehicle Administration) that I had lost my driver's license. They replaced it for $15. There were no nationwide checks to see if I had another license elsewhere.

As for the OP, he needs to learn to separate his two "worlds"... the one in Thailand and the other in Canada. Neither country will know jack about the other with respect to something as trivial as a driver's license.

Thanks for advise yes being upfront with ICBC is that I do have motorcycle driving experience for two years having completed the training...for example. other motorcyclists come at you on the wrong side of road, people with no helmets, racing, oh yes being allowed to go to the front of the traffic jam..this one I like the most and will will once traffic situation warrants will find space between the 3 mph moving cars and cut inside quick enough that the space between the car they are following is not effected..will give a thank you wave...they seem awed at this...at any high speed there has to be two car widths before I cross over, once passed return to left lane. I am still amazed walk towards a crosswalk intersection...even when I walk slow and look around long before crossing the markings as I walk straight... I have to wave the traffic on as I am NOT going to cross....

I thank everyone for their advise...what I HAVE LEARNED IS TO KEEP JUST TO BASICS ON ANY APPLICATION...DO NOT ADD ANYTHING THAT YOU CONSIDER INFORMATIVE. I END THIS STATEMENT AS ANYTHING MORE IS NOT NEEDED...the temptation is here...I let it passs...

[Mario2008]

2 funny comments removed.

[rotorbreeze]

But that would be a license from Canada - not from a foreign country.

Canada is now becoming foreign to ME and the sooner I leave the better, thou I love the 3 months of summer here, the other 9 months are depressing along with the government taxes and regulations..Canada is slowly becoming a third world with new arrivals coming here to destroy our health care and our pension plans. I went to Salley Anne the salvation army to donate some items I no longer need, I see the resale of used cloths there is a SALES TAX on used clothing!!!! Some day there will be a tax on recorded music played at family gatherings or weddings...YA KNOW THERE IS ALREADY A TAX ON MUSIC PLAYED AT EVENTS...LIKE A ROYALTY FOR THE ARTIST...EVEN HAPP[Y BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU SUNG at a restaurant a fee is charged with the meals!

[rotorbreeze]

To the best of my knowledge, a Thai driver's license does not lose its validity nor must it be surrendered when the vehicle for whose category the license is valid is sold. It would surprise me if the same were not true also for Canada. Therefore, I believe that the Thai licensing office cannot truthfully issue a statement that you have surrendered your Thai license for this purpose. Are you sure you have not misunderstood the employee of the Canadian licensing office.

If you have to surrender your Thai license anywhere you may have to do so to the Canadian licensing office in return for getting the Canadian license without having to go through the regular tests for the Canadian license, if these are the Canadian regulations.

If you chose to trade in your Thai driving license for a Canadian license you will be free, on your next visit to to Thailand, to report it lost – and lost to you it will indeed be – and get a replacement issued to you, which will probably be easier if you have a photocopy of the lost license.

Thank you I have come to the conclusion getting a duplicate on my return to Thailand and surrounding the copied re-issue one to the idiotic rules of having TWO WORLD DRIVING licenses, Yes I will protect the Kings emblem on the license and will not allow it to be destroyed, much like burning Thai money..wont happen.

THANK YOU ALL IN THIS DEBATE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THAIVISA YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!!

[User3]

Gone, Post 7

The term Scooter that the OP is using likely is considered as a LSM as defined by the BC Insurance company he is using. When he says 'scooter' he is probably meaning a bicycle with an auxiliary electric motor (google scooter for examples) or a very low-powered step through type two wheeled device that other might know as Mo-ped. In any case the Insurance company seems to want a motorcycle license to operate this device.

see:

http://www.icbc.com/registration-licensing/offroad-other/low-powered/moped

http://www.icbc.com/registration-licensing/offroad-other/low-powered

http://www.icbc.com/registration-licensing/offroad-other/low-powered/motor-assisted#different_rules

Those pages have photos of what a 'scooter' is.

[rct99q]

With BC if you are not able to prove 2 year driving record you must participate in the 2year graduated course. Many restrictions etc like you can not carry a passenger with the motorbike license for one year, you must stay within visual distance of another qualified motorcycle licensed driver and other rules.

So just applying for a new license without showing previous experience is a real pain. Then if you show you have previous driving experience they will take your old license away

[rct99q]

Seems to be specific to only B.C. and seems like a dumb law as most major countries are exempted. But agree as written it is the law for those moving there and it appears they define that as anyone previously having a DL and wanting one in that province. I suspect if Thailand objected they would also be exempted (as Thailand does require use of a Thai DL for those staying longer than tourist stays). Not a logical law.

There is nothing logical about BC anyways or ICBC.

It's very simple really, if you move from Thailand to BC and you are a Canadian resident and want to apply for a license and they ask you do you have any license now you just say no. Keep your Thai license for when you come back to Thailand and us your BC license when in Canada.

I realize you may have been out of Canada a while (or BC) but unless you can provide icbc (yes they are now the bureau for issuing dl) with previous 2 year driving history you must participate in the graduated dl program. Many restrictions so for the OP or others in the same situation it is best to keep renewing your existing dl (if possible). Otherwise to avoid the 2 year restrictions you will need to hand in your thai dl.

You can still drive anywhere in Canada with any provincial license so no problems. I used to have a BC licence (no0w changed to Alberta) and I still have both my Thai licenses and my International license for when I work in other countries.