Police on Nai Harn Road

[CFC]

I just rode through Nai Harn and there was 3 police officers pulling over farangs on motor bikes. They police were writing out tickets. I was lucky I slipped through as all the police were currently occupied with other people. 2 minutes earlier or later it could have been a different story. All the motor bike riders had crash hats on. What would the fines be for and how much Bhat we talking here?

[cornishcarlos]

How do you know they were just pulling over Farangs ??

[NomadJoe]

If they have helmets, then no license or no motorcycle license probably. 200-500B. I would bet though that a lot of them didn't have the helmets on as they first approached the checkpoint. If you are talking about the Y junction, this is a very common thing during the mid day there. Several threads started about it already.

[CFC]

How do you know they were just pulling over Farangs ??

Well that particular time there was 3 police officers and they were writing out tickets for europeans. I am not saying that they werent pulling over Thai's.

[NomadJoe]

How do you know they were just pulling over Farangs ??

^ That is what another poster also recently said when he started a thread about this checkpoint. It just happens that they see only farangs or mostly farangs at the moment they pass by so there for it's "pulling over farangs" which implyis they aren't pulling over Thai's, which is BS. I have passed through that checkpoint countless times and never stopped. I see Thai's and farangs, in both cars and trucks stopped.

[stevenl]

How do you know they were just pulling over Farangs ??

^ That is what another poster also recently said when he started a thread about this checkpoint. It just happens that they see only farangs or mostly farangs at the moment they pass by so there for it's "pulling over farangs" which implyis they aren't pulling over Thai's, which is BS. I have passed through that checkpoint countless times and never stopped. I see Thai's and farangs, in both cars and trucks stopped.

I even saw a tuktuk being fined there.

[hansgruber]

I went through the same checkpoint 30 mins ago. Showed my bike license and was off again.

Can't blame them for doing their job.

[stevenl]

@ the OP: if you 'were lucky to slip through', that could implicate you don't have a valid license for your vehicle. If living here, get one, you might regret it otherwise.

[eezergood]

If you are legal, then you have no worries

[steelepulse]

How do you know they were just pulling over Farangs ??

Well that particular time there was 3 police officers and they were writing out tickets for europeans. I am not saying that they werent pulling over Thai's.

Locals all know it's there so they take an alternate route.

[falkan]

motorbike licence cost 100 baht i don't understand why not everyone just get it huhuhu..

[CFC]

If they have helmets, then no license or no motorcycle license probably. 200-500B. I would bet though that a lot of them didn't have the helmets on as they first approached the checkpoint. If you are talking about the Y junction, this is a very common thing during the mid day there. Several threads started about it already.

I will be honest I never wanted to ride a motor bike in Thailand but you would have to be a Lottery Winner to be able to afford to take Taxis every where. To many crazies flying around. Only yesterday I saw a bike accident on the NaI Harn Road. A Thai person was trapped under a Jeep, the police were jacking the jeep up to get the trapped person out.

Anyway I always ride with a helmet and the motor cycle has a license so the only thing I need is a license. I am staying in Chalong. where's the nearest place I can pay 100 Bhat for one. I will be travelling this road everyday and its just a matter of time before they pull me up.

[stevenl]

See here, http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/27462-applying-for-1-5-year-thai-driving-licences/, for DL info.

On Phuket the office is in Phuket Town, close to Saphan Hin.

[NomadJoe]

If they have helmets, then no license or no motorcycle license probably. 200-500B. I would bet though that a lot of them didn't have the helmets on as they first approached the checkpoint. If you are talking about the Y junction, this is a very common thing during the mid day there. Several threads started about it already.

I will be honest I never wanted to ride a motor bike in Thailand but you would have to be a Lottery Winner to be able to afford to take Taxis every where. To many crazies flying around. Only yesterday I saw a bike accident on the NaI Harn Road. A Thai person was trapped under a Jeep, the police were jacking the jeep up to get the trapped person out.

Anyway I always ride with a helmet and the motor cycle has a license so the only thing I need is a license. I am staying in Chalong. where's the nearest place I can pay 100 Bhat for one. I will be travelling this road everyday and its just a matter of time before they pull me up.

At the Land Transport Department in Phuket Town. 155B. It's pretty easy. No training needed but since you don't already have a motorcycle license from home, you will need to do a basic, slow speed riding test, a written test, a colorblindness test, a reaction test, and a depth perception test. If you don't have a work permit you will need a letter of residency from immigration which can be hard to get if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. Take a copy of your house rental contract to immigration to try get the residency letter. Some have done this successfully, some not. If they say no, just ask "How much?" and you may have better luck.

Edited November 8, 2013 by NomadJoe

[KarenBravo]

You can't get a license on a Visa Exempt stamp. Minimum is a tourist visa.

[Guest]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

[Kimera]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

[cornishcarlos]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

U.K does for one !

[CFC]

If they have helmets, then no license or no motorcycle license probably. 200-500B. I would bet though that a lot of them didn't have the helmets on as they first approached the checkpoint. If you are talking about the Y junction, this is a very common thing during the mid day there. Several threads started about it already.

I will be honest I never wanted to ride a motor bike in Thailand but you would have to be a Lottery Winner to be able to afford to take Taxis every where. To many crazies flying around. Only yesterday I saw a bike accident on the NaI Harn Road. A Thai person was trapped under a Jeep, the police were jacking the jeep up to get the trapped person out.

Anyway I always ride with a helmet and the motor cycle has a license so the only thing I need is a license. I am staying in Chalong. where's the nearest place I can pay 100 Bhat for one. I will be travelling this road everyday and its just a matter of time before they pull me up.

At the Land Transport Department in Phuket Town. 155B. It's pretty easy. No training needed but since you don't already have a motorcycle license from home, you will need to do a basic, slow speed riding test, a written test, a colorblindness test, a reaction test, and a depth perception test. If you don't have a work permit you will need a letter of residency from immigration which can be hard to get if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. Take a copy of your house rental contract to immigration to try get the residency letter. Some have done this successfully, some not. If they say no, just ask "How much?" and you may have better luck.

I was thinking about applying for an ED visa. Is it easier to get a motor bike license on a ED visa rather than a tourist visa?

[KarenBravo]

If it's your first license, Non-Imm, Tourist, or ED doesn't make a difference. You will only get a one year license.

Second license you get five years if you have a Non-Imm, but, only one year if tourist.

[Kimera]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

U.K does for one !

Are you sure,? Yes you can drive I think for 6 Months on it, thats if you can find any firm to insure you or hire you a car ! I would be interested if you have any rights to a HGV license, you obviously have first hand knowlege of this please inform us.

[NomadJoe]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

Incorrect. Most in fact do. And completely accepted by insurance. Some countries do require an IDP to go along with it though. In the states for example, I can legally drive on just my Thai license (no IDP needed) as long as I am only visiting and not residing there.

Edited November 8, 2013 by NomadJoe

[NomadJoe]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

As for the first part, foreign nationals can only obtain a car and motorcycle license in Thailand.

Larger classed vehicles in Thailand have different colored commercial plates meaning they are work vehicles and foreigners can not legally operate vehicles for work in Thailand.

[Guest]

Thanks NJ for the info.

[Kimera]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

Incorrect. Most in fact do. And completely accepted by insurance. Some countries do require an IDP to go along with it though. In the states for example, I can legally drive on just my Thai license (no IDP needed) as long as I am only visiting and not residing there.

Not correct..Are you answering the posted question?. read it again! you are telling us that you can exchange a Thai license for a HGV license in the states

[stevenl]

There is a difference between a Thai license being road legal for a limited time (which it mostly is) and being accepted to 'exchange' for a another national license, which it mostly is not in the western countries.

[NomadJoe]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

Incorrect. Most in fact do. And completely accepted by insurance. Some countries do require an IDP to go along with it though. In the states for example, I can legally drive on just my Thai license (no IDP needed) as long as I am only visiting and not residing there.

Not correct..Are you answering the posted question?. read it again! you are telling us that you can exchange a Thai license for a HGV license in the states

I was referring to your general comment that "It's a joke" that Thai licenses are not accepted in most other countries, which is false. If you were referring to HGV only then you should have been clearer. If you were, then your post makes no sense because as a foreigner you can't get one anyway.

[cornishcarlos]

Is it possible to get a larger/heavier car/truck license in Thailand?

I'm thinking of one possibility that I would return back to Europe some day and wish to buy a car which is heavier than 3500kg. It might be more easy and way more cheaper to do a license here and transfer that to local license in Europe.

Best you see if your country accepts a Thai license most do not ....its a joke

U.K does for one !

Are you sure,? Yes you can drive I think for 6 Months on it, thats if you can find any firm to insure you or hire you a car ! I would be interested if you have any rights to a HGV license, you obviously have first hand knowlege of this please inform us.

Yes I have rented on my Thai license in the U.K, a couple of times with different companies.

As for an HGV, as Nomad J says, you should have been clear about that in your question.

Of that I have no experience but do not know of anyone ever obtaining such a license in Thailand anyway.

[LivinginKata]

I have never looked into HGV type license here in Thailand, no idea how commercial type licenses are issued here in Thailand. Do they have PSV (public service vehicle = bus) license here in Thailand. A foreigner would never be allowed to drive a commercial vehicle here in Thailand due to Work Permit restrictions. I have heard tales that a foreigner cannot even drive a minibus type vehicle.

[nedkellylives]

I know of a foreigner who owned and drove minibus here for a long time

Not any longer he had to sell it when arrested for another illegal activity