There are a lot of driving licence threads, but there seem to be different rules and different experiences for different centres. I need to renew my 5 year licence which expires at the end of next month and I will do so at the Bangkok Area 3 centre (Bang Chak, near Sukhumvit 62).  Does anyone have recent experience of doing this and, if so, can they answer the following:

 

Do I need a medical certificate?

 

Do I need to watch the video or take any of the tests that I took when I got my first 1-year licence, but didn't have to take when extending that first licence to the 5-year one?

 

Do I need to bring photographs?

 

Is my work permit sufficient to prove my address?

 

What time do you recommend getting there?

 

Many thanks.

1. Medical certificate, yes.

2. Video, yes, other tests I had to take were the usual colour blindness, reaction test etc.

3. No photos required.

4. Yes.

5. Early.

 

As a side note, do not wear shorts, you will see a sign on the door when you enter the office to take the tests, I watched a farang being told to leave.

Funny enough, I recently renewed my license in Trat, I turned up wearing shorts as I didn't think anything of it. I apologised when I went up the counter, as I saw the sign. Wasn't a problem, they were fine, but I'll not wear shorts the next time.

Many thanks. My ex-girlfriend (Thai) did hers a few weeks ago and never had to produce the medical certificate, but I'll get one anyway.

I dread the 'depth perception' test where you have to align an arrow with a line. Last time the equipment was so antiquated I had real difficulties. I think they took pity on me. Can't see how the test related to driving!

Yep, that depth perception test is a joke really. When I was doing it a few weeks ago, the official was giving me instructions. Really is a waste of time though.

Yes, I did it a few months back for my car.  I did it a bit over a year ago for motorbike.  Both at Bang Chak.

 

1.  Yes, I needed a Medical Certificate.

 

2. I didn't need to watch that stupid video again.  Thankfully, I only had to watch it once.  I was alone the first time, and I turned it off.  I didn't make it to the end.  They didn't notice.  I was prepared to say the machine malfunctioned if questioned!  I never want to see it again.  I did have to go into the little room and take all of the four eyesight tests.  I don't mind any of them.  However, the color is a bit off for the peripheral vision one.  Red looks orange to me on one of the machines.  It is perfectly clear on the other.

 

3. No, they will take your photograph themselves.  Despite what you see on many Thai licenses, it is okay to smile!  I asked and was encouraged to do so!

 

4. Yes, that does it.  Don't forget the copies too.  Otherwise, you will be walking over to the photocopier and getting them done for your passport and work permit.

 

5. I got there at 8:30 and left at 3:00 last time.  However, they had some malfunction with the numbering system and the queue which turned the place into chaos.  Payment was made and they threw the money into a cardboard box.  If they didn't have change, they asked anyone standing around to help.  I have never seen anything like that level of disorganization.  Then, when leaving ... They hunted me down and told me I had forgotten my license.  They made two of them.  Unfortunately, I was a bit confused and produced my new license.  I did attempt to pay her for the duplicate, but she wasn't having any parts of it and destroyed the additional copy!  

 

NOTE:  Regarding shorts ... It is perfectly fine to wear shorts.  You will see many Thais wearing shorts.  Just make sure they hit the knees or go below them.

Yes, I did it a few months back for my car.  I did it a bit over a year ago for motorbike.  Both at Bang Chak.
 
1.  Yes, I needed a Medical Certificate.
 
2. I didn't need to watch that stupid video again.  Thankfully, I only had to watch it once.  I was alone the first time, and I turned it off.  I didn't make it to the end.  They didn't notice.  I was prepared to say the machine malfunctioned if questioned!  I never want to see it again.  I did have to go into the little room and take all of the four eyesight tests.  I don't mind any of them.  However, the color is a bit off for the peripheral vision one.  Red looks orange to me on one of the machines.  It is perfectly clear on the other.
 
3. No, they will take your photograph themselves.  Despite what you see on many Thai licenses, it is okay to smile!  I asked and was encouraged to do so!
 
4. Yes, that does it.  Don't forget the copies too.  Otherwise, you will be walking over to the photocopier and getting them done for your passport and work permit.
 
5. I got there at 8:30 and left at 3:00 last time.  However, they had some malfunction with the numbering system and the queue which turned the place into chaos.  Payment was made and they threw the money into a cardboard box.  If they didn't have change, they asked anyone standing around to help.  I have never seen anything like that level of disorganization.  Then, when leaving ... They hunted me down and told me I had forgotten my license.  They made two of them.  Unfortunately, I was a bit confused and produced my new license.  I did attempt to pay her for the duplicate, but she wasn't having any parts of it and destroyed the additional copy!  
 
NOTE:  Regarding shorts ... It is perfectly fine to wear shorts.  You will see many Thais wearing shorts.  Just make sure they hit the knees or go below them.

Cheers! That's really helpful. I'll post my experience when I go at the end of the month.

Many thanks. My ex-girlfriend (Thai) did hers a few weeks ago and never had to produce the medical certificate, but I'll get one anyway.

I dread the 'depth perception' test where you have to align an arrow with a line. Last time the equipment was so antiquated I had real difficulties. I think they took pity on me. Can't see how the test related to driving!

 

Peripheral vision test was always a struggle for me. Sometimes the green light is so faded it looks like yellow. When I got my first license, the ladies tried hard to fail me on the last attempt, but I finally got it right. But during my 5 year renewal, the lady was very compassionate and let me keep trying and kept it simple.

 

I read that when they did the new test system a couple of months ago, they plan to make the first 5 year re-newal that you had to do the new theory test everyone was failing.

 

Maybe check that out, I hope not,,,, but it may be a step in the right direction for the country 

One more question, does it matter if I wait until about one month after the 5 year licence has expired, rather than renewing before expiry?