Drivers License required in Thailand?

[Kenny202]

Moving to Thailand to retire in a few weeks. I know normally on holidays etc it is ok to drive on my

Australian drivers license but what do I need to do once I get there? Is it much of hassle to get a

Thai license ie simple swap over or will I need to do tests etc.

Or can I simply keep driving on my Australian license until it expires?

[Rooo]

Moved to motoring.

[wayned]

Checkout this link: http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

The biggest PITA is the stupid 1 hour video that you have to watch on initial application and every 5 year renewal except the first one.. and , at least at the office that I use, you have to go in before 1000 to join the mass to watch the video, you can't just walk anytime and expect to be served.

[simple1]

Don't know if the rules have changed (perhaps different rules according to office used), but first time I got my initial one year Thai license, showed my International Driving Permit from Australia, plus Oz license and no tests required. The link above tells you additional paperwork required e.g. written confirmation of residential address from Thai immigration

[Soutpeel]

Don't know if the rules have changed (perhaps different rules according to office used), but first time I got my initial one year Thai license, showed my International Driving Permit from Australia, plus Oz license and no tests required. The link above tells you additional paperwork required e.g. written confirmation of residential address from Thai immigration

So you didnt even do the eye test, colour test and that silly braking thing ?

Guess it does depend on the office, but when got my 1 year about 12 years ago, with home license and IDP and still had to do the above, didnt have to do any physcial driving or written stuff, if thats what you mean by "test"

[Soutpeel]

Checkout this link: http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

The biggest PITA is the stupid 1 hour video that you have to watch on initial application and every 5 year renewal except the first one.. and , at least at the office that I use, you have to go in before 1000 to join the mass to watch the video, you can't just walk anytime and expect to be served.

On my most recent 5 year renewal, I just did work while the video was on, answering emails on the I-pad, they didnt seem bothered

[Bernard Flint]

Don't know if the rules have changed (perhaps different rules according to office used), but first time I got my initial one year Thai license, showed my International Driving Permit from Australia, plus Oz license and no tests required. The link above tells you additional paperwork required e.g. written confirmation of residential address from Thai immigration

So you didnt even do the eye test, colour test and that silly braking thing ?

Guess it does depend on the office, but when got my 1 year about 12 years ago, with home license and IDP and still had to do the above, didnt have to do any physcial driving or written stuff, if thats what you mean by "test"

Same as me, and for the 2 additional 5 years license.My understanding one can only drive on idl for 90 days here, cant remember where i read it though.

[Bernard Flint]

Checkout this link: http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

The biggest PITA is the stupid 1 hour video that you have to watch on initial application and every 5 year renewal except the first one.. and , at least at the office that I use, you have to go in before 1000 to join the mass to watch the video, you can't just walk anytime and expect to be served.

On my most recent 5 year renewal, I just did work while the video was on, answering emails on the I-pad, they didnt seem bothered

I watched the video, and was laughing all the way thru it, the thais kept looking at me

[georgemandm]

Very easy to get just do all the paper work and you will get the 12 month one first but you need it here you can only drive on your Australia one for 90 days I just got it 2 months there give you some bull sh?t test and you past if you see what a thai dose to get there car and bike license it is a <deleted>?k joke that is why 99 % of Thais a sh?t drivers I would know have been driver trucks back home in Australia for over 35 years don't get me wrong back home we have some bad drivers but no way like it is here .ps when you get it remember you are wrong if some thing happens when driver all the time and drive very,very carefully and you will be ok .

[beachproperty]

As said ....each office and officials may have different requirements

In Rayong in going for my 1 year and 5 year, the license dept was crazy with the hundreds of people there to get a license. I was just going to walk out and come back earlier the next day and expect to spend the whole day, BUT then my wife said "give me 500 baht" which I did. She then went to the front desk talked to the official and next thing I know I am being hand led through the whole process (fill out application form, led me to eye and brake test (no one hour film) ....5 minutes! Longest part was getting my picture taken and getting the actual license...my number was 35 down the line so just had to wait. Did the same for both 1 and 5 year license ...paid an expediate fee! ....MAYBE now under the new Gov. can't pay the expediate fee

documents required ....Prood of address (from imigration) and doctors certificate of health.

[simple1]

Don't know if the rules have changed (perhaps different rules according to office used), but first time I got my initial one year Thai license, showed my International Driving Permit from Australia, plus Oz license and no tests required. The link above tells you additional paperwork required e.g. written confirmation of residential address from Thai immigration

So you didnt even do the eye test, colour test and that silly braking thing ?

Guess it does depend on the office, but when got my 1 year about 12 years ago, with home license and IDP and still had to do the above, didnt have to do any physcial driving or written stuff, if thats what you mean by "test"

No tests whatsoever.

I've watched people doing the braking test & fail

EDIT: Just remembered when I overlooked my five year license had expired whilst I was out of Thailand, I had to do all the tests, watch video, the Q&A for road rules on a computer blah blah...

You're right, I assume you would now have to do the basic tests you mentioned, my mistake.

[wayned]

I get to renew my five year for the forth time tomorrow and still have to sit through the %$#$&& video. I stopped yesterday afternoon and tried to convince them that it wasn't required but was told to join the "mass" at 1000 tomorrow! It was 1430, there were no customers and three of the six Thais were asleep. I asked them why they were open if they wouldn't do anything and I just got the smile. Probably will have to watch the video twice tomorrow if they recognize me as it's hard to hide a big and tall farang body in the masses!

[WarpSpeed]

Checkout this link: http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

The biggest PITA is the stupid 1 hour video that you have to watch on initial application and every 5 year renewal except the first one.. and , at least at the office that I use, you have to go in before 1000 to join the mass to watch the video, you can't just walk anytime and expect to be served.

On my most recent 5 year renewal, I just did work while the video was on, answering emails on the I-pad, they didnt seem bothered

I watched the video, and was laughing all the way thru it, the thais kept looking at me

Can't blame them, the video I saw a lot of Thai's died in them.

[Gonsalviz]

I had an IDP. Made no difference. Never saw a video. Did the silly little tests for light colors and braking.

Did the entire computer test. I was allowed 2 time for the computer tests. I did both the m/c and car. There were about 3 questions on m/c. Everything else was the same. Took both 2 times and figured out the answers they want. Passed both.

Actual driving was ridiculous. I have an auto trans so starting on a hill was easy. When the guy saw I could stop at the line, I was done. Never did a m/c test. Got both.

The computer tests are different now. TV has a link for the questions, I think.

Most definitely depends on where you take the tests.

[wayned]

Renewed mine this morning. I arrived at 0950. handed in my completed application (internet download), only took the color blind test (brake and depth perception tests were not given), watched a 1 hour video in a room all to myself ( less than halfway through one of the officers came in and turned it off saying "enough"), paid 655 baht (address change also) had my picture taken and was issued my new 5 year driver's license. Left the building at 1030.

The 30 plus Thais were all in a room watching the same video which hadn't finished yet.

[stevenl]

Renewed mine this morning. I arrived at 0950. handed in my completed application (internet download), only took the color blind test (brake and depth perception tests were not given), watched a 1 hour video in a room all to myself ( less than halfway through one of the officers came in and turned it off saying "enough"), paid 655 baht (address change also) had my picture taken and was issued my new 5 year driver's license. Left the building at 1030.

The 30 plus Thais were all in a room watching the same video which hadn't finished yet.

Which office is that? Maybe I can move there.

[wayned]

Takhli, Nakhon Sawan Province!

As posted before, Nakhon Sawan Province also has an excellent Immigration office, did my retirement extension, 90 day(actually 66 days) report, and got a residence certificate for the DL last Thursday, in when the doors opened at 0830 and was out at 0905 with all three things accomplished.

[Kwasaki]

OP no problem getting Thai 1 year first licence but for some reason you need to bring a IDP with your Oz licence, I believe it's something to do with the different states in Oz requiring a DL for the state you live in.

My Oz mate here couldn't get a car licence with his full Oz DL until he got an IDP from Oz.