Renewal Of Driving License

[Sir Burr]

My one year provisional license expired and I needed to renew my license to a five year full license.

I used the search function on TV to see what paperwork I needed. There was some contention as to whether you needed a Statement of Residence from immigration or not.

I have just got back from the government office and I now have my five year license. It took only thirty minutes to get.

Here is a list of the papers you need to renew in Phuket:-

Original passport.

Photocopy of personal information page of passport.

Photocopy of your non-immigrant visa.

Photocopy of your latest entry stamp.

Original Statement of Residence from immigration department.

Photocopy of Statement of Residence.

Expired driving license.

Two recent photographs (smallest size, just tell the photographer it's for a driving license).

255 baht for motorcycle and 505 baht for car.

All photocopies must have your signature.

[Sir Burr]

Deleted.

[khall64au]

My one year provisional license expired and I needed to renew my license to a five year full license.

I used the search function on TV to see what paperwork I needed. There was some contention as to whether you needed a Statement of Residence from immigration or not.

I have just got back from the government office and I now have my five year license. It took only thirty minutes to get.

Here is a list of the papers you need to renew in Phuket:-

Original passport.

Photocopy of personal information page of passport.

Photocopy of your non-immigrant visa.

Photocopy of your latest entry stamp.

Original Statement of Residence from immigration department.

Photocopy of Statement of Residence.

Expired driving license.

Two recent photographs (smallest size, just tell the photographer it's for a driving license).

255 baht for motorcycle and 505 baht for car.

All photocopies must have your signature.

How timely of you Sir Burr... I have just wasted two full half days this week doing exactly this: renewing an expired driving licence.

Day One: Enter office - nobody wants to talk to me. Insist on some co-operation - finally am given a slip of instructions.

Immigration confirmation of address: DID

Doctors Cert: DID

Passport copies: DID

Copy of licence: DID

Photos: DID

Reply: come back at 9.30 tomorrow morn and go upstairs: DID

Next day - upstairs - a line of 50 people and a very grumpy man on one little desk. Told to go away and come back next day cos too many people :0

Went back to reception - whined a little - sent with officer to back garden. Said officer scanned the skies and - to my bemusement fixed his eyes on a newly arrived driving testee. I followed his eyes. Newly arrived testee crashed into barriers.

" I'd fail her for that," I suggested. He laughed and told me to come back at 9.30am tomorrow..... finally, I worked out that he wanted me to re-sit the eye and reflex test (which every Thai on the road has so very competently passed).

Today was Day 3: I woke and just couldn't face another drive in morning peak hour to go line up for my "eye & reflex test" with the 50 other punters.

Maybe next week........

So, Sir Burr - any suggestions on how I can reduce my 3 days to 30 mins?????

[Wolfie]

When i renewed my thai motorbike license, i turned up at 8am, queued for a bit, got snotty with people who pushed in front of me (its an english thing) and was out of there by 12:30. Next day pick up my new shiney license and all is good.

Cant remember exactly was was needed, but as standard thai government machine, several copies of passport (signed in black ink), several photos, copy of work permit, originals of passport and work permit, application forms and the fee.

[khall64au]

When i renewed my thai motorbike license, i turned up at 8am, queued for a bit, got snotty with people who pushed in front of me (its an english thing) and was out of there by 12:30. Next day pick up my new shiney license and all is good.

Cant remember exactly was was needed, but as standard thai government machine, several copies of passport (signed in black ink), several photos, copy of work permit, originals of passport and work permit, application forms and the fee.

Oh goody......... only 4 and a half hours!!! Maybe if I turn up on Monday morn at 8am - I can set a new record?

[LadyinRed]

Do you have to have a Non Immigrant visa in order to renew? I'm on tourist visa now.

[Sir Burr]

Khall,

It sounds like you are getting your first Thai license, which you have to sit your test for. Once you have the license, it will be a one year provisional, I did this last year and it took three days (I kept failing the multiple choice test).

Now that my one year provisional has expired, I needed to renew to a five year full license. Yes, you still need a non-immigrant visa for the renewal, but, you don't have to sit the test again. Why are you sitting the test again? Sounds like they misunderstood what you need.

I reckon the reason why I got it so quickly, was the previous day, late in the afternoon, when they are quiet, I asked the lady at counter #1 who's English is pretty good, exactly what I needed to bring to renew the licence.

Khall, for the renewal, if you go to the end of the desks on your right, you will find a stack of numbers. Take one and wait until your number is called. Then you go to desk #3 or #4 and hand over your paperwork. Then go to desk #1 where you hand over your money. Wait about thirty minutes and they then give you your license from desk #1.

I'm surprised you received such lousy service, I've only had good experiences there.