Trade in foreign license for Thai one

[thinkless]

OK, this might sound strange, but thought I'd ask anyway. Someone told me that you can surrender your foreign driver's license and get a Thai one without doing the usually required test. This sounds highly unlikely to me, but my source claims he knows someone who did it, albeit some time ago. Can anyone else vouch for this? Or is it hogwash? Thanks.

[beachproperty]

Test?....What test?

sitting at a machine and determining what the colors are? bringing 2 dots together? checking reaction time by knowing when to stop? Some people even have to sit through a video although I never have.

Soooo....why would one WANT to trade in the foreign driver license for a Thai license? EVEN if that were the case!

But in response to your post ....I don't know

[Smokin Joe]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

[JAS21]

Yes, there was a stall in Khao San road that used to do it ... not sure if it is still there though.

But, if you bring an IDP it is relatively easy to get a Thai license as the guy above stated

[Smokin Joe]

Yes, there was a stall in Khao San road that used to do it ... not sure if it is still there though.

But, if you bring an IDP it is relatively easy to get a Thai license as the guy above stated

I think the OP is asking about genuine licenses, not fake ones.

[MrJ]

no need to trade in - just show your home country license together (if English no translation necesarry) with all the paper work (visa,medical,certificate of residence, copies) and you dont need to do the theoretical and practical tests to obtain the Thai licence - only color, reaction and vision tests neccesarry, so 1 - 2 hours and you have 2 licences original from home and origianal from Thai

[thinkless]

OK. Thanks for your input. I knew it was a rather silly question. My foreign license expires soon and you have to renew it in person, which will cost a significant amount of money to travel home etc. I thought if I could just trade it in, it'd be an easy option, as it's highly unlikely I'll be returning to my home country to live any time in the near or distant future.

I was under the mistaken impression that I had to take the whole battery of tests, which can take up to two full days from what people tell me. Glad to hear I don't have to. I'll give it a whirl next week.

Thanks again.

[mortenaa]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

You don't give it up, but its actually not valid anymore (depending on country?). You are only allowed to have one license.

I moved here and got a Thai license (obviously). No test involved. Then accidentally I lost the actual license from my home country, and tried to make a new one when I was home on holiday. I told the DMV that I lived abroad, and they asked to see my current license. I showed them my Thai one. They then informed me that I couldn't hold more than one license at a time, and I could drive using the Thai one. If I ever moved back, I could surrender the Thai one, and get my national license back.

[beachproperty]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

You don't give it up, but its actually not valid anymore (depending on country?). You are only allowed to have one license.

I moved here and got a Thai license (obviously). No test involved. Then accidentally I lost the actual license from my home country, and tried to make a new one when I was home on holiday. I told the DMV that I lived abroad, and they asked to see my current license. I showed them my Thai one. They then informed me that I couldn't hold more than one license at a time, and I could drive using the Thai one. If I ever moved back, I could surrender the Thai one, and get my national license back.

That's, reason number one, why you don't TELL the DMV that you live abroad! . I have lived in Thailand for 10 years and just renewed my US driver license (also have a 5 year Thai driver license). NO problem.

[mortenaa]

That's, reason number one, why you don't TELL the DMV that you live abroad! . I have lived in Thailand for 10 years and just renewed my US driver license (also have a 5 year Thai driver license). NO problem.

Well, actually they already knew I was living in Thailand, since its already in their computer. I have status as "emigrated"

[beachproperty]

That's, reason number one, why you don't TELL the DMV that you live abroad! . I have lived in Thailand for 10 years and just renewed my US driver license (also have a 5 year Thai driver license). NO problem.

Well, actually they already knew I was living in Thailand, since its already in their computer. I have status as "emigrated"

You "emigrated" and so have I.... ten years ago. All my taxes are filed with my foreign address etc. But still maintain a US address (my brothers)...So how did the DMV find out? did you tell them before? I don't believe the DMV computer system is hooked up to the IRS or Calif. Franchise tax board otherwise I MAYBE would have been told the same as you.

[mortenaa]

You "emigrated" and so have I.... ten years ago. All my taxes are filed with my foreign address etc. But still maintain a US address (my brothers)...So how did the DMV find out? did you tell them before? I don't believe the DMV computer system is hooked up to the IRS or Calif. Franchise tax board otherwise I MAYBE would have been told the same as you.

Forgot to mention, I am Norwegian

[stevenl]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

You don't give it up, but its actually not valid anymore (depending on country?). You are only allowed to have one license.

I moved here and got a Thai license (obviously). No test involved. Then accidentally I lost the actual license from my home country, and tried to make a new one when I was home on holiday. I told the DMV that I lived abroad, and they asked to see my current license. I showed them my Thai one. They then informed me that I couldn't hold more than one license at a time, and I could drive using the Thai one. If I ever moved back, I could surrender the Thai one, and get my national license back.

Nonsense, you can have as many licenses as you like.

[mortenaa]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

You don't give it up, but its actually not valid anymore (depending on country?). You are only allowed to have one license.

I moved here and got a Thai license (obviously). No test involved. Then accidentally I lost the actual license from my home country, and tried to make a new one when I was home on holiday. I told the DMV that I lived abroad, and they asked to see my current license. I showed them my Thai one. They then informed me that I couldn't hold more than one license at a time, and I could drive using the Thai one. If I ever moved back, I could surrender the Thai one, and get my national license back.

Nonsense, you can have as many licenses as you like.

Comforting to know you know the rules all over the world.

[MrJ]

in Germany as well, tried to get an international driving licence back home, as soon as the officer knew i was living abroad all bells started ringing - on the end of the day i was lucky to get out there and still holding my German and Thai licences.....but no international one,

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

[Smokin Joe]

As you suspect it's hoqwash, or maybe you just misunderstood. Your home country license will help you get a Thai license but you don't give up your home country license.

You don't give it up, but its actually not valid anymore (depending on country?). You are only allowed to have one license.

I moved here and got a Thai license (obviously). No test involved. Then accidentally I lost the actual license from my home country, and tried to make a new one when I was home on holiday. I told the DMV that I lived abroad, and they asked to see my current license. I showed them my Thai one. They then informed me that I couldn't hold more than one license at a time, and I could drive using the Thai one. If I ever moved back, I could surrender the Thai one, and get my national license back.

Nonsense, you can have as many licenses as you like.

Comforting to know you know the rules all over the world.

The person from the DMV who told you that was wrong. It only applies to only having one US driver's license. If you are no longer a resident where you had your US license that could be a reason they wouldn't replace your lost one.

[Smokin Joe]

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

Maybe in Germany, although I doubt it. Certainly not in the rest of the world.

[mortenaa]

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

Maybe in Germany, although I doubt it. Certainly not in the rest of the world.

EU has conformed driving license rules. You can only hold one driving license within the EU. Whatever the rules are in the US does not apply in Europe. What Mr and myself experienced is according to the rules.

[stevenl]

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

Maybe in Germany, although I doubt it. Certainly not in the rest of the world.

EU has conformed driving license rules. You can only hold one driving license within the EU. Whatever the rules are in the US does not apply in Europe. What Mr and myself experienced is according to the rules.

Maybe 1 EU license, but that does not limit licenses from abroad EU. It is perfectly legal to hold 1 German and 1 Thai license d.g.

[alfieconn]

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

Maybe in Germany, although I doubt it. Certainly not in the rest of the world.

EU has conformed driving license rules. You can only hold one driving license within the EU. Whatever the rules are in the US does not apply in Europe. What Mr and myself experienced is according to the rules.

Maybe 1 EU license, but that does not limit licenses from abroad EU. It is perfectly legal to hold 1 German and 1 Thai license d.g.

They will not let you re-new your Uk driving license if you live abroad, whether that makes it illegal to have one or not i don't know.

[stevenl]

by law "you can only hold 1 licence" so be careful

Maybe in Germany, although I doubt it. Certainly not in the rest of the world.

EU has conformed driving license rules. You can only hold one driving license within the EU. Whatever the rules are in the US does not apply in Europe. What Mr and myself experienced is according to the rules.

Maybe 1 EU license, but that does not limit licenses from abroad EU. It is perfectly legal to hold 1 German and 1 Thai license d.g.

They will not let you re-new your Uk driving license if you live abroad, whether that makes it illegal to have one or not i don't know.

Yes, if you don't have a UK address you can not renew

But you can legally have UK license and e.g. Thai license.