New law when driving without license ?

[hawkeye76]

Hi guys,

I am currently in EU so have not "tried it out" yet.... But my other half, called me up the other day (from Bangkok) saying that Thailand will / (have already?)

tightened the regulations on driving without a license in Thailand.

I do not have a western license, as i never had needed a car, so i never needed a license..

Anyways, the way i got it explained is that you pay 2000thb or go 3 month to jail!

Anyone can very this, or ..

[Artamus]

Why would any farang want to drive around Thailand without a licence? Just asking for trouble.

[hawkeye76]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

[jay1980]

I am under 50 and on a tourist visa and have a Thai car and motorbike license.

You need to get a certificate of residence from an immigration office.

The only restriction is I have to renew my licenses every year, I cannot get a 5 year Thai license on a tourist visa but a morning at the Land transport office once a year is a small price to pay to drive legally here IMO.

[chiang mai]

2k baht sounds about right.

[stevenl]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

Not correct, you can get a Thai DL without problems. That will be a temporary license, which are valid for 2 years at the moment.

[andre47]

Why not just use an international driving license issued by your home country?

[Walter Travolta]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

[green job]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

You cant drive in Thailand without one period if you do your insurance is void So now we are back on topic the fines are heavy

[green job]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

Never heard of a 2 year license!!!

[cooked]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

Never heard of a 2 year license!!!

Me neither. I drive a lot and before I got my provisional license and then my 5 year license, I carried my International driving permit plus license from home with me. Difficult to drive as I do and not get stopped at least once a month, I am not not Pattaya based. The police generally went cross eyed when I showed them my IDP which is merely a translation (not into Thai) of your license. Basically you need a certificate of residence to get a license, easy peasy and great fun.

[green job]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

One moment,just thinking, you do not have a driving license,and you want to come over here and drive? Sorry mate not many expats will want to share the rod with you. we have more than our fair quoter of non licensed drivers.

Why do you all ( from the EU think you can break the law here??

[Tywais]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

Never heard of a 2 year license!!!

Several reports have come in stating 2 years provisional now being given.

[green job]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

Never heard of a 2 year license!!!

Several reports have come in stating 2 years provisional now being given.

OK What does the provisional part mean ? L driver? I shall have a look

[Walter Travolta]

My license does not say provisional on it, it just says driving license - issued 27th May 2015 expiry 27th May 2017 and also states in Thai years 2558 - 2560, also has my UK passport number on it and my D.O.B.

It does say temporary and I only took my car test not the bike, but yes it is definitely 2 years, many people are surprised by this but I thought it would be common knowledge now

[hkt83100]

Why not just use an international driving license issued by your home country?

May I humbly suggest you read the original post before replying? The OP clearly stated he has no license in his home country, so how should he get a international driving permit there? While we are at it, there is no such thing as a "international driving license"...

[Tywais]

Your gf is correct as far as I am aware. I havent had the pleasure of being nicked when in LOS but I was told that the fine and/or monkey house time was as you describe. I was told at the same time that the police were mainly concentrating on East Pattaya and mainly chasing 'farang'.

I passed my test this year on a TR visa and received a 2 year license

Never heard of a 2 year license!!!

Several reports have come in stating 2 years provisional now being given.

OK What does the provisional part mean ? L driver? I shall have a look

Provisional means temporary. And another member has now mentioned it says temporary on his license.

[gamini]

Why not just use an international driving license issued by your home country?

May I humbly suggest you read the original post before replying? The OP clearly stated he has no license in his home country, so how should he get a international driving permit there? While we are at it, there is no such thing as a "international driving license"...

What nonsense, of course there are international driving licences. They are valid worldwide for one year except in the countries in which they are issued. They can be obtained easily in most countries including Thailand. At the Mor Chit traffic department in the UK they are issued by the AA and the RAC.

If the poster has no licence in his home country then he has no right to drive anywhere in any country

[gamini]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

One moment,just thinking, you do not have a driving license,and you want to come over here and drive? Sorry mate not many expats will want to share the rod with you. we have more than our fair quoter of non licensed drivers.

Why do you all ( from the EU think you can break the law here??

I would like to add if he drives in Thailand without a licence and a child runs across the road and he kills the child. Even if it wasn't his fault he would go to jail and face a huge fine. So driving without a licence is just plain stupid

[Anthony5]

As a farang without a license from my own country, coming to Thailand on a tourist visa (not married and i do not study in Thailand),

i can not apply for a license in Thailand.

You need a student visa, a pension visa, or some kind of non-o visa. If you are below 50 years old its impossible.

But if we can get back to the topic now, the question was if anyone hear about the new law/rules regarding the law ?

But as a foreigner who never owned a car or driver licence in your home country, you consider yourself a qualified driver once you step on Thai soil?

[hawkeye76]

I have been based in usa do to work several years ago. = i had a license there. But now its not valid and i need to get one.

I will try to contact license office regarding the misunderstanding weather i can get license or not on a tourist visa..

Thank you for answers.

[jay1980]

I have been based in usa do to work several years ago. = i had a license there. But now its not valid and i need to get one.

I will try to contact license office regarding the misunderstanding weather i can get license or not on a tourist visa..

Thank you for answers.

You can defiantly get a Thai license on a tourist visa in Pattaya, as you do not have a license from your home country, getting an International permit is not possible so I guess you would have to do a practical and theory test.

I did not need to do one because I had an international permit for cars and bikes already. Once I showed my international permit they did not even want to see my UK license.

I understand the theory test can be done in English or Thai in Pattaya but I guess they may not have the English option in all transport offices. Also like many things in Thailand some offices may have different interpretations of what is required visa wise but Pattaya is tourist visa friendly as long as you have a certificate of immigration (2 certificates if you want a car and bike license).

If you do not have use of a car to do the practical test it maybe worth contacting a local driving school who will be able to help with providing a car, giving some advise of the tests and helping with the red-tape.

There is thread about where to find such a school here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/337503-driving-lessonsschool-in-jomtien-or-pattaya/

This is just speculation but I would guess other locations of transport offices that are tourist visa friendly would be were farangs live more like Phuket, Chang mai etc.

Once you have the license, you would not have to do the test again just to renew it.

hope that helps

[Tywais]

Why not just use an international driving license issued by your home country?

May I humbly suggest you read the original post before replying? The OP clearly stated he has no license in his home country, so how should he get a international driving permit there? While we are at it, there is no such thing as a "international driving license"...

What nonsense, of course there are international driving licences.

Actually hkt83100 is correct as there is no international driving license it is called an International Driving Permit or IDP. It's being more precise with terminology.

//edit - BTW, Thailand has not ratified the 1968 convention on IDPs. http://www.motorcycle.in.th/wiki/doku.php/international_drivers_license

[Torrens54]

So, can you Drive a car?

I would hope that Thai Police would chuck anyone dumb and/or arrogant enough, to drive without a valid MDL into a Thai Jail.

I for one, do NOT want to be on the same road as some imbecile, who ignores the Laws of the Land and by so doing has no Insurance.

Let alone, in all probability has no idea of how to drive.

[hawkeye76]

So, can you Drive a car?

I would hope that Thai Police would chuck anyone dumb and/or arrogant enough, to drive without a valid MDL into a Thai Jail.

I for one, do NOT want to be on the same road as some imbecile, who ignores the Laws of the Land and by so doing has no Insurance.

Let alone, in all probability has no idea of how to drive.

I agree 100 %

However i think maybe its a great idea if you read the previous posts before you write.

I had a license in USA but it is not valid any more as im not living in USA (not usa citizen). But yes, i drive just fine.

[hkt83100]

Why not just use an international driving license issued by your home country?

May I humbly suggest you read the original post before replying? The OP clearly stated he has no license in his home country, so how should he get a international driving permit there? While we are at it, there is no such thing as a "international driving license"...

What nonsense, of course there are international driving licences. They are valid worldwide for one year except in the countries in which they are issued. They can be obtained easily in most countries including Thailand. At the Mor Chit traffic department in the UK they are issued by the AA and the RAC.

If the poster has no licence in his home country then he has no right to drive anywhere in any country

Before crying nonsense, please get informed about the difference between a license and a permit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

Quoting the second link, it says:

"An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence."

Thank You.

[DKUNPUTAF713]

:Quoting the second link, it says:

"An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence."

So, the question is : Is the IDP legal in Thailand and recognized therein???

[casualbiker]

So, can you Drive a car?

I would hope that Thai Police would chuck anyone dumb and/or arrogant enough, to drive without a valid MDL into a Thai Jail.

I for one, do NOT want to be on the same road as some imbecile, who ignores the Laws of the Land and by so doing has no Insurance.

Let alone, in all probability has no idea of how to drive.

I agree 100 %

However i think maybe its a great idea if you read the previous posts before you write.

I had a license in USA but it is not valid any more as im not living in USA (not usa citizen). But yes, i drive just fine.

So your US licence has expired? If not then you can definitely use that to get a Thai licence, just show it with the proof of address thingy..

[chiang mai]

:Quoting the second link, it says:

"An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence."

So, the question is : Is the IDP legal in Thailand and recognized therein???

You've already been told in post #34:

"Thailand has not ratified the 1968 convention on IDPs".

[casualbiker]

:Quoting the second link, it says:

"An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence."

So, the question is : Is the IDP legal in Thailand and recognized therein???

You've already been told in post #34:

"Thailand has not ratified the 1968 convention on IDPs".

It depends on which country you're from Thailand accepts UK driving licences for up to 12 months for tourists. If you're on a Non Imm visa you need a Thai licence. You can use your UK license to obtain a Thai licence just a few basic colour and coordination tests required.