Renewal of Thai Driving License

[MM 6,562]

My current Thai license expired on 30 March 2006, so yesterday (the day of expiry), I went to the licensing office way the hell out of town and presented the information that is listed on the Thai Visa License Renewal information.

Sadly, that information does not mention that you also need to have an affidavit of residence from the Immigration department in Jomtien (another 40 km round trip drive).

But, the good news is that, oddly enough, they assured me that if I let my current one year license expire, I would have up to one year to return with the expired license and supporting documents, at which point they would give me a 5 year license. From what I gather, they are permitting (and even encouraging) me to continue to drive for a year with an expired license, and at my convenience, they will reward me with a brand new 5 year license. I just love this place!

[Larryst 7]

I reapplied my thai drivers license last year. Same thing, I had to go to immigration and fill out a form. They will also charge you too. I think a couple hundred baht. When you go to the drivers license office. Have a couple small thumbnail pictures of yourself. I also recommend you bring someone that can read thai. All forms are in thai and no english. Cost about 100 baht.

Also if you renew before the expiration date you get a 1 year license. If you renew the day your license expires you get a 5 year.

[Eneukman 1]

I got my first licence last week. No major problems though ALL first time applicants now have to undergo various tests -

 

1. Colour blindness test

2. Reaction time test

3. Depth perception test

4. Peripheral vision colour test.

 

The girl at the counter completed the forms for me so all I had to do was to sign my name where she indicated. When you go in, you take a ticket with a number on it but you need to know your Thai numbers as they are only called out in Thai!

 

I was aware that if you let your first licence expire you would then get a 5 year one though it's surprising to learn that you're allowed 1 year in which to renew it.

 

Alan

[biggles 509]

Larryst, not sure that is 100% right about the timing. I renewed my licence last October a few days before it expired and I specifically asked them for a five year licence, which they gave me. I also fell into the trap of not having an immigration letter, went there the next day and then returned to licence office.

[Eneukman 1]

Larryst, not sure that is 100% right about the timing. I renewed my licence last October a few days before it expired and I specifically asked them for a five year licence, which they gave me. I also fell into the trap of not having an immigration letter, went there the next day and then returned to licence office.

I've been told by various people that you need to allow your 1 year licence to expire before renewing it. She must have been attracted by your magnetic pesonality.

 

Alan

[MM 6,562]

So, I went to Immigration with my residence contract and paid 200B each for two letters indicating I had a residence in Thailand. I apparently needed one letter for each class of license (motorcycle and car). And I was encouraged by the immigration officer to rush to the driver's licensing office to get my license renewed because she said I shouldn't be driving with an expired license . This, of course, contradicts the information received from the drivers licensing officer who told me to go ahead and drive for up to 1 year with an expired license -- no problem. The truth lies somewhere in between, I suppose.

[ukdog 0]

I reapplied my thai drivers license last year. Same thing, I had to go to immigration and fill out a form. They will also charge you too. I think a couple hundred baht. When you go to the drivers license office. Have a couple small thumbnail pictures of yourself. I also recommend you bring someone that can read thai. All forms are in thai and no english. Cost about 100 baht.

Also if you renew before the expiration date you get a 1 year license. If you renew the day your license expires you get a 5 year

 

I had the same experience, went two days before expiry of my permit and was told I could get a 1 year license, however, if I came back on the day it expired I could apply for the 5 year license. I thanked her for her assisitance and left.

 

Returned two days later, same lady, got a five year license in under 40 minutes.

 

It is illigal to drive without a license in Thailand, and I am given to understand that you most definately do not have any grace period.

 

dog

Edited April 4, 2006 by ukdog

[Eneukman 1]

As I said above, I was surprised at the length of the grace period but at the Pattaya Ex-Pats Club the other week, one member reported that he had no problem renewing his first licence 3 months after it expired. No problem so long as you don't actually drive in the intervening period.

 

Alan

[irishman 0]

MM,

There is a difference between the grace period and the length of time that you have to renew a license. There is no grace period as you would quickly find out if you were stopped for some traffic infraction. No valid license equals a big fine. But if you are in a situation where you weren't using it or driving, then you could renew it without doing all the testing and original paperwork for up to a year after the original license expired. I think either you misunderstood the lady or she wasn't clear about what she was trying to tell you.

 

Cheers