Renewing Driving License

[sinbinjack 251]

Renewing Driving License is what I want to do I got my first 1 year license (bike and car)last year and it ran out this year ,unfortunately I was unable to come to Pattaya this year due to both financial and health reasons.So knowing I am supposed to renew it for 5 years after the first one expires do I need to go through the whole thing again for a new 1 year license next year or will I be able to get a 5 year license next year when I return and if not is there any thing I can do to make life easier for my self re Driving Licenses.Thanks for any help

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Renewing Driving License is what I want to do I got my first 1 year license (bike and car)last year and it ran out this year ,unfortunately I was unable to come to Pattaya this year due to both financial and health reasons.So knowing I am supposed to renew it for 5 years after the first one expires do I need to go through the whole thing again for a new 1 year license next year or will I be able to get a 5 year license next year when I return and if not is there any thing I can do to make life easier for my self re Driving Licenses.Thanks for any help

 

What visa were you on when you got the 1 year license?

[Parkwahn 61]

I renewed mine a month ago, from a 1 year to a 5 year visa..

 

Very easy go to immigration with a health cert 100 baht from a doc/clinic, a copy of a lease or a chanot from a property, 4 photos they will then gove you a proof of residancy paper. ( I was on an o Visa not sure if you need one to obtain a licence ?)

 

Then off to the Driving Licence place just behind Regents school on Highway 36 maybe 9 klicks out of Pattaya ..

 

They check your docs at the entrance, also filling in a form.... go up the stairs hand in the docs wait 15 mons get called pay your money circa 1000 baht for 2 x 5 year car and bike... get given a number wait 10 mins get called get a new mug shot done... sit done wait 5 mins get called and walk out with 2 licences..

 

Immigration and the licence centre I have found very well organised and ran, once again the make the UK look like morons.

[Larryst 7]

Renewed my drivers license awhile back for another 5 year (2ND time). Easily done. Usually takes 2 days. 1 day with immigration & the next day at the license office. No problem except for watching a 1 hour video on road driving and consideration with other drivers. Too bad the Thais don't watch it befiore they get a license. Otherwise no problem.

[sinbinjack 251]

Thanks for the answers ,but I knew all that what I was asking is would there be a problem as my license will be expired by about a year when I next hit town,and will that cause me any problems as I was told that you had to be very exact about when you renewed your first Thai license.I am usually on an O visa for 90 days.

[Fondles 94]

Thanks for the answers ,but I knew all that what I was asking is would there be a problem as my license will be expired by about a year when I next hit town,and will that cause me any problems as I was told that you had to be very exact about when you renewed your first Thai license.I am usually on an O visa for 90 days.

 

If you renew it within 12 months from expiry it is just a straight forward renewal, after 12 months and you will need to do the theory test after you watch the video but if you bring an International Drivers Permit you can avoid the vid/theory test.

 

Mine had been expired for 18months when I renewed it, they gave me a 5 yr license.

 

Edit: I have heard not all Land Transport Depts are the same though, I did mine at Au Udon near LamChabang.

Edited August 9, 2011 by Fondles

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I am usually on an O visa for 90 days.

 

Getting a non-imm visa may be your first problem since Hull cut back on the O Visas.

[Fondles 94]

Getting a non-imm visa may be your first problem since Hull cut back on the O Visas.

 

LTD at Regents will renew a license on a tourist visa, a mate did hid bike license about 2 weeks ago.

[biggles 509]

My five year licence has been expired for nine months, didnt have an o visa when it was due. I didnt realise you could renew it so long after expiry. I have a multi o at the moment so has anyone renewed it after a long period at the Regents office, please?? i dont want to go to the doc and immigration and then find out they wont renew it.

[Fondles 94]

My five year licence has been expired for nine months, didnt have an o visa when it was due. I didnt realise you could renew it so long after expiry. I have a multi o at the moment so has anyone renewed it after a long period at the Regents office, please?? i dont want to go to the doc and immigration and then find out they wont renew it.

 

Of course they will renew it, worst case scenario is you have to do the test and possibly go back onto a 1 year temporary license (which I doubt), considering Regents and Au Udon (where I did mine) are in the same province I expect you will have the same result as me.

Edited August 10, 2011 by Fondles

[biggles 509]

Thanks for that info Fondles, will pop on down and sort it out asap.

[sinbinjack 251]

thank you all

[biggles 509]

Just back from the pattaya licence place and renewed motorcycle licence for 5 years no problems. A lot of people there, even at 8.30am and took two hours, without having to do a driving test I Had an IDP for motorbike). Didnt want a medical cert, did want a residency letter, one copy of passport pages and front and back copy of expired licence. Pretty easy process tho even if you couldnt speak any thai. thanks again for the info, I was just gonna make do with an IDP.