My steps for getting a Thai driver's license

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I finally got my Thai driver's license(s) today after being here a while. I already had an international driver's licence, so it was fairly straightforward.

 

 

What you need is:

• Residency Certificate from Immigration
• Copy of the photo page and visa page in your passport
• Medical Certificate
• International Driver's license and copies

If you want both motorcycle and car license (two different cards in Thailand), you will need everything in duplicate.

 

The first stop was Immigration for the residency certificate. You need 1 passport sized photo plus 1 for each license you wish to get. So for me, I needed to bring three photos. Get your queue number, fill out the application, along with any passport copies they need (don't recall which pages they care about), and head to the back right side of the room with the sign that says Residency Certificates. You will also need to show them where you live. I brought my lease and a copy of my internet bill. The lease only has the easy address (condo name, plus room number), while the internet bill has both the legal and the informal address. The fee here was 500 baht for the two residency certificates and took about 10 minutes wait to apply, and another 30 minute wait to get the certificates.

 

Next stop is getting your medical certificate. Again, you will need one for each license. As far as I can tell, the certificate only indicates if you can walk and hand them money as there is no medical exam for this. I used a clinic on Soi Buakao and paid 100 for it. A photocopy is valid is you need a second copy.

 

After that, go to the copy shop and makes your copies, one for each license you wish to get. You will copies of your passport photo page and "visa" page. I wasn't sure if they wanted to see the visa, or the most recent stamp, so I did both on one page. They DO NOT care about the entry card. You may as well make a copy of your medical certificate at this point for your records as well in case you need it again in the future.

 

For the IDL, you will need a copy of the cover, the English page showing your endorsements, as well as the page with your picture and information. My last page as the picture and personal info, so I just unfolded that out and photocopied first the cover with my personal information (and picture) showing, then the English page with my personal information showing. Again, one copy for each license you want to get.

 

Once you have your copies, head to the Department of Land Transportation next to the Regents International School on highway 36. You are allowed to ride your motorbike on hwy 7 to get there, but there is a "no motorcycles" sign on the flyover heading from north Sukhumvit to north on hwy 7, so stay on Sukhumvit and do a U-turn to get onto 7. There are no direct back roads to get there from Pattaya, but it is possible, so if you are uncomfortable riding a motorcycle on that road, look at Google Maps to chart your way.

 

When you enter, go passed the information desk and press the "Foreigner" button on the queue number machine to get your number. I got my number around 9:15am, and it took more than an hour for it to get called.

 

After you number is called, head upstairs to desk 11. There, she will check your documents, and have you fill out your application(s). If you forgot a copy of something, there is a copy shop across the road. They know exactly what copies you need. You can then return without getting a new number. (I didn't have everything, so I had to head back to Pattaya.)

When everything is in order, she will hand you a colored and numbered card. For me, my documents were accepted at 11:50am, but she told me to come back at 1pm. I suspect 12-13 is their lunch hour. It only took about 5 minutes for her to accept my documents once they were all in order including all the signing and filling out of applications.

 

At this point, they will call your COLOR, but not number to go to counter number 4. The entire batch of people will then go at once and get tested. My group consisted of 9 people. As far as I could tell, there are people who were either renewing their license, or getting a local license with an IDL.

The test consist of two parts. The first, is simply a color blindness test. The staff member uses a thin rod to a color on a chart and asks you to state what color it is. The chart is simply a large circle consisting of much smaller colors of red, green, and yellow. The hardest part of this test was seeing were the damned tip of his rod was. The pointer he used was about the size and thickness of an old style car antenna.

 

The next test is a reaction test. You sit in a chair and in front of you there is an accelerator and a break pedal. You hold your foot on the accelerator until some random amount of time passes, then a red light will appear at which time you must press the brake pedal. Don't know the requirements, but everyone in group passed the test including a Thai lady who first failed and was allowed to retry.

 

Once you have passed the test, you go pay. For me, I paid 350 baht for the two separate licenses. There, they give you yet another colored queue number and you wait at counters 1 & 2 to get your picture taken. I had to wait about 15 minutes for my number to get called.

 

If I were to do this again, I probably would just show up before noon to get my first queue number.

 

After they call your number, they take your picture and in about three minutes, your name will be called for you to get your license(s). They will also offer you a colored plastic ID protector for 10 baht each. Then you are done!

 

My California license and IDL already had both car and motorcycle endorsements, so it was fairly easy for me to get both. I'm not sure what the actual driving tests involved. Perhaps someone can add their experiences for that.

 

I do know that the next group at the color and reaction test was much much larger than my group of 9. Probably more than 20 people. And since I didn't see those people waiting for their pictures, I suspect they were in doing the written test or watching the Thai language video I hear is required.

 

[MM 6,562]

I didn't have to have an IDL when I got my license. My California license seemed sufficient.

 

From a mobile

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I didn't have to have an IDL when I got my license. My California license seemed sufficient.

 

From a mobile

 

Yeah, it's kind of funny. The IDL is technically only valid with valid license from your home. However, when I gave her my California license, she just handed it back without looking at it.

Maybe they only look at the IDL to check the endorsements. IIRC, you didn't have a motorcycle endorsement on your CA license.

[misteregg 709]

This was the same procedure for me about a year ago except I didn't have to do wait downstairs and press the button with a foreigner on it. I think having me IDL does speak things up, but obviously Martin has other experiences.

[jacko 8,813]

I didn't have to have an IDL when I got my license. My California license seemed sufficient.

 

From a mobile

Mine was expired, but I took it anyhow, got it tossed back to me.

Licenses in English work alone.

[MM 6,562]

Mine was expired, but I took it anyhow, got it tossed back to me.

Licenses in English work alone.

Which was expired? Your IDL or your national license?

 

From a mobile

[jacko 8,813]

Which was expired? Your IDL or your national license?

 

From a mobile

IDL... the UK national ones last a long time.

[BeerBelly 1,026]

The only reason I even had an IDL is because once in a not-so-touristy area of Thailand, I went through a checkpoint and was dinged 200 baht for not having an IDL. I researched it and confirmed Thai law requires it even for English language licenses. But on the same note, I got waved over in a very touristy area and showed my California driver's license, and the cop looked at, handed it back, and said thank you. So I think it is a case of "it depends on who you get". I'd bet the same may be true of the Department of Land Transportation.

 

Thinking about it a bit, the only reason I could think of for requiring an IDL from English speaking countries is because of the date format and the endorsement codes. In the State, we write the dates in the same manner we speak them, January, 23, 2015, 1/23/2015. While other countries use day/month/year format. And few (or no) countries use the best method which I do for my personal notes is YYYY-MM-DD (from least granular to most granular in the same way we write our numbers). Incidentally, addresses are written backwards too. The post office has to read them from bottom to top in order to sort them.

[Bushcraft 2,579]

What's missing in your test description is the 'spatial vision' test in which you press a button when you think two bars moving towards each other some distance away are aligned. I had to do that, as did the rest of my 'group', and I thought it was standard. Did you not have to do this test?

Edited January 23, 2015 by Bushcraft

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I didn't have to do that test. Someone in my group mentioned it to me that he was expecting it. I think I saw the device behind the red/green board.

[fucguman 0]

Yeah ! congratulation .....

Very Good ....

[fucguman 0]

I didn't have to do that test. Someone in my group mentioned it to me that he was expecting it. I think I saw the device behind the red/green board.

[Parkwahn 61]

I didn't have to have an IDL when I got my license. My California license seemed sufficient.

From a mobile

That was my experience with my UK licence, however it's changed I was there the other week ad an English truck driver was shouting he has driven for 30 years.

 

He was told to got to embassy in UK and then thye will accept the UK licence if he best it transalated to Thai , otherwise he has to apply as a non driver with all the tests that's required.

[jacko 8,813]

That was my experience with my UK licence, however it's changed I was there the other week ad an English truck driver was shouting he has driven for 30 years.

 

He was told to got to embassy in UK and then thye will accept the UK licence if he best it transalated to Thai , otherwise he has to apply as a non driver with all the tests that's required.

Was he trying to get something special, ie a HGV licence?

I hadn't heard that they were requiring translations by the embassy anywhere else......surely there is more to this, perhaps they were responding to his attitude?

[Parkwahn 61]

Was he trying to get something special, ie a HGV licence?

I hadn't heard that they were requiring translations by the embassy anywhere else......surely there is more to this, perhaps they were responding to his attitude?

I heard it stated a few times, they used to take the UK licence now it needs translating to Thai.. Another small change I was advised is a person can renew a licence with 3 months left to expiry meaning you don't have to sit the video, if it expires you have to watch the video.

 

Always changes as you well know ...

[Gonzo 419]

I intended to have my 5-year licenses renewed last week. I had to change my plans, as I was required to spend a week in Bangkok.

 

The problem is that I obtained my residence certificates and doctor certificates on the 9th of February. Are they still valid when I go to the testing center next Monday?

 

Thanks

[Parkwahn 61]

I intended to have my 5-year licenses renewed last week. I had to change my plans, as I was required to spend a week in Bangkok.The problem is that I obtained my residence certificates and doctor certificates on the 9th of February. Are they still valid when I go to the testing center next Monday?Thanks

My guess would be no.... But that's a guess

[DP Gumbypgh 97]

I intended to have my 5-year licenses renewed last week. I had to change my plans, as I was required to spend a week in Bangkok.

 

The problem is that I obtained my residence certificates and doctor certificates on the 9th of February. Are they still valid when I go to the testing center next Monday?

 

Thanks

Should be no problem for the residence certificate but i think the medical certificate has to be less than a week old. For 100 baht cost you would be best to get get a new one to save a wasted trip.

[Gonzo 419]

My guess would be no.... But that's a guess fo

Thanks for the guess. I tried to ring Immigration in Soi 5. After not getting anyone to answer the phone for half an hour I gave up. I might as well do all the paper work again. I would hate to drive to the licensing centre and get knocked back by their officious staff.

[Gonzo 419]

Should be no problem for the residence certificate but i think the medical certificate has to be less than a week old. For 100 baht cost you would be best to get get a new one to save a wasted trip.

Thanks for the tip.

[Gonzo 419]

5-year Thai driver’s licence extension

Yesterday I went to have my 5-year licences extended at the DLC on Highway 36 next to the Regent School.

I arrived late at 11AM, as I thought I had to get another medical certificate before that. Medical certificates are valid for one month after they are issued, but only required by people applying for their first temporary licence. There is no need to get a medical certificate when applying to have a 5-year licence extended

.

I had no problems with my two residency certificates either, which were issued by Jomtien Immigration early in February.

There is no need to have an International driver licence when extending a 5-year licence. There are only useful when applying for your first temporary one year licence, to avoid having to do the written test.

 

There is no need to have photo copies of any other driver licences other than your expired Thai licences. 6 months expiry time is the limit to be able to renew and get additional time added to the five years. In my case, I had my licenses renewed two weeks after my birthday, so it will be nearly 6 years before I have to renew again in February 2011.

 

With all your paper work in order you walk straight up the stairs to the friendly reception staff. If you are a new applicant you will get a green number, if you are just there for renewal you will get a red number.

 

 

I was too late at 11AM to get processed before all of the staff went for their lunch break, so I had to sit around until 1PM until they decided to resume work again.

Until after the green carders did the colour blindness test, brake reaction test and depth perception test, it was the turn for us red carders.

 

The Thai bloke doing the tests must have been kicked out of the military or prevented from joining the police force. He was one if the rudest Thais I have ever met. He barked and screamed at the 16 odd people he herded into the room to do the tests. He shouted that if anyone failed any of the silly tests twice, they would fail and have to come back next week and try again.

There was a mix of Thais and Farangs in the room. He helped the Thais and they all passed. It was different for the Farangs. Two of them were told to come back the following Monday to try again.

 

Like was pointed out before, the colour blindness test has changed. You now stand about 10 metres away from a board and that dickhead points at different colours in rapid succession, for Farangs only.

 

The brake test is relatively easy. Accelerate with your right foot on the right pedal and hit the brake pedal on the left with the same foot.

 

The depth perception test has changed to a more difficult version. Unless you have 22-20 eyesight bring your latest prescription classes.

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[jacko 8,813]

Good update Gonzo.

Coincidentally I had a friend renew his expired 5 year licence yesterday..... it had expired some months ago I believe.

He set off at 10am from Pattaya and was told to come back in the afternoon to pick up his new licence, he came to my place for a cup-of-tea before returning as I live nearby.

[Idefix 2,275]

Thanks Gonzo.

I will have to renew my 5-years license in 1 month, so good information for me :)

 

Can you please tell us more about "the colour blindness test has changed"

and about "the depth perception test has changed to a more difficult version" ?

[Gonzo 419]

Thanks Gonzo.

I will have to renew my 5-years license in 1 month, so good information for me :)

 

Can you please tell us more about "the colour blindness test has changed"

and about "the depth perception test has changed to a more difficult version" ?

When I did my last licence renewal in 2010, the colour blindness test involved just looking at a book, where one had to point at the relevant colours to prove that one was not suffering from colour blindness. Now you stand a few metres away from a large board with many different colours. The bloke doing the test points at different colours with a thin rod at various colours. You need good eyesight to come up with the right answers, often quickly, should you have the same prick doing the test, like the one yesterday. The bastard made me do the colour test twice, as he was waving his wand at great speed, where I got a couple of colours wrong. He did not do the furious wand moving with the Thais and they all passed the test with ease.

 

As for the depth perception test, in 2010 there was a board laid out on the ground with one statuary pin and one moving up and down the board controlled by a remote control appliance. All one had to do was to align the two pins until they were at the same level. It was easy. Now you sit in a chair with you remote control a few metres away from a black box, the size of an old TV set. You will see one illuminated stationary pin inside. After pushing the red button on your console the second illuminated pin will appear and you are supposed to stop when the two pins are level. I have good eyesight, but found it difficult to know when the two pins were level. I got it right on my second and last attempt by sheer luck. Again that prick of a Thai man helped the Thais in the room, by telling them when to stop the moving pin. Two Farangs were not as lucky and were told to come back on Monday to try again.

 

I watched the testing before their lunch break by a pleasant and helpful Thai woman. None of her pupils failed the test. Unfortunately, she did not come back after lunch, so we had to put up with Mr. Arsehole (Asshole). I would not be too concerned about doing the test next month. With a bit of luck you won’t get that obnoxious and obviously frustrated cunt.

 

To reiterate, all the paperwork and documents required will be:

Your passport

2 copies of the picture front page of your passport (for car and bike licence)

2 copies of your visa page in your passport (car and bike)

2 copies of your last entry date on your passport (car and bike)

2 copies of your departure card in your passport (car and bike)

2 residency certificates from Immigration (car and bike)

Your to be renewed Thai licences (car and bike)

Copies of your Thai car and bike licences.

[Idefix 2,275]

Thanks a lot Gonzo

 

I would add to your list: as usual don't forget to sign all your copies

 

The only tests I made at Pattaya DLC were for the first 1-year temporary DL, 7 years ago. The blindness test was not from a book but from an image on the wall: a big circle filled with small disks: green, orange/yellow and red, but all pale/light colors. Looks like what you got yesterday.

 

The depth perception was not the vertical one you had before but more like the horizontal one you got yesterday. Don't remember how were the commands but remember the examiner just had to lift a lid and if he see the 2 pins it's good

 

Looks like in fact the new tests are the old ones I first got