Taking the Thai motorcycle test

[buksida]

Did this yesterday (after 14 years of procrastination) so will post a rundown of exactly what is involved for those that have never done it.

Documents required:
Passport photocopy, details and visa page - cost: 2 baht
Letter from the police confirming your address - cost: 0 baht (may vary depending on police station/immigration office). Note: to get this you need the signature and copy of ID card of the owner of the house and a copy of the tabien bahn (blue book).
Medical certificate - cost: 80 baht

The test:
This is to get a first motorcycle license from scratch, you will need to do the test for the car (apart from the practical) also as it is all the same thing now.

08.30 - submit documents and perform a colorblindness test.
09.00 - perform reaction test, accelerate on one pedal and hit the brake when the red light shows (you get a few tries at this if you cant do it first time).
09.30 - briefing on road signs.
10.00 - watch road awareness videos.
12.00 - break for lunch.
13.00 - sit the exam, 30 multiple choice questions on a computer, 1 hour to complete, pass mark is 23.
14.00 - practical test, ride around a small circuit paying attention to road signs, signaling and stopping where appropriate, short balance test.
14.30 - take photographs for smartcard, payment and collect your 1 year motorcycle license.

Cost:
License - 55 baht
Smartcard - 100 baht
You can opt for the old style laminated one with a stuck on picture if you want to save 100 baht.

Notes:
The road sign briefing is all in Thai but there is a book with English explanations of them. The videos are also all in Thai so if you need them translated take a Thai with you - most of it is common sense and road safety (sadly very little of it is actually applied on the roads in Thailand).

The computer multi-choice exam can be done in English, they may have a test machine outside to practice on - I would advise doing this as some of the questions are very ambiguous with illogical answers, I get the feeling some of it was lost in translation. If you fail the first time you get one more chance, if you fail again you'll need to come back another day (within 90 days) to sit the exam.

The practical is simple, just ride steady, pay attention to the signs (there are only four or five of them), use your signals liberally and make a point of obviously looking around you. If you don't have a helmet you'll fail before you even get on the bike.

Disclaimer: this was was not performed in Amphur Pranburi but in another test center in Prachuab province so specifics and costs of documents may change slightly with local offices.

[moja]

D

[Noz]

buksida, i'm presuming you don't have a car driving licence?

[buksida]

buksida, i'm presuming you don't have a car driving licence?

I have a car license, it was simply converted from the one from my home country several years ago (when things were a lot easier), it was the bike license I'd never done.

[Spitfire]

Well, the motorbike test is more complicated than the car one, imo.

The car written test is strange with some odd answers, unsurprisingly.

However, even though what has been posted is correct and anal on the requirements, if you have a valid license for a bike or a car for your home country it basically means they will give the Thai license with only submitting photos/info/money, taking a reaction test plus providing the medical certificate etc, maybe some regional office variations at work perhaps though.

I did mine (car license only as that was a real UK one) about 2 years ago, not in HH though, and all I did was the above mentioned things but they don't check the validity of the license with your home country, ie they don't phone up the DVLC if you're British etc, they just check the valid dates to see if it is still OK.

Don't have a UK bike license myself though, but..............

I know for sure you can get international drivers licenses/UK/US state/Euro zone licenses etc for bike/car/whatever that are exact copies on Kho San Rd, good enough to fool the average piss-pot attendant in a license office here in LOS so you can bypass the bollox to get the 1 year tempory license and then it's easy.

I know loads of guys that have done it this way.

[Noz]

buksida, i'm presuming you don't have a car driving licence?

I have a car license, it was simply converted from the one from my home country several years ago (when things were a lot easier), it was the bike license I'd never done.

I did the same (only have a UK drivers licence) but took the gamble and just applied for a motorbike licence at the same time and they duly obliged. Only had to do the colour, depth perception, peripheral vision and reaction tests and that was it.

This was at the test centre just past Cha Am though, so I don't know if they're a bit more liberal than their colleagues in Pranburi.

[kalbow]

Yes, this brings back a few memories from a few years ago. I did the theory test for my car and bike license - no problems - didn't even look at the road code. Then attempted the practical bike test and fell off the balance test ramp thingy. I asked the police-tester-man if I could just try again and he said no, come back next week. A few of the Thais failed as well and they were annoyed with him (apparently he was new and the previous dude allowed you to retry).

Anyway, had nightmares that I wouldn't be able to get along this ramp - so I went back the next day and practiced when no-one was using the course. Must have ridden over it about 40 times (each time under the 10 seconds allocated) without falling off - I passed the following week.

Funny how you ride up on your bike to take the test and then fail and can ride away on your bike.

[wiki]

I just passed my motorbike in Samut Prakan, BKK, where no English was spoken. I had my GF with me to drop me off on the first day where I had 2x 2hr video lectures all in Thai, most of the 60+ locals in the room dozed off at one point or another.
Then did the test in English, failed it the first time - only 21 correct, daft questions about driving tanks and simple diagrams to choose who has the right of way. I'm adamant the answer was incorrect, as was the maximum height you can load your car, the video said 3
metres but the exam wanted 2.5metres.
Nevermind, I was allowed to resit immediately and passed the 2nd time.

Next a long wait to drive around 4 cones, signal right and drive 10metres over the balance beam, signal right, stop the bike and sign the form - pass!
Took 25 seconds!

Then a 2 hour wait for the licence to be issued!

[petercr]

I believe you do not need a licence to ride a bike up to 50cc................Is that a fact or does it come down to which MIB stops you on the day............

[bcrglobal]

Here's my understanding petercr

Up to 50cc: No license required.
51cc-125cc: ANY international or Thai license (Including car) accepted.
125cc and up: International or Thai Motorcycle Licence required.

[Takiap]

Petercr...........as far as I know, no license is need to ride a bike up to a 50cc, and neither do you have to pay any road tax. However, without registration plates, road tax, and a license, I would imagine you're not entitled to drive on certain roads or perhaps after a certain time in the evening, as was the case with red plates until not too long ago.

[buksida]

Quick query on this, the 1 year temp bike license expires this week but I cant make it there until next:

1) Is it ok to renew if it has expired for a few days?
2) Do I need to do the videos/test again?
3) What documents do they want to extend it?

cheers.

[moja]

Yes you can renew a few days late; if your birthday is coming up it is best to wait until after that as you will then get 6 years. No need to do any of the tests etc again. They need photocopies of everything - ie visa, passport etc etc. You will also need a medical and a letter of residence or yellow book.

[kendo]

You don't need a licence for a Rotitan neather.

Been told up Here in Prasat you can do a car test with computer exam for 3,500Baht including 12 hours of lessons and they will through in the bike licence

Kendo.

[buksida]

Yes you can renew a few days late; if your birthday is coming up it is best to wait until after that as you will then get 6 years. No need to do any of the tests etc again. They need photocopies of everything - ie visa, passport etc etc. You will also need a medical and a letter of residence or yellow book.

Cheers, did it yesterday, info above spot on:

Medical cert
Residence letter
Passport and visa copies
Fees (400 baht)

In and out within the hour with a 6 year license, they said I would have to watch a video for an hour when this one expires.