Renew driving Licence

[dtaai-maai]

Why not go tomorrow?

[moja]

I went about 2 weeks late to get the renewal date after my birthday instead of just before and thus losing a year; not a word was said - it was however back dated to my birthday.

[hhfarang]

Why not go tomorrow?

Busy with other appointments all day tomorrow, leaving town Tuesday morning.

[hhfarang]

Well for some things it's better to be late. Got my new license today and since it expires on your birthday they give you five years from your next birthday... since mine expired last Friday, I got a license good for six years (instead of 5) from last Friday. If I had gone Friday or earlier they would have only given me a license good for five years from that date (Friday). Go a day or two late and get an extra year as a reward... what a deal!

Time your visit not to have to sit a long time waiting for the next traffic movie showing. Currently they start at 9:30, 10:30 and if I read the sign correctly 13:30 and 15:00. You need time to get your paperwork done and the 4 physical tests (reaction time, depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision) finished before the movie starts. We arrived just before 9 and it was about perfect as we only had to wait a few minutes for the 9:30 movie after taking care of all the other formalities.

This was my third Thai license and the only papers required were copies of two passport pages (ID and visa pages), and a copy of my yellow book (residence page), as well as the old license. Copies can be obtained at a little shop at the entrance to the parking lot for a few baht. It cost 605 baht for an auto license. (Motorcycle is around 225). If you don't have a yellow book, then you may need the residence letter from immigration. No medical cert was needed for renewal and no photo as the take your picture on the spot now. This was the Pranburi office. Others could be different.

Oh, and take some tissues, the 55 minute traffic movie is a real tear jerker!

[dotx]

Do I have to wait for my one-year license to expire before going for the new (5-year) license? If not, how long in advance can I go? One year expires mid-December.

[Norseman]

You can't go in advance. Just go and renew it after it expires. - a few days is ok, but + a few days and they will tell you to come back later and after it expires.
That's anyway what they told me to do (Cha Am branch).

[hhfarang]

dotx, go one or two days late if you can and you will probably get a license for six years (as I described above) instead of the five year license. If you do go early or on the exact day you will only get 5 years.

[alleykat]

Mine expires this Saturday, and I can go on Friday, the day before. I would like to go a few days after it expires and effectively get the six years, unfortunately it is not convenient.
Do you think they will let me renew it the day before, seeing as Monday is a public holiday.
I have a Non-Imm B & a work permit. Do I still need proof of residence?

What are the benefits of having a Thai licence apart from avoiding the 200 baht police fines? ID card? Bah, even when I went to the bank to add an account to my internet banking they only wanted see my passport.

Do the insurance companies pay out if your vehicle is damaged but was being driven by an unlicensed rider/driver?

[moja]

insurance is the main reason for needing a Thai license. Yes you do still need proof of residence and a medical certificate. I know you can renew after the due date but I am not sure about renewing early so cannot help with that question

[alleykat]

insurance is the main reason for needing a Thai license. Yes you do still need proof of residence and a medical certificate. I know you can renew after the due date but I am not sure about renewing early so cannot help with that question

Thanks moja. I guess the following info from two years ago is no longer valid.

if you have a w/p you don't need the letter from the immigration,just copy of w/p
i renewed mine last month

[dtaai-maai]

As in all dealings with Thai bureaucracy, it probably depends which window you go to.

[moja]

I think it is fair to say if you do not have the letter they will ask for it but if you do have one it will not be needed!

[hhfarang]

So true Moja!

[Sjoerd]

Last Friday I renewed my driving license for the car and motorbike in Pranburi.
You need 2 medical certificates (50 bath in a clinic), 2 proof of residence from immigration (500 bath each!), copies of your passport, visa, TM card and the current licences. Not need to take photo's

You can renew the licence 60 days before and 1 year after expire date.
I had to do the color test, depth test and the reaction test; all together finished in 1 hour, starting 8.30
At the office they make digital photo's (100 bath each). The new license is valid 5 year from your first birthday after the current license expire. Total cost for car + motorbike 1060 THB (305 motorbike+555 car + 200 photo's) . Hope this info is useful

[jingjoe]

Im going tuesday,thanx for info