Timing the renewal of a Car Driving Licence.

[Terry]

My 5 yr license is due for renewal on my Birthday at the end of July.

I am aware that renewal can be done any time up to1 month in advance

I will be in HH on other business between 06 and 09 JUNE - around 7-8 weeks - not 1 month.

Question
Can a driving license be renewed 2 months ahead of its' expiry date?

[johnnymac]

Not sure about that Terry but my recent experience with renewing my 5 year license is that you have a year's grace after it expires.

Unfortunately I missed it by a month and have had to start again with a 1 year one

It's not just for us. My Thai wife missed her renewal by the same amount and had to redo her test!

[Terry]

I recall hearing this before somewhere.

Not that I don't trust your answer johnnymac - but I would be grateful if others can confirm this too.

After all we all know that sometimes these rules get twisted

[Brit Jim]

Quick question?

My 1yr Thai driving license expires 12th July 2012. Currently here till 29th May so not within the one month period.

Back here in October 2012. Obvioulsy current license will expire.

When I renew in Oct do I qualify for the 5 yr one or is back to a year license? ( One yr Grace?)

Stopped 5 times on friday Market Village. Without the license may have a few song roy baht?

[Nereus]

Quick question?

My 1yr Thai driving license expires 12th July 2012. Currently here till 29th May so not within the one month period.

Back here in October 2012. Obvioulsy current license will expire.

When I renew in Oct do I qualify for the 5 yr one or is back to a year license? ( One yr Grace?)

Stopped 5 times on friday Market Village. Without the license may have a few song roy baht?

Unless it has changed recently you cannot renew a 1 year licence until AFTER it has expired. And then you have up to a year to renew it and get the 5 year licence, which, if you can do it just after your next birthday, you will get just on 6 years.
For Terry`s question, I am not sure, but it used to be the same as above.

edit: found this current comment on another forum:

Remember 1 year "temporary" driver's licenses here can only be traded for the 5 year one AFTER the one year expires. Way back when I had my one year, I noticed mine would expire on the weekend. I went the Friday before; they told me I'd just get another single year if I did it before it expired, or to come back on Monday and get the 5 year.

It's my understanding that the 5 year license hasta be renewed BEFORE it expires. I did mine about 2 weeks before. Thinking about it, I think they gave the health certificate back to me when renewing the 5 year license again, but health certificates ususally cost about 80-100 baht at a clinic, so it's a cheap thing to have. The thing is "if" you don't need it, but have it you're not out that much money, but if you do need one and don't have it, it can kinda suck.
.........................................
I guess with the 5 year renewal it depends on how much you smile on how long before you can renew it!
..................................
here is another comment from the same site:
You can renew a full five year license up to 90 days before it expires, or up to a year after it has expired. If you leave it longer than a year, you start over with a 1 year temporary license.
......................................................................................

[Brit Jim]

Quick question?

My 1yr Thai driving license expires 12th July 2012. Currently here till 29th May so not within the one month period.

Back here in October 2012. Obvioulsy current license will expire.

When I renew in Oct do I qualify for the 5 yr one or is back to a year license? ( One yr Grace?)

Stopped 5 times on friday Market Village. Without the license may have a few song roy baht?

Unless it has changed recently you cannot renew a 1 year licence until AFTER it has expired. And then you have up to a year to renew it and get the 5 year licence, which, if you can do it just after your next birthday, you will get just on 6 years.
For Terry`s question, I am not sure, but it used to be the same as above.

edit: found this current comment on another forum:

Remember 1 year "temporary" driver's licenses here can only be traded for the 5 year one AFTER the one year expires. Way back when I had my one year, I noticed mine would expire on the weekend. I went the Friday before; they told me I'd just get another single year if I did it before it expired, or to come back on Monday and get the 5 year.

It's my understanding that the 5 year license hasta be renewed BEFORE it expires. I did mine about 2 weeks before. Thinking about it, I think they gave the health certificate back to me when renewing the 5 year license again, but health certificates ususally cost about 80-100 baht at a clinic, so it's a cheap thing to have. The thing is "if" you don't need it, but have it you're not out that much money, but if you do need one and don't have it, it can kinda suck.
.........................................
I guess with the 5 year renewal it depends on how much you smile on how long before you can renew it!
..................................
here is another comment from the same site:
You can renew a full five year license up to 90 days before it expires, or up to a year after it has expired. If you leave it longer than a year, you start over with a 1 year temporary license.
......................................................................................

Thanks Nereus

5 yr license looking good for October! Useful to have out here with these evergrowing police checks

[thaiexpattv]

Make sure you don't lave it too long, my license went 4 months out of date here in Thailand and I had to watch a video about driving at the test center for 1 hour.

[Top Croc]

If you go and renew a few days after your license has expired you will get the remainder of that year plus the five years period.

Due travel, my last renew was a few weeks before the expire date. I got 4 years plus the days to my next birthday with my birthday being the renew date.