Thai Driving License renewal 2019 to 2025

[Scout]

My driving licence, the one that I obtained 5 years ago after starting this thread, expires at the end of this month. I renewed it at Pranburi last week.

I believe if you renew a license the day after it expires, you receive an extra year of validity for the new license. I know I get 6 years (instead of only 5) by following this strategy. It probably also works when renewing while on a tourist visa, I suspect you would get 3 years instead of only 2.

[PineappleHUAHIN]

Can I renew my first 2 year driver licence in advance, say 1 year before expiry ?

Can I go this time to Hua Hin office despite that I initially went to the Cha Am DLT ? As no Grab comes over there to pick up.

Do I need to show again a translation of the foreign licence as during the application as my homeland licence in in French ?

Where can i download the form for the submission ?

Thank you all so much for the information.

[PeteC]

Organ donor status on licences updated

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... es-updated. (Photo)

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is updating driver’s licences so that they clearly state whether the holder is an organ donor.

According to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, the new look took effect on Aug 7, replacing a version that was introduced on Jan 29, 2021.

All driver’s licences issued before Aug 7 this year remain valid until their expiration date, the department said.

The updated licence features a bigger Red Cross emblem with the term “organ donor” at the top right if the holder is a registered donor. The earlier licence had a smaller emblem with no text.

Jirut Wisanjit, the department’s director-general, said the announcement was in line with a memorandum of understanding signed with the Red Cross Organisation on Aug 9.

Mr Jirut said drivers can submit donation forms to local DLT offices to obtain the Red Cross sign on their licences.

[404cameljockey]

Organ donor status on licences updated

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... es-updated. (Photo)

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is updating driver’s licences so that they clearly state whether the holder is an organ donor.

According to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, the new look took effect on Aug 7, replacing a version that was introduced on Jan 29, 2021.

All driver’s licences issued before Aug 7 this year remain valid until their expiration date, the department said.

The updated licence features a bigger Red Cross emblem with the term “organ donor” at the top right if the holder is a registered donor. The earlier licence had a smaller emblem with no text.

Mr Jirut said drivers can submit donation forms to local DLT offices to obtain the Red Cross sign on their licences.

I renewed my license on 31st July so I can't confirm that this is correct. It would be much better than carrying a licence and a donor card.

If they are willing to update older licences I have to decide whether it's worth two one hour round trips to Pranburi or Cha-Am to get the red cross on my licence. Unless they will do it there and then when I visit once, frankly I doubt it.

I looked at the Thai Red Cross PhonPai phone app once, to get a donor card, but it was useless and then I forgot about it. If things are complicated to do nowadays I just don't do it. My bad, but it is what it is.

[Big Boy]

My son had to renew his bike and car licences. In preparation, he asked somebody who had renewed theirs 6 weeks ago. He was specifically told:

• No online video/test

• No online booking i.e. walk-in only

• No requirement for medical certificate

We rolled up at the Pranburi licence centre today, and my son was sent away to get a medical certificate. We went to a local doctor's surgery and bought one.

We went back with his shiny new medical certificate. He was told to come back after lunch.

We went back after lunch, and was told because he required 2 licences, he would have to provide 2 medical certificates.

As he was leaving to buy another medical certificate, with more of a 'by the way' than anything else - you you have to do the online test first, and book an appointment online.

I've posted this because reading back through the thread, it seems many have had different contradictory experiences over the years. I am simply posting TODAY's requirements. When my son goes back next time (not sure how long it takes to get an appointment online), of course it may all have changed again.

Thai bureaucracy

[PeteC]

....the corruption! Slide a white note across the counter and all will be solved.

[Dannie Boy]

As far as I’m aware it’s always been one letter for each license and yes you have to complete the on-line driving test so I don’t think anything has changed - how someone else seems to have managed to get there’s done without, just adds to the mystery of living in Thailand!!


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[Big Boy]

Exactly, and thank you - contradictory. This would have been my son's 4th licence (lost one). He's only ever needed one before.

[Dannie Boy]

I did my renewal earlier this year and posted the following
viewtopic.php?p=591362#p591362

[Big Boy]

Yes, and I read the thread. There are too many contradictions. Of course some posters (and I don't mean you) see Thailand whilst wearing rose tinted glasses, which has to be discounted when reading a thread like this, and some poster's black cat will always be blacker than mine.

This type of thread is extremely difficult to read, when trying to glean the truth. Hence, my son went to a friend who had recently renewed their licences. No tea money, nothing untoward, but a completely different experience to today's, and we experience these differences throughout Thai bureaucracy - it depends upon who is sitting behind the desk at the time.

As I said, I expect the goalposts to have moved by the time he gets his new appointment. There are no hard and fast rules.

[404cameljockey]

Yes, and I read the thread. There are too many contradictions. Of course some posters (and I don't mean you) see Thailand whilst wearing rose tinted glasses, which has to be discounted when reading a thread like this, and some poster's black cat will always be blacker than mine.

This type of thread is extremely difficult to read, when trying to glean the truth. Hence, my son went to a friend who had recently renewed their licences. No tea money, nothing untoward, but a completely different experience to today's, and we experience these differences throughout Thai bureaucracy - it depends upon who is sitting behind the desk at the time.

As I said, I expect the goalposts to have moved by the time he gets his new appointment. There are no hard and fast rules.

Three months ago I found the process at Pranburi centre almost painless once I understood the advance booking process on the phone app. I say almost because in the past I used the old slip stapled into my passport years ago to prove my address (torn off the bottom of the Imm. form in something like 2005 and given to me by the IO). I was turned away this time when trying to use this being told I must have a complete cert. form including photograph from Imm. which they bloody well keep, forcing me to go to Imm. to buy another the next time I need one (I guess I should have kept a photocopy of it, serves me right for not thinking ahead before my visit).

[Big Boy]

See, this is another contradiction. For my son, he wears his Thai hat when doing things like this. He was told he needed to take his Tabien Baan as proof of where he lived. When he got to the desk yesterday, proof of address was not required.

So the Thai who didn't need an online test, a medical certificate or book an appointment, did need their Tabien Baan as proof of address.

[Dannie Boy]

Even though it shouldn’t be like this, similar to annual visa extension - the best thing is to take everything and bring back what they don’t need!!


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[Big Boy]

Yes, I'm fast coming to that conclusion.

[hhinner]

See, this is another contradiction. For my son, he wears his Thai hat when doing things like this. He was told he needed to take his Tabien Baan as proof of where he lived. When he got to the desk yesterday, proof of address was not required.

So the Thai who didn't need an online test, a medical certificate or book an appointment, did need their Tabien Baan as proof of address.

Maybe reading the requirements on the DLT website could help? It specified documentation required. No mention of house registration on there.