Thai Driving License renewal

[Big Boy]

(Almost 7 years ago) I had UK licence + IDP - sorted very quickly. I took 2 friends a couple of months a couple of months later with only driving licences, and the options were:

- Take the test again.
- Get the licences notarised as genuine.

In the end they went down the expensive route of notarisation.

[Scout]

5 years ago I only needed my license from the USA, didn’t need an international drivers license.

[HHTel]

Having an IDP is a new one on me.
You don't need photos as they are taken at the centre before they print your licence.

1. Medical Certificate
You can get this at just about any hospital or clinic. It will cost about 50-100 baht. It’s not a thorough examination. If you have a pulse, you pass.

2. Residence Certificate or Work Permit
You can get a Residence Certificate proof of address either at your local Immigration office or from your Embassy. In Chiang Mai, Residence Certificates are processed at the new Immigration Office near the airport. It will take 2 weeks, but is processed for free. Bring 2 passport photos, a copy of your rental agreement or proof of address, passport, and a copy of the TM30 form with your landlord’s signature (a form all hotels and apartments need to submit when taking in foreigners). You’ll need to hand over signed photocopies of all the important pages in your passport too: info page, current visa, latest entry stamp, embarkment card, 90-day reporting card (if you have it). You might as well make 2 copies of all these pages because you’ll need them again at the Land Transportation Office. If you have a valid Thailand Work Permit already, the Land Transportation Office accepts this as a proof of address, so you can skip getting a Residence Certificate. This will save you a bit of time.

3. Passport
As stated above, you’ll need to hand over copies of all the important pages in your passport: info page, current visa, latest entry stamp, embarkment card. You should of course have a valid non-immigrant visa. There are conflicting reports online of people being able to get a Thai driving license on a tourist visa. If you’re here to work in Thailand as an Iglu employee, that of course wouldn’t apply to you. But if others happen to be reading this, don’t be surprised if you run into trouble trying to get one on a tourist visa.

4. Valid Driving License or International Driving Permit
The whole process will be much easier if you have a valid driving license from your home country or International Driving Permit. If the license is not in English, then you’ll need to get a translation from your embassy. You’ll need photocopies of the front and back of your license or copies of all pages of an International Driving Permit.

5. Thailand Driving License Application Form
The application form is available at the Land Transportation Office, but if you want to save time by filling it out ahead of time, you can download a copy to print out HERE. And because the form is in Thai, you can look at this page to see how to fill it out.

You will need 2 sets of all the documents if applying for both an automobile and motorcycle license at the same time. A photocopy of the Medical Certificate and Residence Certificate will be accepted for the second set of documents.

[Big Boy]

Reading this thread, it sounds like most Thai officialdom. You will need whatever the person say behind the desk thinks is appropriate on that day TIT

[lomuamart]

Seems like it, BB.
Suppose I'll need a trip down to Pranburi to ask. Was meaning to pop into the small golf shop down there at some point so it might make the trip more worthwhile.

[Big Boy]

You might want to consider Cha-Am.. I told you my story about my 2 friends that needed their licences notarised. The solicitor took them to Cha-Am and they received their licences, but I'm not convinced anything was actually notarised.

[caller]

I got my first Thai 2 year license in 2015 and only had a UK license.

[HHTel]

Correct, Caller. The procedure I posted earlier states a valid driving licence OR an IDP. If the driving licence is not in English then it must be accompanied with a translation.

[REEM]

Could someone post the details for exactly what is needed for a renewal of a Thai licence at either Cha Am or Pranburi.

[PJG]

Thinking back to the photo's HHTel was correct they took the photos in the Licence centre using their equipment so there was no need for the photo's I supplied. Sorry can only claim old age as an excuse for loss of memory.

I had IDP and UK License but they were only interested in IDP. Did not ask how to do if no IDP so can not comment on notarization of UK License being acceptable or not.

Just for information my Thai wife just renewed her 5 year License at Pranburi. All she needed was Thai ID card,Copy of Tabien Baan, Old License. She had to sit through a road safety lecture for about 1 hour along with a few others some of whom were foreigners. The lecture was in Thai so pretty useless for the foreigners who did not speak Thai. There was also a very rudimentary reaction test and a simple eye test.

[handdrummer]

It seems peculiar that they'll accept only an IDP, since it only proves that you have a license from your home country and is no indication that you know how to drive. An IDP is just another money making scheme.

[lomuamart]

What do I need to take to Imm to get the residency certificate?
I rent and have no books of any colour but do have a rental agreement.
I'm keen to get this before Imm move to Burma next Monday.
Thanks.

[PJG]

You need your rental agreement and copies of just about everything in your passport. Oh and passport photo plus B500

[lomuamart]

Thanks, PJG.

[traveller2]

Hi, I got my first licence in October in Pranburi.
I had to go to immigration and get 2 letters of residence (1 for car licence and 1 for motorcycle licence).
I then needed 2 health certificates, got from San Paolo Hospital.
I took these along with my passport and International Driving Permit to the Pranburi driving centre.
There I was told I needed copies of pages in my passport and IDP, which I could get from a building just outside the gates.
I then did a colour test and they took my photo.
All finished very easily with no fuss.
I didn't need to watch any videos or take any tests.