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Car driving lIcence

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jeffbothwell

:)  Good day folks, my name is Jeff 53 and am presently visiting family with my missus Nee 43 here in the UK. We have a nice home in the dark side of Pattaya and plan to retire full time on the 20th April 2017. Our location really means we need our own transport I would like a cheap car or truck and Nee a scooter, In order to stay within the law we would ask for advice on how we can arrange a legitimate test  and the documentation needed. We are both competent drivers but neither have a licence of any nationality, any assistance would be very much appreciated, thankyou.

bill kip

A Thai driver's license is not all that complicated when you have an existing drivers license, and an International license on top of that would be a good plus. From my experience an International Divers License is issued off of your existing license, car or motorcycle. With these licenses in hand you watch a one hour video, audio by a Brit, and they issue the license.
If not then you have to take written exam along with a driving test. The test is in English. You can find a practice test on line.
All of this information is as of December 31. January 1 the government changed things to be a little harder. As a westerner that might not be an issue. I have one of each.

jeffbothwell

Ok Bill i will try and find the practice test on line, i do not have any type of licence

Brian Gygi

Hi, I want to get my Thai driver's license as well, and all the information I can find is contradictory.  What is a website with the most recent definitive information?  Thanks.

bill kip

Brian;

First of all I don't know where you live. I am in Chiang Mai and know where to physically go. I believe that it is the department of transportation that takes car of drivers licenses. It is like the US DMV.

Oh, one other thing. While I was there a Belgian man came in in shorts. They told him that he had to be in business dress before they could serve him. Business dress is long pants, collared shirt, and preferable proper foot ware.

juehoe

Make a Thai translation of your passport can help, too.

Best way is to contact your local Provincial Transport Office and ask, what they need. In Hua Hin they ask for the copy of the passport (with visa), Blue/Yellow Book, medical certificate and a criminal report.

You will get 2driver licenses, one for the car and one for motorcycles. So you have to prepare 2 sets of the documents.

bill kip

Update;

I have been told that the government has changed the rules for getting a drivers license, as of January 1. Presently everyone is required to take a driver's class, at the tune of 6,000 baht. Since that rule went into effect a huge number of Thai's have openly complained to the Thai government. The reason being that the typical Thai does not have 6 k baht from driving class. From what I've been told the government is reassessing the issue and presumably will withdraw the school requirement. When they do that is yet to be known.

Ruffian Dick

Thanks, Bill. Maybe just maybe they are trying to make the streets a little bit safer.

jeffbothwell

Hi Bill I said I didn't have any driving licences, well I did have a licence for the Republic of Ireland but lost it three years ago and tried to renew it but because I now live in the U.K. Northern Ireland they would not replace it. However on clearing out the flat my Girlfreind found it yippee with 10 years left on it, so I have that one and applied for an international driving licence am I therefore right in saying that I only need to pass the theory aspect of the test?

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