Can I obtain a Thai driver's license in Chiang Mai with a visa exemption or do I need a tourist visa?

Just need address, resident cert. ( easy ) hotel ok, and current country or intn'l D/L. 100 baht health cert at any clinic, watch a film....easy, fast

* 2 types of lic: auto and motor bike. cant use one for the other

But w/ D/L can book in country flights, hotels. Nat'l parks etc...dont need to carry passport.

Definitely get an international driving permit before you travel. This allows you to obtain the Thai driving licence without doing the driver training other than a 1 hour video.

You also need a medical certificate, but you can get that at any doctors for about 200 Baht.

I got residence certificate last year at Phuket immigration and I was on 30 day visa exempt entry. Only needed TM30 and passport.

driving a motorcycle here is extremely dangerous, are you feeling very lucky? Over 14,000 people die here every year on motorcycles, these are mostly Thai people that know how to drive here, your chances are far greater of dying, you couldn't pay me to drive one here, but you will do what you want of course

Overthinking it 😊

What happens if you have 60 day visa but leave country before 60 days is up and return? Is that 60 cancelled and you get 30 days when you return?

What country are you coming from? Be sure to get an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle endorsement and you're good, just like John wrote.

All depends. I don't know about Chiang Mai but where I live you need to be on a long term visa. If you're just coming as a tourist get an IDP from your home country before travelling which will cover you for 3 months

@Sergiusz **********

yes as long as you have a residence address certificate but I have a simple question. Why do you need a thai drivers license to hold up in court? Surely you can obtain an IDP from your country or residence?

I do not know if it is possible while you are on visa exempt stamp. If you have a nationasl licence (and possibly an International Drivers Permit) in English you will need a doctors certificate (easy at any clinic or hospital for 100-200 thb) and a certificate of resedence from immigration (possibly more difficult on a visa exempt entry). It may not even be possible to get an appointment at the transportation office at short notice. If it is possible, Honda Safety Riding Park would be your best option. See: From a previous post:

Honda Safety Riding Park. (On the 118 Road on the way to Doi Saket.

Marlyn Culton

I did my training at Honda Safety since I had never riden before. It was great. I learned so much and got on the road so quickly.

You’ll need the pre riding course (2 days), then the basic course is (1 day), then the test is 1 day on the computer and 1 day actual driving test. So 5 days total.

They will set you up. Literally no one fails…they help you pass.

Total cost was 2,500 baht. 2,000 for pre riding course and then 500 for the basic course which includes the testing days. They don’t charge for test days. They also have deals they offer if you buy things up front, which I didn’t do.

Highly recommend them! And if you take these courses you don’t have to wait 4 weeks to get an appointment at the DLT. Honda Safety will help arrange an appointment for you via the DLT app. You’ll be in within a week. You’ll just submit the paperwork Honda Safety gives you to DLT and get license right on the spot. Even with an appointment and necessary paperwork the wait at the DLT was around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Not an easy process, but this is Thailand you learn deep patience.

Good luck!

As far as I’m aware you can get a residence certificate in CM on any entry type that will allow you to get a Thai drivers license for a bike.

The residence certificate is not a document that would “hold up in court”. It’s just a document you need to get the driving license.