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How can I convert my UK driving license to a Thai driving license?

UK Driving LicenseThai Driving LicenseDriving License ConversionInternational Driving Permit (IDP)Visa and Immigration HelpThailand Expat ServicesDriving License Requirements in ThailandThai Department of Land Transport (DLT)
Apr 11, 2024
7 months ago
Francesco *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
How can easily convert my UK driving license to Thai ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To convert a UK driving license to a Thai driving license, you need to obtain a certificate of residence, a medical certificate, and your UK driving license. You must visit your local Department of Land Transport (DLT) for an appointment, where you will take a sight test and a reaction test. An International Driving Permit (IDP) can be helpful but is not necessary for the conversion. Ensure to check for any additional documentation needed and be prepared for potential delays in securing an appointment.
Lee ************
Avoid this guy !! Total scammer
7 months ago
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Steve **********
@Lee ***********
 ? Who and where ?
7 months ago
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Michael ******
@Lee ***********
 Yes,. This guy and all the other guys you can find o LINE. I fell for one. Gangsters.
7 months ago
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Michael ******
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Henrik *****
Do not expect, to get a new Thai license over night, there are months until there are free appointment dates, especialy at the biggest tourist destinations.
7 months ago
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Steve **********
@Henrik ****
 don't understand...no appt necessary in Chiangmai, walk in, have paperwork and home lic, walk home with license
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Steve *********
 when I walked in at ChiangMai they took all my paperwork, stapled it together with a sheet on top and told me to return 2 weeks later on the appointment date written on the sheet.
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
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James *********
@Henrik ****
 BS šŸ˜‚šŸ¤£
7 months ago
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Michael *******
From Phuket we go to Phang Nga, same day service - until they catch on to the agent scam
7 months ago
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Michael *******
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Steve **********
Get Med cert from any clinic ( 60 to 100 baht )

Watch a video, take eye test and response test.

About 2 hours

You're not converting, just proving you are licensed driver at home.
7 months ago
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Graham ******
@Steve *********
 No video in some provinces such as Sa Kaeo. I got mine in 75 minutes with my UK licence and IDP. Residency Certificate from Immigration also required.
7 months ago
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Steve **********
@Graham *****
 I believe ( know ) the rumors of it being a difficult process is spread by Agents.
7 months ago
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Steve **********
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Ste *******
You cannot convert. Just get a thai one.
7 months ago
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Carsten ************
Go to the DLT, get an appointment and the list of required docs. You will need a certificate of residence from Immigration and a doctors certificate from any clinic (100.- THB). If you don't have an IDP, a translation of your local DP might be required. Another requirement will be watching some video. I did it at my nearby driving school and payed 200,- for the certificate. That's it. Pop-In at DLT on date of appointment, make a reaction test and sight test, pay your licence (about 300,- for car and moto), wait again for the photo shooting, wait a last time to receive the licences.

For each licence you need 1 doctors certificate and 1 certificate of residence!
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Carsten ***********
 You can watch the video(s) for free in the DLT-App, after that you just show the QR-Code at DLT when you go for your appointment.
7 months ago
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Carsten ************
@Stephan **********
 Good to know. I did it 2 years ago. Not sure if there was an App those days. Yesterday I got the 2 year license changed to the 5 years one. No video required for it, only colour blind test and reaction test. Easy w/o agent.
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Carsten ***********
 I just see... they have it online now also, not only the app...

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7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Carsten ***********
 You have to watch these videos again when you renew your 5 year license. Four movies, each about 15 minutes. For make sure that you really watched it, the app asks some questions... but they are easy to answer. Before you had to sit at DLT for about one hour, but they changed to the app since Covid. The "certificate" is valid for 6 months, so you can watch it independant from your appointment also. At day "X" it's just the two tests then, the most time you spend waiting for the cashier and the plastic cards... :-)
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
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Laurie ******
I paid about $40.00 nz for International license for 1 year for Thailand
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Laurie *****
 Yep... but only accepted by law if you don't stay more than 90 consecutive days. Otherwise they want you to have a Thai license.
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
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Michael *******
Get an IDP, if you have a UK address you can obtain on line through RAC or AA, and then use Express Mail to get it sent out, try and avoid agents they pay bribes and thats starting to make life difficult for those of us who want to do it legally.
7 months ago
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Judy *******
@Michael ******
 He doesn't need an IDP. He can easily get a Thai licence using his UK licence
7 months ago
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Michael *******
Nor easy, just more hoops to jump through hard for Thais to see on the UK license what you are qualified to drive IDP has it clearly indicatedā€¦ā€¦.
7 months ago
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Judy *******
@Michael ******
 I got my Thai licence just by using my uk licence. Iā€™ve never had an IDP in my life. They also gave me a motorbike licence
7 months ago
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Judy *******
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Andy **********
@Michael ******
 AA and RAC don't issue IDPs in the UK. Only the Post Office currently does. The Post Office though is losing the contract and its switching to Pay Point instead; basically participating corner shops. There is no online option. If not in the UK, you have to ask someone to commit fraud to get one.
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7 months ago
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Michael *******
So go to govt website and get it sent to a UK address and forwarded, I did this through AA five years ago didnā€™t realize they had stoppedā€¦
7 months ago
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Brian ********
@Andy *********
My friend in UK is applying for an IDP and has been told by the PO that they no longer issue them, it's now done online at the government website
7 months ago
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Andy **********
@Brian *******
 Nope. Previously it was in person at post offices. Now it is in person at a Pay Point location. There are websites that promise online of digital IDPs. These are scams, and, if you actually get anything, issue counterfeit documents. Legit documents cost Ā£5.50, fake documents from an American scammer are Ā£42.
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7 months ago
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Brian ********
@Andy *********
You're quite right, I've just googled it. My friend was given incomplete info at his local PO.
7 months ago
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Brian ********
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Scott *********
You can't 'convert'. After you obtain a thai licence you will still have your UK one.
7 months ago
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Peter *********
Til.tok jon tien 4000 baht easy and super service
7 months ago
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Carsten ************
4000,- for nothing. You still have to do all paperwork by yourself and have to visit the DLT twice and get the certificate of residence yourself. Better spend the 4k in Soi6.
7 months ago
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Peter *********
@Carsten ***********
 no you give them passport and they do everthink for you including pick you up and drop you back home excellent service well worth the price hassle free
7 months ago
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Peter *********
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Pete *******
Get a resident and medical certificate and along with your UK driving license, passport and long term visa go to your local DLT and book an appointment. Easy peasy.
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
@Pete ******
 I guess Iā€™ll need an international driving permit (IDP) as well.
7 months ago
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Paul *********
@Jan *****************
 no
7 months ago
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Henry *********
@Jan *****************
 Not required for most 'home' licences.
7 months ago
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Pete *******
@Jan *****************
 if your already in Thailand without a IDP from your home country they will happily accept a certified translation into Thai of your home license (in my case I had a German license translated).
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
@Pete ******
 Ok I know the Norwegian embassy offered to translate/confirm Norwegian licenses previously, but no we need an IDP as Iā€™ve understand. I didnā€™t bring mine for car, so I took the thai driver license for car from scratch together with the thai motorcycle license which I needed to take anyway.šŸ˜‰
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
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Paul ********
Get an international driving licence and you do a colour, perception and brake tests at most.

Very easy to do yourself
7 months ago
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Henrik *****
But if you are colorblind, you canā€™t pass the test.

It should be needless, because it has no influence on you ability to drive.
7 months ago
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Paul ********
@Henrik ****
 apart from

All

The traffic lights 555
7 months ago
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Paul ********
@Henrik ****
 I was in Pattaya office and a guy tried the test 4 times but was colour blind 5,000 baht sorted his colour problem out
7 months ago
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Henrik *****
So many ignorant posts

Bribes are never a good way to go.

Despite colorblindness I am certified to drive ambulance, Police and Fire vehicles, in my country, never been a issue.
7 months ago
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Christopher *******
@Paul *******
 is it primary color test or is shade blindness an issue?
7 months ago
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Paul ********
@Christopher ******
 primary colours and itā€™s a quick point and shout colour out test
7 months ago
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Paul ********
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John *********
@Henrik ****
 wow!
7 months ago
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Gordon ************
@Henrik ****
 Traffic lights āœŒļøāœŒļøāœŒļø
7 months ago
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Henrik *****
Have you ever seen a traffic light where the colors from the top down wasnā€™t red, yellow, green ?

First time I saw that, after 40 + years of driving in a lot of countries incl. Thailand, was in the DLT test room.
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Henrik ****
 So you've never been in Syracuse, New York... šŸ˜
7 months ago
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Stephan ***********
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