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How can I obtain or renew my Thai driver's license as a foreigner, especially during the pandemic?

Thai Driver's LicensePattayaExpatsVisa RequirementsDriving SchoolsLicense RenewalImmigrationCOVID-19 Effects on Licensing
Jun 11, 2021
3 years ago
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Successfully got my Thai Drivers license from Pattaya Department or Land Transportation.

Had pre-existing driving license from my home country.

Showed up DLT 13:00 finished 13:45.

Brought with me:

* note from doctor

* note from immigration

* note from driving school.

Driving school - I had to watch a video for an hour, nothing more.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat successfully obtained a Thai driver's license in Pattaya by presenting necessary documentation, including notes from a doctor, immigration, and a driving school, after completing a one-hour video at the driving school. The conversation includes questions and experiences related to renewing licenses, the impact of expired home country licenses, differences in regulations between provinces, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on licensing processes in Thailand.
Michael ********
Question: Can you renew a Thai Driver's License with the 60 Days stamp we get nowadays?
a month ago
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Kool *******
@Michael *******
 you can, but without a long term visa you will get another 2 year temporary license, not the five year license.
a month ago
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Graham ******
@Michael *******
 That depends on the province where you are applying as you usually need a residence certificate and sometimes you can only get that on a long term visa
a month ago
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Michael ********
I have a yellow book and a pink card.
a month ago
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Michael ********
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John ******
Did you not have emergency braking and colour blind test
3 years ago
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Steven ********************
@John *****
 in pattaya renewals by appointment only not sure if will entail all the norms of video color test and braking / depth perception
3 years ago
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Steven ********************
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Steven ********************
Present thai license if expires can be renewed up to one year later due to covid if offices closed

I will be trying next week
3 years ago
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Pat *********
I read these are closed and you can't get a license as the country is still in State of Emergency? Was interested myself and been waiting for them to re-open.
3 years ago
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Alex *********
Are there different rule for each province?

In April the license centre near me said that foreigners can't renew or get a first license. We where told to call at the end of May, did that and was told call at the end of June.

So I don't get it. How can I renew my license?
3 years ago
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Kevin *****
@Sean ********
 depends on your home country because as lax as many Thai bureaucratic departments may be I think they'll expect the licence to be in date. I'm from the UK and when I tried to renew my licence I was refused because I do not reside in the UK. Now have a new licence (applied to change the photo - if you apply to renew you have to provide utility bills etc. to prove residence, to change the photo you don't - handy tip for anyone due renewal) and when it turned up it had my full bike licence too (something my old one didn't have) so I'm all set to go.
3 years ago
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Sean *********
@Kevin ****
 thanks for the info. It seems nothing in Thailand is ever made to be easy. Paperwork capital of the world.
3 years ago
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Kevin *****
@Sean ********
 🤣🤣🤣oh if it were easy everyone would be coming here for the tea total restaurants, closed bars and clubs and beaches covered in plastic waste🤣🤣🤣
3 years ago
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Kevin *****
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Federico **********
Wonder if u paid the school just for watching the video or u had to pay a full driving course.

Especially for renewals where u need not take the theory... Nor the practical exam... Just the vision/reflexes and the 1hr video...

So i wonder if schools r offering a reasonably priced option for that

(The whole driving course from scratch is 4-5k depends on the school)

All this cuz the DMV said they won't allow for the ob-rom seminars. Thais can do it online... For there's no way for foreigners to register. So using the school as the middle man seems to be the only option.
3 years ago
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Steven ********************
Was it license renewal or first one ref note from driving school
3 years ago
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Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steven *******************
@Tony **********
I am not really sure if it was 'renew' or not. It seems like it was renew. I have pre-existing license from USA so I think it was more like they transferred. From what I understand driving school can be a big deal. In my case I was supposed to watch a video. I guess the schools systems were broke or something because they only required that I sign in/out.. one hour apart.

If it were a new license I think they are not issuing those at this time. My US motorcycle license is expired and they wouldn't give me a Thai Motorcycle license. From what I understand I have to take classes and what not (different than watching a video).

They are not issuing new license at this time due to Covid restrictions. They told me come back in July.
3 years ago
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Tony ***********
@Terary *********
 by new i mean new thai driver's license. As in you have never had a thai driver's license before. I have a license from home. Good to know i can just handle it all myself. What was about the total cost?
3 years ago
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Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I went to the school near Bankok Hospital in Pattaya. The school is on the Northwest corner of North Road and Sukhumvit.
3 years ago
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Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony **********
 I think about 400tbh, 200 for school, 200 for license.
3 years ago
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Tony ***********
@Terary *********
 where is the school?
3 years ago
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Tony ***********
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Steven ********************
@Terary *********
 noted for new could be different however i would check again as my daughter is starting today for her Thai car license
3 years ago
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Steven ********************
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Tony ***********
@Steven *******************
 also would like to know this. Was told they are not doing them right now. Only renewals. Also what was the process for the rest of the stuff? Doctor/Immigration/School.
3 years ago
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Steven ********************
@Tony **********
 yeah need renew mine got all docs just need medical cert and immigration letter for residence then apparenently book appointment
3 years ago
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Tony ***********
How do you get a medical cert? Just goto a doctor tell em u wanna get a license?
3 years ago
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Federico **********
@Tony **********
 u go to any clinic and for 100-200 baht u tell em u need a certificate "for the drivers license"

They know exactly what it and what to give u

Dont think they will check much (which is good ... U just want the paper)
3 years ago
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Federico **********
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Sean *********
My drivers license from my home country expired about 2 months ago. I wonder if this will be an issue if I apply?
3 years ago
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Kool *******
@Sean ********
 if your home country license is expired then you must take the driving and written tests. It is the same as if you had no license. There is no leaway.
3 years ago
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Sean *********
@Kool ******
 that’s good to know. I guess I should have looked into this a few months ago.
3 years ago
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Stefan *******
@Sean ********
 it is very easy to take a license in Thailand, so no problem
3 years ago
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Stefan *******
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Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My motorcycle license is expired and they would not allow me to get a motorcycle license. I think you would have issues. Maybe an agent can help.
3 years ago
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Sean *********
@Terary *********
 thanks… It’s insane when you think of masses on the roads that never had a driver’s license.
3 years ago
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Sean *********
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Ben *********
I wonder about the one in chatuchak, I'm in limbo just trying for a 5 year renewal? Anyone got renewed? Thanks
3 years ago
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Ben *********
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