What is the process for renewing a Thai driver's license for foreigners in Chiang Mai, and what are the common requirements?

Drivers license renewal: Updated experience –

So Thursday I went to renew my Thai license in Chiang Mai. I will preface this review by warning everyone I have a couple complaints. Maybe it’s just part of my culture to find something to complain about, maybe it’s just me, but they’ll be in this review so if that’s going to upset you I’d stop reading now.

My license was expired by 11 months. In case anyone wasn’t aware, you can renew a drivers license up to 1 year AFTER it’s expired without anything extra. The DLT opens at 8:30 officially, but the doors open at 8am, you can go in, get your papers, fill out and submit stuff. They’ll start doing work at 8:30 though. I go there about 8:20 with my friend and my Thai girlfriend. Foreigners don’t need to make an appointment or que up. You can see from picture one, there’s a drop box for foreigners, just put your documents there, the lady will look over them and call you up.

I followed the listed requirements as outlined on the DLT’s website. To note about the requirements:

- If you’re renewing a car and motorbike license at the same time, you only need ONE certificate of residency and medical cert. Make a copy and sign the 2nd one. You’ll need 2 copies of everyone, one for the motorbike and one for the car license.

- Medical cert

- Certificate of residency OR work permit with address on it

- Passport and copy of Data page and visa/extension

- Thai license and a photocopy of the license

- PROOF (by screen shot) that you’ve watched the 1 hour video.

-dlt-elearning.com for the video.

This is where my first complaint comes in. No where did anything about this 1 hour video from the DLT’s website get mentioned until I got the desk. They said if you’re NOT on a non-immigrant visa, you need to watch the 1 hour safety video and show us a screenshot that you completed it. I asked what my visa status had to do with watching a safety video, I didn’t get an answer. Then I said, this wasn’t a requirement for an initial license right? No, if you have an international driving permit you do NOT need to watch the safety video for your first license, only if you’re renewing the license. So I can drive for 2 years without learning the laws but need to watch a video if I want to drive more after that?

I was more upset because I could have done it the night before instead of sitting there for an hour for no reason watching a youtube video that I couldn’t fast forward on my phone. I brought this up to the supervisor sitting in the back (after the front desk lady got tired of talking to me), her word for word answer as to why this isn’t listed as a requirement on the DLT’s website was, “there are to many requirements to put them all on the internet.” Okeyyy

Anyway, Knocked out the video, there were only 3 questions. Did the color test, paid the 310 baht, printer overheated so had to wait 10 minutes for it to cool down, and was out at 10:25, roughly 2 hours.

Honestly I’ve always had good experiences at the DLT, there was no exception this time either. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, it’s well organized, and not chaotic like immigration. While “watching” my 1 hour video, I walked around and looked at all their posters. To note, most of the requirements on the posters are out of date. They still call the temporary license a 1 year license, among other things.