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What is the process to obtain a Thai driving license if my UK license is expired and I can't renew it?

Thai driving license Pattaya UK driving license Visa and immigration issues Driving in Thailand Driving schools in Thailand International driving permit

Sep 28, 2021

3 years ago

Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone knows a simple way to arrange getting a Thai driving licence? I'm based in Pattaya. I believe I'm going to have to take the test etc as my UK license although valid as oer the UK government website is valid but the card I have is expired and I'm having difficulty getting a new card sortrd in the UK due to not being at the old address anymore and not having the relevant proof of new address having not been in the UK for a long time. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am told driving schools can help but don't know who to use. Cheers 😊🚘🙏🏻

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking guidance on obtaining a Thai driving license while based in Pattaya, as their UK license is expired and they face challenges renewing it due to residing outside the UK. Community members provide advice, including options like using driving schools, getting address certification, and the potential to manage the UK license renewal through a family member. Some suggest alternatives involving dealing with local offices about certification and testing requirements, and caution against sending their UK license to change the address in Thailand. Additionally, a few comments allude to the possibility of acquiring a less legitimate license. Overall, the conversation highlights various practical tips and experiences of expats navigating the Thai driving license system.

Peter **********

*go to Khao San Road in Bangkok

*Say "fake licence"

Voila

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Michael ********

@Peter *********

i actually used one of them, when i got into acvident and found mine out of date. Got one quick and backdated it. All worked got insurance sorted 555.

Actually used same one to get a Brazillian license when i worked there

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Michael ********

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Joe ********

You could always order your new driving licence to old adress and redirect your post to another adress and get somebody to send it over here. I received some documents last week and it only took 11 days after posting in the uk

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Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

good plan. Thanks mate. I'll also look into that

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Luke **********

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Damian *********

What ever you do, don’t send your U.K. driving license and try to change it to your Thai address. They will not send you a new one again, until you have a U.K. address again.

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Nick ************

I had to get a form from land transport office to take to immigration in order to get my address certified. Getting my address certified involved my landladies housebook and id card plus a document on which I had to place 45baht of stamps obtained from another office. On taking the completed firm to lto I had to do 2 simple tests and got my license for 259 baht. However, I did have valid uk driving license and international driving permit. The driving school I went to required 15 hours of study followed by a test to get a license but in the end I did not have to do that. It was a tedious process but worth it as driving license proves your address and often carries more weight than my passport.

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Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nick ***********

thanks for this Nick. That is really very helpful and I appreciate it. Sounds like a headache but agree it will be worth it

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Luke **********

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Todd *********

Agent. Easy fix

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Kev **********

Keep 400 baht in your pocket make sure every other document is up to date (porabo) ect and you don’t need one you will awlays drive away for between 2-400 baht

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Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kev *****************

its for my insurance incase i have an accident hence me wanting to sort

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Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I know hey. Nothings easy here lol 🤣🤣

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Kev **********

@Luke *********

I fully understand that mate but would still give u 10 days to sort everything. Nobody knows the answer at this time

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Kev **********

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Gene **********

Simple ? Thailand? Is that possible? 555

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Adrian ********

Nan services Pattaya

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Paul ********

Not sure if it helps but I had the same issue with my card. I downloaded the form and did a change of address form to my parents address. I then sent the form to their house and they sent the form of in the U.K. took a while due to the delays but they then received a new card and sent it back to me

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Kevin *****

I had a similar issue but they wanted a utility bill in my name which I couldn't provide (obviously, since I don't live at my daughter's house and have been in Asia for 9 years). However, I got round it by applying to change my photo. It gives you the option of using your current passport photo. I still gave my daughter's address but didn't need the proof of address.

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Dave *********

Isn't it ridiculous the lengths you have to go to getting around rules/regs... You'd think in this day and age they'd come up with a better system to keep your uk licence in date since they introduced a limited life span plastic licence? After all you can change your HMRC details to your overseas address so why not drivers licence... 🤷‍♂️

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Frédéric ******************

According to international agreements, you should get a driving licence of the country where you live. That's why you can't get a British one with a foreign address.

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Dave *********

@Frédéric ****************

I hear you, I get you can't drive on it indefinitely and need to get one in the country of residence but it just seems stupid they can't issue one with an overseas address as a proof of entitlement for vehicle types driven perhaps endorsed not for use outside country of citizenship like they put on visas of foreign nationals in the UK - No recourse to Gov't funds. Instead people have to resort to getting round the rules by providing a false address (which is the obvious way around it...).

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Frédéric ******************

It's not a matter of citizenship but residency. If you're resident in the UK (whatever your citizenship is) you can use your driving license abroad during holidays (international standard is 90 days). If you become resident of another country, you're supposed to exchange your British licence with a local one and you can use it in the UK if you come for vacations. The good thing with Thailand is that they don't keep your British licence like they do in many county (ie Canada, Australia, USA, all Europe) when they give you the Thai one.

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Dave *********

Yes. I was merely observing it seems to be a bit of a ridiculous situation.

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Dave *********

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Luke **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

fantastic. Thanks mate. I'll try this out.

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Paul ********

@Luke *********

no problem. It took a couple of months as DVLA has a back log

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Paul ********

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