I'm looking at buying a motorcycle from a Thai person this week, it would be shipped to my province (Lampang) from Bangkok area. Mutual Thai friend checked it out, all is good with buyer, shipping, bike, etc. but..

How does it work to transfer bike from Thai person shipped to me the foreigner (Retirement visa, Thai DL)? Is it easy once we sign something online, and the bike is already here for me to go into office or is there something else to think about?

Do you need to convert to thai drivers license or IDP eventually if you hold an ASEAN DL.

Any recent success stories with opening a bank account on the DTV?

I just got my DTV approved today. I used to live in Thailand before and have a Thai drivers license (which expired this Jan). Can I apply for a new one with DTV?

Just been to immigration near DMK airport, filled out forms for temporary residency certificate for Car/Bike Licence, all done.

No need for 90 day report ( not a requirement to obtain the temp certificate )

Have appointment booked with department of transport in 3 weeks.

Has anyone here with a DTV been able to get a Thai driver’s license? If so what did you do , documents needed ?

Hi guys.👋

So I’ve booked a one way ticket to Phuket late April. I’m well travelled and have been to SE Asia many times.

Planning on a retirement one year visa initially and may buy/start a business there.

So the process order is.

- find accommodation and get TM30

- arrange bank account and deposit 800,000bth

- apply for retirement visa

- this deposit has to be in for 2 months before I can apply.. yes?

- organise health insurance for $100,000us

Therefore as I have 60 days (I’m a kiwi coming for retirement visa, not elite) I have to a boarder run to get another 60 days until my deposit is recognised.

I’m I correct on the methodology ?

Getting a Thai drivers licence will be easy.

Cheers

Hi all!

My 2-year temporary Thai driver's license is due next year January, and as far as I can see, I can only renew for 5 years license 3 months before that.

I would like to get an IDP in Thailand. Did anyone do this while on temporary license? Or can you renew to 5 years license earlier?

I would like to travel in May and do a road trip abroad but my IDP has expired from my home country. The only way to get a new IDP from my home country is by going to the municipality there, the embassy cannot issue it. 😌

5 year drivers licenses on a DTV - experiences? I'm wondering if those who've applied for a 5 year Thai driver or motorcycle license (or both at the same time) as a renewal from an existing 5 year one that is expiring OR a 2 year one that should be eligible for an upgrade to a 5 year one, did you get a 5 year license or only a 2 year one?

I know Sefton Hanley got a 5 year license in Chiang Mai while on a DTV.

However, in Pattaya and Rayong, they're only handing out 2 year licenses to DTV holders when they go in for their renewals.

Any experiences from other offices?

I have the feeling Bangkok will renew for 5 years, but this is just a hunch.

Hi Group,

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their contributions. I’d like to share my experience so far, along with a question and a disappointment I’ve encountered.

I applied for the Online DTV visa from Istanbul on December 3, 2024, and my visa was approved on December 20, 2024, by the Thai Embassy in Ankara. I’m currently in Bangkok and working through the process to obtain my Thai driver’s license. I’m planning to get it later this week.

Everything was going smoothly until I hit a major problem. For about a week now, every bank I’ve approached has refused to open a bank account for me. They all claim that due to regulations, accounts cannot be opened for those with the DTV visa type. I started this DTV journey after reading in this group about others who successfully opened bank accounts with a DTV visa, but now the banks seem to have changed their policies, leaving me in a difficult position.

Why is someone with a 5-year visa, planning to purchase a car and a condo, unable to open a bank account? How is it practical to rely solely on ATMs for transactions over such a long period? This situation has significantly disrupted my plans and is extremely disappointing.

To be honest, if I had known I wouldn’t be able to open a bank account, I would never have started the DTV process. Financial control is very important to me, and keeping my money outside the country I’m living in adds unnecessary costs that I don’t want to bear. I deeply regret my decision now.

If anyone has faced the same issue and found a solution, or can point me toward a bank branch willing to help with opening an account, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.