What is your location?? Then maybe someone will recommend an agent in that area, There are quite a few agents in Pattaya that will assist you with opening a bank account, I think your only option is Bangkok bank if you're on a short term visa.

@Carlos ********

it's only ฿15 out of province ATM withdrawals, it is with Bangkok bank anyway.

@David ********

exactly, everyone just comments saying it's easier to do an extension, it's not if his nearest immigration office is a two hour drive away and he lives around the corner from the border into lao, he doesn't say anything about his location.

@Bruce ***

can extend once each time you stamp into Thailand.

@Jordan *****

if money isn't a problem, just look into getting a Thailand Elite Privilege Visa.

@Klee *************

if you haven't done a TM30 yourself, hotels that do everything by the book will take your passport and register you automatically when you check-in, if you did a 30 day extension and nothing got said, it's already in the system or it's not a requirement for that particular office.

It looks like the METV, if so I'm on the same visa now, I'm planning crossing the border a day or two before the expiry date on the visa, what if there are unforeseen circumstances and don't make the crossing on that day?? you'll lose the last 60 days +30 extension, get yourself back in the day before, it's not worth risking losing the last 3 months of the visa for the sake of one day. this makes me think about them people that book holidays coming in on the 30 day visa exempt, and they miss judge it and end up on overstay, I always booked holidays for 28 nights, it made sure I was in and out on the stamp I had in my passport.

The thai car and motorcycle licenses are completely separate licences, no motorcycle entitlement on the car license like your home country license, It sounds like the Australian car license is the same as the UK with everything you said in your comment, you can ride a low powered moped on your IDP international car licence (with motorcycle entitlement) for Upto 3 consecutive months I believe, then legally you need full thai licenses for both car and motorcycle, just convert your home car license into full thai car and motorcycle licenses, as I suggested in the other comment, you need to be careful with travel insurance etc, any accidents and you don't have the appropriate license it will void the policy.

@Jon *********

to just convert your home country licence into Thai car and motorcycle licenses, your home license needs to include motorcycle entitlement, also you need a IDP, then it's a visit to the land and transport office with the agent for a simple colour blind and reaction test, the agent I used charged me ฿5000.

To open the bank account you need 30 days or more remaining on your current stamp in your passport, they will do the resident certification, the agent will accompany you to the bank and do all the paperwork work, no need to buy accident insurance, it was ฿700 for the MasterCard payable to the bank plus a cash deposit into your account. The agent fee was ฿4000. There are lots of agents in all the major tourist resorts, just have a walk around and sit down and have a chat about what you need doing, I'm sure you will find one that will assist you.

@Jon *********

apparently a lot of the rules and regulations with thai banks have recently changed, making it difficult or impossible to open an account on a short term visa doing it yourself. I opened a bank account a few weeks ago, and also converted my home country driving licence together with my international IDP into Thai car and motorcycle licenses, I used an agent in Pattaya, very easy. It would probably be worth getting a quote to do everything, if you don't mind paying the fees and it would save you a headache.