Thailand Driver License Application

[Admin]

APPLICATION THROUGH LOCAL AGENCY

OPTION # 1
Foreign to Thai Driver License Conversion

Thailand’s law regarding motorbike license requirements for foreigners is rather vague, and commonly up to interpretation of any police officer you speak with. The best way to avoid any trouble, tickets or bribes is to simply get a Thai license. It’s the only 100% sure way to be left hassle free during one of those pesky check points. Although the process isn’t overly complex, it is made difficult by the paperwork requirements, appointment booking process, confusing amount of lines, and complete lack of English at the Department of Transport. That’s where we can help streamline the whole process for you.

Utilize your current valid drivers license from another country to receive a matching Thai Driver’s license. Our trained staff will review your documents, fill out and submit all required forms, navigate all the queues, and provide professional translation service. Best of all, we will make an appointment at a time of your convenience to guide you through the process. No pre-booking appointments with the Dept of Transport is required. Allowing you to get your license easier and faster.

Cost: (including all service and government fees)

• Car or Motorbike License: 1,700 THB (2-3 hours to complete)
• Car and Motorbike License: 2,200 THB(If currently have motorcycle license or endorsement) (2-3 hours to complete)
• Car and Motorbike License: 2,900 THB(If currently do not have a motorcycle license or endorsement) (Usually about 7 hours, but up to one and a half days to complete. Depending on the speed of the day)

What is required

• Passport
• A valid Drivers lLcense or International License
  Note: If your drivers license is not in English, it must be officially translated and stamped by your home country Embassy or an authorized translation service.
• Work Permit or Certificate of Residency:
  • Work Permit
    with your address listed: A digital work permit with your address listed upon opening the QR code or physical blue book with your address listed in the back of the book (Generally between pages 24-26) can be accepted. Note, the majority of work permits do not have address listed so a Certificate of residency would be required instead.
  • Letter of Residency
    issued from either your home country Embassy (Valid for 1 year) or Thai immigration office (Valid for 30 days, and must be from the Bangkok office) Please note, TM30, rental contracts, and other forms of address verification are not accepted.
• Medical Certificate
  Not older than 30 days.

OPTION # 2
New Thai Drivers License

If you do not currently have a drivers license, we can still help you get one at the Department of Transport and guide you through the process. Our trained staff will help review all of your required documents prior to registration, fill out and submit all required forms and paperwork at the Dept of transport, handle all of the queues, provide personal translations, and overall guide you through the process. You will receive two individual licenses, one for car and one for motorbike. Each valid for a period of year 2 years, at which time they can be renewed to 5 years each. The expected completion time is two and a half days

• Day 1. Registration for and make appointment a the Department of transport for training days (1-3 hours)
• Day 2. License training, educational videos, and theory test (6-8 hours)
• Day 3. Driving text explanation, driving test, drivers license photo and issue (4-8 hours)

Cost: (including all service and government fees)

• Car or Motorbike License: 3,900 THB
• Car and Motorbike License: 4,900 THB

What is required

• Passport
  With minimal 60 days remaining on current Visa
• 2 Passport Photos
• Work Permit or Certificate of Residency
  • Work Permit
    With your address listed: A digital work permit with your address listed upon opening the QR code or physical blue book with your address listed in the back of the book (Generally between pages 24-26) can be accepted. Note, the majority of work permits do not have address listed so a Certificate of residency would be required instead.
  • Letter of Residency
    Original present resident address in Thailand that is certified from your embassy or Thailand Immigration Bureau. The certificate of residency must be valid for 1 year. Please note, TM30, rental contracts, and other forms of address verification are not accepted.
• Medical Certificate
  Original medical certificate (5 Diseases Form) from a clinic or hospital that is valid for 30 days.
• Driver License
  Original and Photocopy of invalid international drivers license or local drivers license if you have it. If you have an international drivers license, you must have it translated to English or Thai languages and it must be certified by your embassy if it is not in English language.
• Procedures
  Print off the drivers license application form and prepare for the physical and theory test. It is best to arrive early to the transport office of your location as the process can take all day. Once you arrive, you will watch a video about driving that is about 1 hour long. Then you will take a physical driving test and then watch a 5-hour long video. This is considered your training. After, you will take another physical test, a theory test (in which it is best to study in advance), and lastly a practical test.

[Sundance2020]

INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS

The documents in which you will need to bring when arriving at the transport office

• Passport with Visa (original and photocopy)
• 2 Passport Photos
• Original present resident address in Thailand that is certified from your embassy or Thailand Immigration Bureau. The certificate of residence must be valid for 1 year. OR if you have a work permit, that will serve in place of a certificate of residence as the work permit should have a present address identified on the documents. You will need the original work permit and a photocopy.
• Original medical certificate (5 Diseases Form) from a clinic or hospital that is valid for 1 month.
• Original and photocopy of invalid international drivers license or local drivers license if you have it. If you have an international drivers license, you must have it translated to English or Thai languages and it must be certified by your embassy if it is not in English language.

Procedures

• Print off the drivers license application form and prepare for the physical and theory test. It is best to arrive early to the transport office of your location as the process can take all day. Once you arrive, you will watch a video about driving that is about 1 hour long. Then you will take a physical driving test and then watch a 5-hour long video. This is considered your training. After, you will take another physical test, a theory test (in which it is best to study in advance), and lastly a practical test

The Thai driving license exam has 5 different categories:

• Vehicle Law
• Road Traffic Law
• Traffic and Warning Signs
• Safe Driving
• Vehicle Maintenance

The driving license exam is divided into 2 sets of questions, with each set consisting of 25 questions (50 questions in total.) The test-taker must answer 45 or more questions (90%) correctly to pass the written test.

The fees listed on the Government Website for a driving license are 205 THB and the fees for a motorcycle license on the government website are 105 THB

The website Move2Thailand has a great practise test for those who would like to study before taking the exam.

[Sundance2020]

APPLICATION THROUGH LOCAL AGENCY

Drivers License Renewal

If you currently have a Thai drivers license that is due for renewal we can help. Our trained staff will review your documents, submit all the required forms, navigate all of the queues, and provide translation service for you. In total the process takes roughly 1-3 hours to complete and you will then be on your way with a newly renewed license. Note: Your license must be within 90 days of expiration, but not over one year expired to be eligible for renewal.

• Cost: Car or Motorbike: 1,500 THB | Car and Motorbike: 2,200 THB

What is required

• Passport
  With minimal 60 days remaining on current Visa.
• Work Permit or Certificate of Residency
  Work Permit: With your address listed: A digital work permit with your address listed upon opening the QR code or physical blue book with your address listed in the back of the book (Generally between pages 24-26) can be accepted. Note, the majority of work permits do not have address listed so a Certificate of Residency would be required instead.
  Letter of Residency:
  Letter of Residency: Issued from either your home country Embassy (Valid for 1 year) or Thai immigration office (Valid for 30 days, and must be from the Bangkok office) Please note, TM30, rental contracts, and other forms of address verification are not accepted.
• Medical Certificate
  Not older than 30 days.

[Tripadvisor]

Walk-in driving license services now available in Thailand

Obtaining a new driving license or renewing an old one just got easier in Thailand. Walk-in services are now available at transport offices nationwide without the need to book an appointment, according to the Department of Land Transport (DLT). Anyone wanting to renew their Thai driving license can obtain an ‘eLearning’ theoretical training certificate through the DLT’s website, which also has a “for foreigner” option.

To renew your license, bring your ‘eLearning’ certification and medical certificate to any transport office in the country. You are not required to book an appointment. Alternatively, those wanting to renew their license without obtaining an eLearning theory certificate can train and take a test at any of the DLT’s offices, so long as they bring their original driving license, ID, and medical certificate with them. However, it will take longer.

Additionally, holders of two-year driving licenses who wish to change to five-year driving licenses, as well as people needing replacements for lost or damaged licenses, and those applying for the first time in Thai or English, can use the walk-in service too. If you’d rather not wait around, you can still reserve an appointment through the DLT Smart Queue service.

Offices will serve those who booked an appointment in advance first. Walk-ins will first have their documentation examined by an officer before being given an appointment time to return. The DLT warns the public that there are a lot of scams right now of people claiming they can get you a driving license outside the DLT’s system. The DLT asks the public not to be fooled by such crooks who could misuse your personal documents and information.

The only way to obtain or renew a driving license in Thailand is through the DLT directly. You can report such activity to the DLT’s 24-hour hotline, 1584. Deputy Director of the DLT, Seksom Akkaphan, said that the department scrapped walk-ins during the pandemic as a Covid-19 prevention measure. In 2023, Thailand’s Covid-19 situation has calmed down, so the measure is no longer necessary, said Seksom.