How To Get a Thai Drivers Licence.

Today I got my first Thai drivers licence. The process was fairly painless but I thought I would share my experiences in the hope that it might help you should you need to apply. First a few facts.

Why do I need a Thai drivers licence? Thailand only recognises International Drivers Licences as an alternative to a Thai Licence. There is however a catch to driving on an International Licence because Thai law states that it should only be used as a temporary measure ideal for a tourist visit. It further recommends that long term residents(over 60 days) obtain the relevant Thai licence from the Department of Land Transport(DLT) in the area they live. So if you live in Thailand and want to drive a car or motorcycle legally you need a Thai licence. This is important as insurance might well be invalid if you do not comply with the law on licencing.

What documents do I need to present at the DLT?

1. A valid International Driving Licence, issued in your own country, plus photocopy. A true IDL is only valid for 1 year despite what some Internet advertisers would have you believe!

2. Your passport and a copy of the main page, current visa, must be non-immigrant, (YOU CANNOT get a Thai licence on a Tourist Visa) and your departure card

3. A medical certificate from a doctor saying you are fit and sane enough to drive in Thailand plus a photo copy of this document.

4. Proof of place of residence, either a letter from your local Thai Immigration supposedly free but a little tea money might be charged or your embassy in Thailand(UK Embassy charges around 2000Baht) can provide this. Alternatively if you have a work permit this will suffice in place of the letter. Photocopy this document too.

5. Sign all documents including photocopies. Doctors letter and proof of address must not be more than 30 days old.

6. Fee, 380 Baht for car and motorcycle. Thailand now issues a photo card licence in Thai and English. One plastic card for a car, one for a motorcycle. It is machine generated and you DO NOT need to provide a photograph, the machine does this.

What happens at the DLT?

1. Ideally take a Thai speaker with you unless you are fluent in Thai. They are allowed to translate for you.

2. Present your documents at an unoccupied window. If you want two licences i.e. car and motorcycle present two packs. You may use a photocopy of the doctors letter on the second application.

3. There in NO application form to fill out. The clerk will attache a blank form to the front of your documents-this is for official use and records your test results.

4. When your name is called, take 3 tests for eyesight and reaction, you are instructed in Thai.

5. Take multi choice test on highway code/rules of road. This is in English and is on a machine. 75% pass score.

6. Have photograph taken and licence produced on machine operated by a member of staff. Now pay your fee and leave, happy that you now have a Thai drivers licence and that most of the Thai drivers you will meet on the roads in Thailand don't have one. Total time for the process, on a good day, around 1 hour.

What happens in the tests?

1. The first test checks for colour vision, you are required to identify red, yellow and green dots pointed out at random by a tester on a large chart. You stand about 10' away. Its handy if you know the Thai word for green (keoo) red (dang) and yellow(luang) although most testers understand red, yellow and green, these are the only colours tested!

2. The depth perception test is next, here you are required to line up two posts electronically in a small box using forward and back buttons. One post is stationary you simply line up the other next to it. You sit about 10' from the box.

3. The reaction test is next, at the same desk you press an accelerator pedal lighting up green led's on a display and hit the brake when a red led illuminates.

4. Finally you complete a multi choice test of your knowledge of Thai highway code, very similar to the UK since Thailand drives on the left. The questions are available in English and you must score 75%. Some of the questions appear to have two answers or that there is no correct answer so beware. If you should fail you will no doubt be allowed to take the test again.

5. That's it, no practical test, because you already hold a licence from your own country.

This advice on obtaining a drivers licence in Thailand is based on my personal experiences at the DLT in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Remember this is Thailand and procedures may vary slightly from place to place. The same could apply to the documents required and the need to pass a theory test. The entire cost of the process including obtaining the relevant documents was 1200Baht(£22).

Incidentally my first licences are valid for a year, I must return next year to obtain a five year licence. However no tests are required for this and only limited paperwork, address certification and passport/visa etc. But more of that next year!

Overall I rate the experience of obtaining my Thai drivers licence as very positive. Staff at the DLT were professional although I was left unsupervised to take the theory test and could have simply reset the machine if I had failed.

To make my morning complete and leave on a high note I went outside to watch Thai learners taking their practical test. It is conducted in the grounds of the DLT and involves manoeuvres and parking.

Thai drivers are not tested on the road! Judging by the amount of squashed traffic cones I saw this morning I think I know why!

If you enjoyed this post why not subscribe to my RSS feed