By Thai law you are expected to carry a Thai drivers’ license when driving on public roads and foreigner drivers’ license should, in theory, only be used for the first 60 days of your stay in Thailand. You can on the other hand not get a Thai driver license on a tourist visa so that make sense.
What document to bring?
- The legal age at which you can apply for a Thai driver’s license is 18.
- You must be of sound mind and body.
- If you have your international drivers license, or your original driving license things will become easier to get a Thai one.
- You must have a non immigrant visa and that is a visa you apply for in another country. (you cannot get a Thai driving license with a. tourist visa)
- Passport with visa inside, or a work permit if you have one, better with both.
- A letter from Pattaya immigration that is located on Jomtien Soi 5 to verify your address a so called Residency Certificate. A letter from the Pattaya immigration will cost 300 THB for one letter and then 100 THB for every letter after that. I know in Samui they charge 500 THB and in some Thai Immigration offices it is free
You can also get your embassy in Thailand to write you a letter but dealing with embassies in Thailand give me bad taste in mouth, they also charge more than Thai immigration offices most of the time.
To get his document you need to either give them a utility bill, your rental contract or anything that show you address and name. In theory the Thai immigration will come and confirm your address but they never do. You can for example give them a copy of your rental bill from a hotel if you want to stay anonymous.
Before you go to Thai immigration office bring copies of your passport front page, visa page, entry stamp and T.M. card, (arrival & departure card) and two photos.
- A doctors certificate (not more than 30 days old) you can get this from any clinic, just tell them you are applying for a Thai driving license. In Pattaya you can get one on the way to the Pattaya Immigration for 150 THB.
Chayna Clinic 481/10-11 Jomtien Nongpru Chonburi Thailand 038-303762
It’s next to the 7/11 next to the hanuman statue.
- 2 recent 1″ x 1″ passport photos but with the new system you might not need them but bring them anyway.
- It is a good idea to take Thai person along with you to translate the paperwork and instruct you with the tests.
Where to take the Thai driver license?
You get your Thai drivers license from the Eastern Verification Center. They are Open Monday – Friday 0830 to 1600 but closed official holidays.
As well as issuing Thai drivers licenses they deal with vehicle registration, road worthiness, and taxation etc.
If you come from Pattaya go north on the Sukhumvit highway and after about 8 kilometers you will see the overpass on your right, here you turn right underneath the overpass, this takes you onto highway 36 heading to Rayong. Go 9 or 10 kilometers down the 36 and you will see the School of the Regents on your right hand side. At the next ‘u’ turn, turn around back in the direction of the school, just a few meters after you pass the school on you left you will see a road, turn left along this road and go for 2 -3 hundred meters until you see the photo copying booths and small cafes on your left, the licensing centre is immediately on your right. You apply for your Thai driver’s license upstairs. If you do not have a motorbike you can rent one at the office.
How to take the Thai driver licens?
- They will show you a video of the Thai Highway Code and Thai driving regulations. If you want to practice you can check out English Highway codes on Google it is the same. On the second floor they have a computer with the test you will take so if you have time over practice there. The theory test is a simple 20 question multiple choice test that is offered twice a day at 11.00 and 15.00. The results are issued within 20 minutes and you can take the driving test right away. But if you not pass you have to come back the next day.
- You may have to do some basic test color blind, depth perception and reflex tests but they are so simple that everyone can do them.
- The cost your first Thai driving license, at the time of writing is about 300 Baht for Thai Car driving license, 200 baht for Thai motorcycle driving license. Your first Thai driving license is valid for one year, where after you will receive a five year Thai driver’s license upon application at the same place.
- Having an international license or a driver license from you country will spare you the theory test.
- If you want to apply for a Thai motorcycle driving license, the same rules apply, you must already have the correct license, and otherwise you will have to do the theory and the practical driving test.
