Applying for a Thai driving license in Pattaya, how does it work? This article explains the procedure.
The first application: decide whether you want a driver's license for a car only, for a motorcycle or for both. You need two forms: proof that you live here and a health declaration. For the first you need your passport, a non-immigrant visa, proof that you own or rent a house and two passport photos.
Make copies of the relevant passport pages, fill in the correct form at Immigration (Residence Certificate) and Immigration will do the rest. You can pick up this Certificate a day later. You can get a health certificate at any clinic. The examination is worth nothing, but you have to pay 50 to 200 Baht for it, depending on your appearance.
With the two documents you go to the Eastern Verification Center. You can find this by driving on Sukhumvit towards Chonburi. At the overpass at the end of Banglamung take road 36 towards Rayong. After five kilometers you will see a sign that goes left to Bangkok and straight to Rayong. Go straight ahead. You will see the Regent's Academy on the right. You make a U-turn immediately after the bridge. On the way back you pass that school again and then take the first road on the left.
On your right you will see a large white building. That's where you should be. On the other side of the road are several small shops where you can have all the necessary photocopies made. They are also happy to fill in your forms, but you can also do that yourself. You report to the desk just outside the door of the building. Inside (on the first floor) you take a number and then wait for your turn.
When it is your number's turn, you will be called to counter 3 or 4. You must submit the following items there: proof that you live here, health certificate, an international driving licence, completed forms and copies of your passport and international driving licence. English is spoken. They do a check for color blindness.
Then you have to do some physical tests, such as pressing a brake pedal when a fictitious traffic light turns red. You have to react quickly. They can take a road test (but they usually don't do that at a falang), or a written test, or a mandatory video. If this all went well, you will receive a stamp for approval on the papers. Your photo will be taken, because it will soon be anchored in the driver's license.
You have to wait again at counter 4. If you are called, you have to pay 105 Baht, then wait again with a number. After thirty minutes you will receive a new Thai driving license at counter 5. Good for a year.
Follow-up application: The following year you return to this building with your passport, Thai driver's license and proof that you live here. You (sometimes) also need a health declaration. You can now get a driver's license for five years without any problems. You do have to keep a close eye on the expiration date after the first year/first application. Go on the date or just after. 1 week later is no problem. Renewing a 5-year driver's license is done in the same way.
A final piece of advice: go early in the morning, say 7.45:XNUMXam. Then it's not busy yet. It's very warm inside. What to do if you don't have an international driver's license? Then you have to watch a two-hour Thai movie on the spot, followed by a written test. Hours later you have to take a driving test on a course full of obstacles. You must take care of the car or motorcycle yourself.
If you want both a car and a motorcycle license, you must take the test on both. It can all be done in one day, if you have both a car and a motorcycle with you. Of course you can always do one of those ภาษาไทย who takes his motorcycle exam can borrow his motorbike for 200 Baht.
Well explained, but it needs an important addition. If you do not have an International Driving Permit, but only a Dutch driving licence, you can apply for a Certificate of Authenticity at the Dutch Embassy. With that proof I got a driver's license for both motorbike and car without any problems.
In addition to a follow-up application; after the 1st renewal of 5 years, your proof is valid for 5 years + number of days until your birthday; go after your birthday date you don't get 5 but 6 years minus the number of days you come later keep max 5 days no problem.
If you go earlier, there is a good chance that you are too early and have to come back later
Those "shops" on the other side are very handy if you have to pay the annual car tax. You may actually have to wait for HOURS. At such a “shop” you pay 50 or 100 Baht (I'm not sure anymore) and you will be helped within FIVE MINUTES.
Favoritism or corruption! I can tell you more about that. At the Dutch Embassy he didn't even look at my passport photos but said they were wrong. Op across the street instead of 200 for 300 Baht. In Pattaya I went to the photographer. He was furious. Asked which country I came from and came with the papers for Dutch photos.
Exact pen perfect and that of the embassy dead wrong.
At Friendship you get a parking ticket with the time on it. Me, came in at 11.01:11.17 am and the receipt said 40:40 am. Each hour costs XNUMX Baht, but the first XNUMX minutes costs XNUMX Baht. I went over to him and alerted him to the mistake. He laughed really hard and wanted to run away. I stopped him and he had to correct. Yes there is a lot!!
Hello folks
The first part of the story is correct.
But to extend your driving license for 5 years you do have an International again
driver's license required.
I myself got both my driver's licenses 2 years ago and that indeed went according to the procedure described earlier.
Last year I went there again but without an Int Driver's License because that was not necessary, I was told by various people (you already have a driver's license anyway) but that party was cancelled.
We were able to get or say get a driver's license for 1 year again because we had to do the necessary for that. (we were 6 people)
First of all, you have to take the theory exam and nowadays that is no longer done in writing via the computer. That is a multiple choice test where you have to get 30 correct out of 22 questions, there is almost no difference between car or motorcycle.
If you fail for that, that's no problem because you can possibly do it again a few times. If you fail now, scroll down because there are the wrong questions with the correct answers. So handy when redoing.
Suppose you passed that (and there were only 2 including myself) then you also have to “drive” . In principle, you do this in your own car or on your own moped.
This is also Thailand, because a Thai comes there with his own car or moped
and if he/she drops, he/she happily goes home in his/her own car or moped.
and that often happens because the Thai also has to use the computer.
A car was no problem, but we didn't have a moped with us because we didn't know this, but everything can be rented there, even a car.
If you have to do that, if you don't have an Int driver's license, try to come with a somewhat small car because you have to park backwards.
But in the end, all 2 of us passed everything and so we got the driving licenses for only 1 more year.
This year again (3 times is a charm) and for myself it was a bit of a sweat again because what was the case, a few days before I had lost (or rolled) my wallet and it contained both driver's licenses.
But since I always make copies of all passes, I went to the police station with the copies to report.
Went to the office with the copies and the 'official report' SO ALSO AN INT DRIVING LICENSE and the previously described papers and received all 2 driving licenses without any problems for almost 6 years.
I am from January and was there in March so 5 years plus 10 months.
Take advantage of it Peter bol
One comment, everything is described correctly, only the story about the international driving license is not correct. I renewed my driver's license in May for 5 years and did not need an int driving license or a copy.
i went the same in january with only my thai driver's licenses, and got them smoothly for 5 years without an international driver's license.
Hello Jan and Piet
Just a comment regarding the reaction of Jan and Piet
Have you also extended driving licenses in Pattaya? and it is true,
if you already have a driving license for 5 years then it is indeed an international one
driver's license no longer required.
Was that the case with you?????
G.R. Peter Bol
I had both my motorcycle and car first for 1 year, extended in Pattaya for 5 years until my birthday, so also 2 months longer.
without international driving license. negotiable, Thai only
It just goes to show that rules are there to be broken.
And that certainly in Thailand.
Whether those rules are during my renewal or during yours
let's break it in the middle.
Maybe you were lucky or I was just unlucky.
The point is that we both now have our Thai driver's licenses.
Gr Peter Bol
Is proof of deregistration from the GBA not required? Or is proof of a home in Thailand sufficient?
Can I apply for a Thai driving license with my Dutch driving licence?
My international driver's license has been lost.
I want to respond based on the situation in Bangkok. I have tried to get a Thai driver's license but this has not been successful.
On my first visit to the office, issuing driving licenses, I received a form “documents required for a Thai driving license.”. With the following content.
1) passport including non-immigrant visas.
2) certificate of residency (required from embassy)
3) medical certificate from doctor.
4) current or interntional driving license (must be translated into english, embassy issues a statement for 1190 baht.
The snake in the grass turned out to be at point 2. I have an official document IN THAI that I own an apartment in BKK, but they “demand” a statement from the embassy. I couldn't get this one because I live in both NL and Thailand (and I couldn't). I must be deregistered in NL. Discussion impossible….
It turns out that the situation is not the same everywhere and you have to find someone who is willing to “help” you. The health certificate 50 baht was nothing at all, the doctor asked if I could see well and I told her that I saw her well. The situation may be different if you have a work permit.
I'm going to try elsewhere. Everything works differently here and a good network is important. Keep smiling, don't show your emotions
Maybe someone can help me, my driver's license expires July 25, 2013, but I'm in Belgium from June to September, now my question was "What should I do?"
Many thanks Fr.
IRB International Driving License ANWB
Thai driver's license applied for in Chom Chong, (Baht 500) the next day to CBR
Buri Ram, waited an hour and a half and woke up nicely
the photo with a brilliant credit card driver's license for only 215 Bath for one
year.
Convince yourself of the need for the IRB otherwise it's a waste of the ridiculous
€ 18,95 for the gray ANWB rag.
Use it to your advantage.
El Cor Buriram