| Obtaining a Thai driving license is relatively simple, | | | | Verification Center. To get to the Eastern |
| but you must hold a non-immigrant visa in order | | | | Verification Center you go north on Sukhumvit |
| to be eligible. If you intend to drive a car or | | | | Highway, as if you are headed to Bangkok. When |
| motorcycle within Thailand during a holiday, then it | | | | you reach the junction of Highway 3 and Route |
| is not necessary to obtain a Thai driving license at | | | | 36, 8 kilometers from Central Road (Pattaya |
| all. A valid International Driving Permit, along with | | | | Klang), take Route 36, toward Rayong. You'll see |
| your home country driving license, is acceptable, | | | | a sign that says "Rayong," with a right-pointing |
| but you must have both. | | | | arrow. That's the road you take. 5 kilometers up |
| If you will be in Thailand for a stay long enough | | | | the road you'll come to a sign that points Bangkok |
| that you hold a non-immigrant visa, then if you | | | | to the left and Rayong to the right. Go to the |
| intend to drive in Thailand it is advisable to obtain | | | | right. Almost immediately see a large, rather new |
| a Thai driving license. | | | | looking school, The Regent's Academy. Directly in |
| When you first obtain the license it will be valid for | | | | front of the school make a U-turn. Once you pass |
| one year. Upon renewal, the license is valid for | | | | the school again, take the first left you come to, |
| five years. Thailand does not combine licenses for | | | | and just follow the road around. You'll see a large |
| car and motorcycle. Each is a separate license. If | | | | white building on the right side of the road. That's |
| you intend to drive both, then you will need both | | | | where you are trying to go. |
| licenses. | | | | At the building entrance there will be a desk at |
| The easiest way to obtain the license is to come | | | | which you fill out the application form for the |
| to Thailand with both your valid home country | | | | driving license. Make sure to tell the clerk which |
| driving license and an International Driving Permit. | | | | driving licenses you want. The clerk will check |
| Make sure the International Driving Permit | | | | your documentation and inform you if you need |
| specifies car, motorcycle, or both if you intend to | | | | anything else. If you do need additional copies, |
| use it to obtain the Thai driving license. Despite | | | | directly across the street from the building there |
| the fact that an International Driving License is | | | | is a row of copy and photo shops. Once the clerk |
| valid for one year, Thailand honors it only for the | | | | is satisfied you will then be issued a number and |
| first ninety days upon entry to the country, so | | | | sent upstairs to wait your turn to be called. |
| make sure you get your licenses within those | | | | When you are called your documents will be |
| ninety days. Also, you must obtain the | | | | taken and you will then be sent to go through |
| International Driving Permit outside of Thailand. | | | | some simple physical tests. Those usually include a |
| You must also produce two additional documents. | | | | color blindness test, a peripheral vision test, and a |
| You must produce a medical certificate and a | | | | reaction time test. There can be other types of |
| residence certificate. You can obtain the medical | | | | tests if they so choose. |
| certificate at any hospital or street clinic. The | | | | Once you pass those tests, you're done. All you |
| medical certificate is quite simple. Almost literally, if | | | | will have to do is wait to be called to pay the fee, |
| you are moving and breathing you can get the | | | | about 200 baht, and wait again for the license. |
| medical certificate. It is easiest and least | | | | What happens if you don't have an International |
| expensive to get one at a street clinic. | | | | Driving Permit and/or a valid home country driving |
| For the residence certificate you must hold a valid | | | | license? You'll have to sit through a two-hour |
| non-immigrant visa, have passport photos, and | | | | movie, all in Thai, followed by a written test. Then, |
| produce documentation that verifies your address | | | | hours later, you will have to physically drive a |
| in Thailand. You must also have a copy of your | | | | vehicle through their obstacle course while the |
| main passport page and your visa page. You | | | | examiner watches. You have to supply the car |
| obtain the residence certificate at an Immigration | | | | and/or motorcycle yourself. If you're going to get |
| office, but it must be the office in your home | | | | both the car and motorcycle license, again those |
| province. Most immigration offices have a photo | | | | are two separate licenses. You can do it all in one |
| and copy shop next door. You can get whatever | | | | day, but since you can't drive both a car and a |
| photos or copies you need at the copy shop. The | | | | motorcycle to the agency, how can you do it? If |
| fee for the certificate at most immigration offices | | | | you don't have a motorcycle or car, offer a Thai |
| is 200 baht. When the certificate is issued, make | | | | who is getting his own license about 200 baht if |
| sure to check that it shows that you hold a | | | | he'll let you drive the obstacle course on his |
| non-immigrant visa. Sometimes they mistakenly | | | | motorcycle. You will almost always find someone |
| show that you hold a tourist visa. Check that to | | | | willing to help you out. |
| be sure. | | | | If, for some reason, you fail any of the tests you |
| According to the most recent regulations, if you | | | | can try again in thirty days. |
| are getting both a car and motorcycle license, a | | | | When the time comes to renew your license you |
| copy of your medical is acceptable for the second | | | | must produce the same documentation again. Of |
| license, but you must have a separate residence | | | | course, since you already hold the Thai driving |
| certificate for each license. If you intend to obtain | | | | license, you no longer need a home country |
| both licenses, get two residence certificates. | | | | driving license or International Driving Permit. |
| Here's what you need to take with you when you | | | | There are no fee penalties if you renew late. |
| go to obtain the driving license:o Valid Passport | | | | One advantage to holding a Thai driving license is |
| with non-immigrant visao Residence Certificateo | | | | you can quite often get the Thai price, rather |
| Medical Certificateo Valid home country driving | | | | than the farang price, at venues and parks, or at |
| licenseo Valid International Driving Permit | | | | least a discount. Also, when you find yourself in |
| Once you have the required documentation you | | | | circumstances in which you are asked to leave ID, |
| are ready to go to the driving license agency. In | | | | you can leave the license rather than your |
| Pattaya the agency is located at the Eastern | | | | passport. |