How to get a Thai Driving License in Phuket

This page is about getting a Thai driving license in Phuket.

Note that foreigners can only get a Thai driving license if they have a non-immigrant visa. Those on tourist visas should get an international driving license.

Reasons to get a Thai Driving License

1) It is illegal to drive in Thailand without a valid driving license.

2) Driving without a valid driving license will invalidate your vehicle insurance.

3) International driving licenses are only valid for three months from your date of entry into Thailand. Okay - police are unlikely to check your date of entry but if you are here for a long time then IDLs are not valid.

4) A Thai driving license is only 55 baht for motorcycles or 105 baht for cars.

5) It is a form of ID that is generally recognised in Thailand. Remember that legally you should carry your passport at all times. Most people do not want to do this. The police do not ask to see foreigner's passports very often but if they do, then showing a Thai driving license will usually satisfy them.

6) A Thai driving license will often get you Thai entry prices at national parks and other places.

General

Getting a Thai driving license is a tedious but generally straightforward process. Remember when dealing with Thai officials you will get a better response if you are polite, patient and well presented.

If you have a valid international driving license or a driving license from your home country then you do not need to do the driving tests. In this case, the process should take around two hours. If you do not have a driving license then you will need to do a lesson on the Thai highway code. This will be in Thai but you can bring an interpreter. There is then a written test and a driving test. Phuket does have the highway code book and written test available in English. If you need to do all the tests, you will be there all day.

In Thailand, you need a separate license for cars and motorcycles. If you want to drive cars and motorcycles, then you need to apply for both licenses. You will need two copies of all the documents described below.

Documents Required

1) Passport with non-immigrant visa. You will also need photocopies of the photo page, non-immigrant visa page and current entry stamp page.

2) Confirmation of Address. This should come from your embassy in Thailand or from a Thai immigration office. As we are in Phuket, it will be easier to get the letter from the immigration office. You will need to visit the immigration office with some proof of address. If you live with a Thai who is registered on the tabien baan (house registration book) then they can sign to vouch you live at the same address. Alternatively, you will need a rental contract with your name on it. You will also need your passport. The letter costs 100 baht and is valid for one month.

3) Health Certificate. These are easily obtained from any doctor's clinic or hospital. They do not accept copies so if you are applying for two driving licenses (car and motorcycle) then you will need two certificates. The health certificate should cost around 100 baht and is valid for one month.

4) International driving license or national driving license. If you do not want to do the driving tests (and believe us you don't) then you need a valid driving license. It should be an international driving license or a national driving license from your home country either in English or with a certified Thai translation from your embassy. The Phuket office seems to be generous in allowing English language licenses. You should bring the original license and a photocopy.

5) Photos. They used to require two photos. We have had a recent report that they now take a digital photo on their computer which they print onto the license. It has also been reported that women must not wear sleaveless tops/blouses for this photo.

Where to Go

You need to go to the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office in Phuket Town on Rattanakosin Song Roi Pee Road. This road runs parallel to the canal at Saphin Hin. The Transport office is on the other side of the road from the canal between Soi Sakdidet 1 and Soi Sakdidet 3.

When you enter the car park, you will see two office buildings. You need to go to the building on the right.

What to Do

1) Arrive with your documents prepared between 08:30 and 09:00. If you arrive later then you may find there are too many people ahead of you and they will tell you to come back tomorrow.

2) Join queue 1 on the ground floor. They will check your documents and if they are in order they will give you an application form. This is a simple form requiring your name and the types of license for which you are applying. However, it is written in Thai. If you cannot read Thai and do not have a translator, do not worry - the woman at the applications desk will help you.

3) Go to the second floor and join the long queue to hand in your application and documents. It is a slow moving queue so it is worth arriving early. Once you have handed in your application, they will direct you into the office behind for the eyesight and reaction tests.

4) The eyesight and reaction tests are easy as long as your eyesight is reasonable. Bring spectacles if you need them.

Reaction Test - Two pedals on the floor and two lights in front of you. Use your right foot to press down the right pedal and the green light comes on. When the light changes to red quickly switch your right foot to the left pedal. A line of lights measures your reaction time - as long as you are still in the green zone, you have passed.

Distance Judgment Eye Test - A little difficult to describe this one but you will get it when you see it. You sit on a chair. About four meters in front of you is a box containing two upright white sticks. You have two pieces of string that allow you to pull one of the sticks toward you or away from you. You pull the stick until you think it is parallel with the other stick.

Peripheral Vision Eye Test - Place your nose on a table looking at a yellow square directly in front. Coloured lights are lit to your left and right. Identify the colour without looking to the side.

Okay you have passed the tests ( we hope ). If you came with a valid driving license then you have completed the application process. Go to the collect your license section below.

If you did not come with a valid driving license then you still need to go through a training session, a written test and a driving test.

Tests

1) After you have completed your eye tests, you should go and sit down in the training room. This is the same room the application queue stretched into. Here you will get a two-hour training session about Thai driving regulations. Unless your Thai language skills are very good, you will need to bring an interpreter.

2) Next is a written test about what you have just learned in the training session. It is in Thai. Again, you can use an interpreter.

3) The driving tests take place in the afternoon. These are a slightly absurd and comical exercise. There is a driving course at the back of the compound. You need to drive around the course and complete some maneuvers such as a hill start and reverse parking. The testers do not sit in the cars. They watch from the upstairs window of the office. If you fail, you can try again but you may run out of time. The driving standards of some of the people doing the tests are shocking. It is very entertaining to watch.

Collect Your License

Note if you came with a valid driving license and did not have to do the Thai driving test then there will not be many people here and this is a quick process. If you had to do the driving test then you will be in with the mass of Thai applicants and this could take some time.

1) Take your signed documentation to the first floor. There is a number queuing system. The tickets are on the counter. Collect the next number and wait for it to come up on the display. Go to the indicated desk and hand in your documentation. They will want to see your original passport and driving license if you have one.

2) When your documents have been processed, take them to Counter 1 where you will pay the license fee (105 baht for cars and 55 baht for motorcyles). They will take your documentation and prepare your license. When it is completed, they will call your name and you can collect your license. It costs an extra 10 baht to have the license laminated.

Yippee - you now have a Thai driving license. This first license is temporary and is only valid for one year.

Renewing the License

In one years time you can renew the license and the new one will be valid for five years. The renewal process is painless. Strangely, you need to go after the temporary license expires. If you go before the expiry date they will not give you a new license.

You will need your passport with non-immigrant visa, photocopies of all relevant pages, confirmation of address letter, medical certificate, photos and old driving license.

You do not need to re-take any of the above tests so you go straight to the desks on the ground floor. Mid to late morning is a good time to avoid the rush.

Take a number, wait to be called and hand in your documents. Once they have been processed you will be sent to desk 4 to pay your money (505 baht + 10 baht to laminate) and wait for them to print the license. The whole process should only take 10-20 minutes.

Driving in Phuket - Driving information for Phuket and Thailand in general.