So… You Want a Thai Drivers License?

(and how to renew it as well!)

A self-help guide developed by Darin Dunn

Table of Contents

I – Intro

II - Affidavit of Residence/Certificate of Residence

III - Medical Certificate

IV and V – Valid License From Your Home Country/Explanation of Class of License

VI – The Driver’s License Office (Transportation) or “Koin-Song”

Addendum 1 – Renewing your Driver’s License

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I – Intro

        Getting a Thai drivers license is an adventure that will prove to be a challenge for even for the most patient of individuals.  In Thailand the driver’s licenses for cars and motorbikes are separate cards.  You will need a stack of forms, tests and fees for each. This resource is meant to serve as a guide on your quest to obtaining those little plastic cards.  I promise you, when you finally get them you will find yourself sitting in a rocking chair staring at them for hours.  A task accomplished is sweet to the soul, so lets get going!

Note: If you obtain an International Driving Permit from your nation’s motoring club (AAA Travel in the U.S. for about $20) you will be allowed to opt out of the written test and the safety video.

Before you head to the Land Transportation Office (Koin-Song) you will need six items.

1. Affidavit of Residence from your Embassy, Consulate or from the Immigration office near the airport.  (1050 Baht if using the US Consulate or 500 baht at the Immigration Office). If your work permit is newer than 2019 it probably does not have your address in it. This was a change the Immigration Dept made to their processes. If your work permit DOES have your address in it, it will fulfill this need. Another option would be your Yellow Residence Book if you have one.  (Note: If your Work Permit is in your spouse’s name it WILL NOT work for you.)
2. Your Passport with valid Visa (you will need your original plus copies of the passport page, extensions page and last entry page).
3. Medical Certificate (physical)(100 Baht)
4. A valid driver’s license from your home country
5. An explanation of the class listed on your license

The fees for your licenses will be 505 baht for the car and 255 baht for the motorcycle.  This brings the totals fees for your License adventure to 1810 baht or approximately $57 (U.S.)

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II – Affidavit of Residence

We’ll start with number one.

If you have a Work Permit with your address in it, or a yellow residence book, skip #1 & #2 and proceed to #3!

The best-case scenario is obtaining this form from the Immigration office near the airport.  If you have a one-year Visa you should be able to obtain this form from that office for free. It can be picked up 15 days later. Next day service is no longer available. The desk is on the second floor using the stairwell on the right side of the building. The desk is located at the top of the stairs in the corridor/hallway.

If your visa is multi-entry or less than one year you MAY need to go to your Embassy or Consulate. Some have been able to obtain it from immigration regardless.

The desk to apply for this certificate is open from 8:30am - 11:59am.

You can take the forms there for your family members without them being present.

For the residency certificate, you will need:

• A passport photo,
• Copy of your TM-30
• Copy of your passport (4x6 cm)
• Copy of your last arrival stamp
• Copy of the visa page in your passport
• Copy of last extended visa
• Copy of your lease agreement

Upon your return you will receive a document confirming that you live at your address.  The driver’s license dept. will honor this if it is less than one month old. It would be a good idea to make a copy of this form for your records. You can use this form for renewing licenses as well as vehicle transfers, etc..

If you cannot obtain this form from the Immigration Office you will need to go to your embassy or consulate to obtain a notarized document stating your address.

The U.S. consulate in Chiang Mai is now handling U.S. citizen services by appointment only.  You will need to visit the following site to make an appointment:

https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?PostCode=CHN+++++++&CountryCode=THAI++++++&CountryCodeShow=&PostCodeShow=&Submit=Submit 

United States Consulate (D1, circled on map below)

387 Wichayanont Road, T. Changmoi, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50300

Tel (053) 252-629, Fax (053) 234-472 or (053) 252-633

https://goo.gl/maps/mLtc8G9amLL2 

The road along the river is a one-way street so you will need to start north of the consulate and work your way down until you see a large white chedi used as a traffic circle.  From there you will see the large walls of the consulate and the American Flag.

The cost for the notarized form is $35 (U.S.) or about $1055 (BHT).

Upon entering the consulate you will need to show your passport and surrender all electronic devices (phones, etc..)  They will hold your items and give you a card to redeem them later.  Upon entering, check in at Window 1.

While you are at the Embassy/Consulate you may need to have your license guaranteed if you are unable to find your class information on the web.  See number four below.

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III – Medical Certificate

Next you will need a medical certificate or physical from any local hospital.  These physicals are quick and painless.  They will listen to your heart measure your height and weight, check your blood pressure and temperature, along with a quick test for color blindness.

There are several hospitals around the moat.  I recommend Chiang Mai Ram located near Central Mall (Kad Suan Geaw).  

The price for the physical is about 100 baht. I went midday and was in and out in under an hour.  I’ve been told that “Christian Clinic” in town or the “McKean Hospital Clinic” out near Hang Dong district are just 30 baht and less than 10 minutes depending on if others are waiting.  You may want to consider those options as well.

Chiang Mai Ram (Circled in A1) (other hospitals also marked with red crosses):

Chiang Mai Ram Hospital: https://goo.gl/maps/J1NdDJJG88k 

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IV and V – Valid License From Your Home Country/Explanation of Class of License

The next item you will need is a valid driver’s license from your home country.  You will need to be able to show the Driver License Office what the class listing on your license means.  Here is a site that may give you a head start to finding this information.  It can be tricky.

http://www.dmv.org/apply-license.php

After you find this information print it out and bring it with you.  If you cannot find these items your Embassy/Consulate can issue you a form guaranteeing your license.  If your license is not in English you will also need your Embassy/Consulate to translate it and issue you a form with an explanation in Thai script.  

If you have an International Driver’s License, bring the original and copies of all the pages. An IDL may help you skip some of the testing steps once you arrive.

If you do not have a license form your home country, you may still apply. Just be sure to show up before 8:50am as you will need to take some additional tests including a reaction test and a 1 day training course (9am - 4pm with a lunch break).

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VI – The Driver’s License Office (Land Transportation Office)

or “Koin-Song”

Make sure you have all of the necessary documents.  You will also need

two copies of each document (if applying for car and bike licenses)

including your passport’s main page, your visa and the immigration stamp

you received upon entering the country.

You can make copies at the Driver License Office on the second floor all the

way to the end.  

Here’s the check list again:

1) A Certificate of Residence from your Embassy, Consulate or from the Immigration Office or some proof of address.

2) Your Passport with valid Visa

3) Medical Certificate (physical) no more than a month old.

4) A valid driver’s license from your home country

5) An explanation of the class listed on your license

The Driver’s License Office (Transportation) or “Koin-Song” is located on Hong Dong Road approximately 3 KM south of Airport Plaza immediately before you cross under a large overhead arch/pedestrian walkway.  It’s a large purple building with purple fences just before Big C.  You will want to get started no later than 9am because the various tests and safety classes are all very structured around a time schedule throughout the day.

https://goo.gl/maps/Q4EXGepMffq 

Chiang Mai Land Transportation Office: https://goo.gl/maps/Q4EXGepMffq 

When you arrive you will need to proceed to the second floor to the information desk.   Smile and hand in your forms to the attendant.

After each of your papers are stamped twice you will be directed to window 27 with your documents.  When called you will step behind the desk for a series of tests that will involve pulling strings, stepping on pedals and reading charts.  

Note: If you obtain an International Driving Permit from your nation’s motoring club (AAA Travel in the U.S. for about $20) you may be allowed to opt out of the written test and the safety video.

Next, you will watch a one hour safety video on a computer. They do have an English language version.  After that, the written test will be electronic and will consist of 50 questions.  You must get at least 45 correct. You will be given one hour but you can get through it in 15 mins or so.  They can give you a booklet to study if you request it but you should be able to pass it in one or two tries without studying.  They will let you take it multiple times.   Testing is open from 10am – 12pm.

You can prepare with this study guide: https://www.darindunn.com/thai-dl

If you do not pass the test (many fail the first time as the English is difficult to decipher) you will be allowed to take the test up to three times. Though, you may have to come back the following day to do so.

If applying for a motorcycle license, after passing your test you will need to proceed to a building in the far north east corner of the property for your motorcycle driving test.  The test begins at 1pm and closes at 3:00pm. You will be required to drive on 2X4s for 10 meters or so, which is a bit of a challenge for new drivers but they will give you a few tries.  After that you will be asked to signal, turn right, weave through cones, observe a stop sign and return to base.

After you complete your driving test gather your results from the test along with your results from the written test and return to the information booth on the 2nd floor of the main building and take a number.  

At this point you will pay the 504 baht (car) and/or 255 baht (motorcycle) fees and they will take your photo. They will process and print your licenses in a matter of minutes.  

Then, hold your new licenses high above your head and exit the building

yelling for joy.

Happy driving!  See you on the road!

If you have any suggestions or updates for this booklet please email me at darin@darindunn.com

Maps courtesy of:

http://interactive-map.chiangmai-news.com/thailand-chiang-mai-interactive-map/interactive-map.jpg

http://www.maejogolfclub.com/images/Maejo%20Map%20w800.gif 

Clip Art Courtesy of Microsoft

Addendum 1 – Renewing your Driver’s License

If your current two-year license is due to expire you cannot renew it early, but you can renew it up to one year after it expires.  After your 2-year license expires you will then be issued 5-year licenses from then on provided you maintain a visa other than a tourist visa.

If you going from a 2 year to a 5-year license you will need:

1) Your passport

2) Certificate of Residence from the Embassy, Consulate or Immigration      

    Office.  Or Work Permit or Residence Book (yellow book). Some proof of address.

(Note: If your Work Permit is in your spouse’s name it WILL NOT work for you. Also, newer work permits may not have addresses listed)

     See page 3 of this document for more information.  

3)  Your current Thai Driver’s License (no sooner than 60 days before expiration date)

4)  Medical Certificate – no more than 30 days old (see page 6)

5)  Fees are: Car 505 baht, Motorcycle 255 baht, Change of address 50 baht

You will need a copy of each document for each license (car and motorbike) as well as your originals.

You shouldn’t be required to take any further tests.

You may go to the office M-F 8:30am-15:30pm

If you going from a 5 year to another 5 year license you will need:

1) Your passport and visa

2) Certificate of Residence from the Embassy, Consulate or Immigration      

    Office.  Or Work Permit or Residence Book (yellow book). If using your Work Permit, bring copies of every non-blank page. Some proof of address.

(Note: If your Work Permit is in your spouse’s name it WILL NOT work for you. Also, newer work permits may not have addresses listed)

     See page 3 of this document for more information.  

3)  Your current Thai Driver’s License (90 days before expiration date)

4)  Medical Certificate – no more than 30 days old (see page 6)

5)  Fees are: Car 505 baht, Motorcycle 255 baht, Change of address 50 baht

You will need a copy of each document for each license (car and motorbike) as well as your originals.

You will be required to take a color blind test and watch a 45 min training video (in English).  

The video is shown at 9:30am