How to Apply for a Thai Driving License
Thinking of applying for a Thai Driving License? Here’s what you need to know.
Applying For a Thai Driving License
If you plan to drive a car in Thailand, you should obtain a Thai driving license. Besides ensuring that you drive in the country legally, it also assures that a car insurance policy fully covers you. In addition, you can use it as an ID card issued by the government.
Getting a Thai driving license is pretty straightforward. It can be done in a day, costs only a few hundred baht, and you can use it in 10 ASEAN countries.
To apply for a Thai driving license, you have to be at least 18 years old, hold a valid non-immigrant visa, and in good physical and mental health. In some cases, you may be able to apply for a Thai driving license with a tourist visa.
The Department of Land Transport issue the Thai driving license. The offices can be found throughout Thailand.
Before you go to the Department of Land Transport office, make sure to book an appointment online with the DLT SMART QUEQUE application, which is available in both iOS and Android.
Make sure to go to the Department of Land Transport office early in the morning so you can finish everything within a day.
If you don’t want to handle the entire process yourself, you can work with an agency to help you get your driving license. They will take care of everything for you, including filling out paperwork and helping you prepare for the test.
You can also apply for a Thai driving license at a government-approved driving school.
Key Points
- You have to be at least 18 years old to apply for a Thai driving license.
- The Thai driving license is issued by the Department of Land Transport.
- The cost of obtaining a Thai driving license is very affordable.
Documents Required to Apply For a Thai Driving License
The required documents are subject to change. Therefore, it is best to check with the Department of Land Transport before applying for your Thai driving license.
In general, however, the documents you need for a driving license are as follows:
- Your passport and your non-immigrant visa.
- Copies of the first page of your passport.
- Copies of the page that contains your valid non-immigrant visa.
- Copies of the page that contains the last entry stamp for Thailand.
- Your TM.6 departure card.
- A letter of address certified by your embassy or the Immigration Bureau. Make sure that the letter is dated within thrity days of application.
- A health certificate dated within thrity days of application.
In addition to the documents above, it is a good idea to bring your valid international driver’s license with a signed copy (if you have one) or a regular driver’s license from your home country certified by the embassy or consulate.
Copy and sign all of the required documents before you come to the Department of Land Transport. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Thai Driving License Procedure and Tests
Once you have all of the required documents ready, submit the documents to the nearest Department of Land Transport Office to your location.
After your documents have been approved and stamped, you will have to take several tests.
If you already have an international driver’s license or a driver’s license from your home country, you usually don’t need to take the theory and practical driving tests. The tests you need to complete and pass in order to obtain a Thai driving license include:
- Color Blindness – An official will show you different colored dots on a poster, and you have to state the name of each color you see. The staff might accept answers in English, but they might skip the test altogether.
- Reflex Test – You will sit behind a simulated brake pedal and gas pedal. Then, you will have to push an accelerator until the green lights on the panel in front of you start to light up. Make sure to hit the brake pedal before the lights become red.
- Peripheral Test – You will have to put your head on a test station and point your eyes ahead to an official. Then, you have to tell the traffic color shown on your right and left side without moving your eyes.
- Depth Perception Test – You have to align a moving pin using special forward and back buttons.
- Theory Test – You will have to answer several questions regarding the rules of the road in Thailand.
- Practical Driving Test – You will drive a vehicle around a small track outside of the test center. A tester will watch you from a distance. You will have to demonstrate your depth perception skills by reversing between a set of poles, then pulling up as close to the curb as possible.
Find an agent to help you with all of the process, from preparing for the test to filling out the forms.
Motorcycle License Procedure and Test
The procedure of getting a motorcycle license is almost the same as applying for a driving license. You will have to provide the same documents and take the same physical tests for color blindness, reflex, and peripheral. You will also have to take the same theory test. However, the driving test is different.
For the driving test, you can use your own bike or rent one for 50 Baht. You will need
to drive over a narrow path and stop at
stop signs.
The Cost of Obtaining a Thai Driving License
The cost of obtaining a Thai driving license is very affordable.
- Driving license – The fee for the entire test and the driving license is 305 Baht for a two-year temporary license and 605 Baht for a five-year license.
- Motorcycle License – The motorcycle license costs 105 Baht, and the upgrade is 55 Baht. However, printing the license may cost more. It’s a good idea to bring at least 500 Baht.
Keep in mind that this is only the cost of the license. You may have to pay other fees for the required documents. For example:
- To get your letter of address certified by your embassy, you may have to pay a fee of 300 – 500 Baht.
- Medical certificates from a clinic or a hospital usually costs around 50-200 Baht.