Driving in Thailand requires either an International Driving Permit or a Thai Driver's Licence. An international driver's license is accepted in Thailand and once you have been in Thailand for a period extending 3 months, you will need an Thai driving licence, even though international drivers licenses are legally accepted. Several insurance companies have a fine print stating that the driver should hold a valid Thai driving licence to be fully covered. Besides that: You'll offer the local law enforcement great opportunities by continuing to drive with an international license. Having a thai drivers license may sometimes also make police slightly more lenient towards the fact that expats can not carry their passport at all times.
While you can probably get away without having an international driving license, it is best to have all your bases covered and err on the side of caution. Most police and rental car companies are satisfied with a license from the U.S., U.K., Australia and other western countries. However, it is possible to run across a functionary that will accept an international license only. If you have a license to drive a motorcycle as well as a car, make sure to have the international license stamped accordingly.
Obtaining your Thai Driving Licence
Eastern Verification Center is:- The office for Vehicle Registration, Annual Taxation, Annual Roadworthy Inspection, Driving Licence applications & renewal.
The office is about 19kms from Big C Supermarket, top of South Pattaya Road. No public transport (busses) travel this route, although a 'Baht Bus' can be engaged to take you, wait and return you to Pattaya.
Travel north on highway 3 (Sukhumvit Road to Bangkok) about 10kms. Observe an 'overpass' bridge on your right, you need to pass under the bridge (turn right) signed 'route 36 to Rayong'. After about 9 kms you will see the 'Regents School' on your right hand side, the road you need is just before the school, but it's not possible to do a 'U-turn' here. A short way past the school is a place where you can safely u-turn.
Now drive just past the school again, and turn sharp left at a narrow road poorly signed. Follow this road a short way - you will see a number of shops offering photo-copying, food, insurance, etc - on your right is a big building with two grand entrances (use the second). This is the 'Eastern Verification Center' office.
Vehicle documentation is Ground Floor, Driving Licences upstairs.
Open Monday - Friday 0830 to 1600.
Getting a Driving license at the Eastern Verification Center. (all fees mentioned are March 2008)
You Need to take with you :--
1. Letter of address/visa confirmation from Soi 5 Jomtien Immigration - usually around 200 baht (must be less than 30 days old). You need 2 passport size photos for each residency certificate required. Ladies - please note that you must have your shoulders covered for official photos.
2. Letter of 'Fit-to-drive' from Doctor - 200 baht (must be less than 30 days old).
3. Passport + 1 signed photocopy of each - (a) 'face' page, (b) visa page, (c) current TM6 card & latest entry stamp page.
4. Current (home country) driving licence + 1 signed copy of all pages. (see note2)
5. Photos are no longer required as they use digital photo images engraved on a hard 'credit-card' style permit.
6. Money 155 (100+55) baht for car - 105 (50+55) baht for motor-cycle.
7. A 1st licence issue is valid for 1 yr. (often referred to as a temporary or provisional licence)
Driving a car or motorcycle in Thailand:
Traffic in Thailand drives on the left side of the road.
Most drivers are well mannered, almost polite, be it up to a certain level. You will hardly ever hear a car honking and anger is never displayed. Despite this, traffic is rather hectic in and around busy Bangkok where calm driving is not really appreciated.
On many rural roads or even in Bangkok's small alleys, you will find motorcycles, cars and occasionally your 12 wheel trucks maneuvering against (one way) traffic. This situation is complicated by the fact that many of Bangkok's roads change their one-way direction at certain hours of the day and by the fact that every new governor of Bangkok has a new traffic plan to solve the city's traffic jams. Every such plan involves changing the flow of traffic, which causes one way roads to suddenly run in the opposite directions or the number of lanes being reduced from, in extreme cases, eight to one. Regular roads may become bus lanes overnight, which then causes thousands of drivers to exit from the incorrect ramps on the expressway, thus clogging up traffic worse than before. Usually this last for a few months, after which the government changes or they governor realizes that the problems can not be solved and then things go back to normal. Several computer traffic control systems have been tested of even installed, but none of them seem to resolve the situation. It has been whispered that the local traffic constables are very uncooperative when it comes to these systems that could make their employ obsolete. Some companies may even mention the word "sabotage", when asked about the failure of their traffic control system.
Driving around Thailand's country side at night is considered to be extremely hazardous, especially on holidays and long weekends. There are no tachographs installed and although drunk driving is being addressed, the situation is far from safe. Many cars have broken, or no lights at all and public busses like to race one another through steep hills and around dangerous curves, supposedly just to stay awake. Low wages, too many daytime checkpoints and very tight schedules for truck- and bus drivers guarantee that all of the main roads and highways have 24 hours rescue teams on stand by and that most of those need to head out to big accidents every single night.
How to get a Thai Drivers Licence in Bangkok – driving licence test
For starters, you will need the following;
Residency Certificate from the Immigration Office, or a copy of your work permit or yellow residency book (take the original too).
A copy of your Non-Immigrant Visa, Passport details, last entry stamp/extension stamp, OR your tourist visa (note, it may be possible to get a residency certificate from immigration by presenting a tourist visa or non imm. visa).
A basic medical certificate - which you can obtain effortlessly from any doctor.
Two photos (1 inch x 1 inch), matt finish, not more than 6 months old.
A valid drivers’ licence, or International drivers licence from your own country (if you have one), which should be translated into English from your embassy, if it is issued in any other language.
A fee of 105 baht (for a car) or 55 baht (for a motorbike).
With this in hand you can then present yourself at the small ‘help desk’ (basic English is spoken) on the second floor of the Traffic Department building which is located at;
Poholythin Rd, (opposite Chatchuchak Market) Bangkok, Tel: (02) 272-3615
Sukhumvit residents, go to Soi 99. Exit the expressway at Soi 62, turn right into Sukhumvit Road and then left (at Diethelm Building) walk down the long side street and it is on the left at the end of the street.
Issuing a Thai drivers licence to previous licence holders
With all of the above documentation in hand you should be able to obtain a licence within one hour, the process is straight forward, but we recommend you arrive between 09.00 and 10.00 or 13.00 and 14.00 to avoid the theory test crowds.
Taking a driving test for a Thai licence
It’s equally easy to obtain a Thai drivers’ licence, either for car or motorbike. Since the same documentation is needed you should consider ‘killing two birds with one stone’, taking the motorbike test if your current licence is only valid for cars.
The theory test is a simple 20 question multiple choice test that is offered twice a day at 11.00 and 15.00. The results are issued within 20 minutes and if you have passed (75% and above) you can immediately arrange a test.
If you have forgotten your ‘highway code’ we recommend you download a copy of the UK Highway Code which is very similar. However you also have the benefit of attending a 30 minute video (in English) between 09.00 and 11.00 or 13.00 and 15.00. Since English viewers have the advantage of a private video on computers, they can show up late. Tip! Take along a notepad to note down some of the critical distances and limits mentioned in the video so you can quickly ‘cram’ them before the test.