Licence

Driving and riding in Hua Hin and Thailand, all topics on cars, pickups, bikes, boats, licenses, roads, and motoring in general.
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niggle
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Licence

Post by niggle »

Anyone give me directions to the centre in Pranburi where I can get my Thai licence.(Have UK one)
Alos, is the form only in Thai ?
Is the form downloadable anywhere ?
terry+carmen
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Thai Licence

Post by terry+carmen »

My wife and I live in Hua Hin and just did our licences in Cha Am.

We needed a Residence Certificate from Immigration or the Yellow book, Health Certificate from Doctor, Copy of passport and licence.

The Cha Am office is just past Cha Am on the way to Bangkok. After the flyover look for thye Caltex petrol station on the left, do a u turn and the road is about 50 met, just before the Police Check Point (often stop lorries at this checkpoint) We do our car tax there too.

They were very helpfull, the form is in Thai but they will fill it in for you, no need for photo the licence is like Uk and they will take your picture and incorporate it in the licence.

Was told the Cha Am office is more helpful. In and out 30 min.
ricardo
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Post by ricardo »

Niggle, drive through Pranburi heading South along Petchakasem Road until you see the Caltex petrol station.
Make a U-turn at Caltex and then turn immediately left about 20 metres past the U turn. Continue up the road about 200m and the licencing centre is on the left.

I have only ever got my licence from Pranburi so I can't comment about Cha-Am. Just handover your documents and the staff will fill out the form in fronty of you. I renewed my licence 2 years ago in Pranburi and I had to take photos with me. They may have changed to the embedded photo licence since then.

You will have to take a colour blindeness test and a hand to to eye co-ordination test if you want a car licence.
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steve/m
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Post by steve/m »

Hi Niggle,After you take the colour blindness test,you will be asked to sit on a chair,and a small pedlal box will be placed under your feet.

You will be asked to do a foot brake reaction test (electronic) lights move up and and down on a small display. After that you will be given a hand held control with 2 buttons on.

looking in front of you you have to press the buttons (forward and reverse) and align white dots with a centre bar. this caused me many probs,as nobody told me i could take my finger on and off the button until i thought everything was in line.

Just take your time on this test,and all will be ok.

You prob know that the liscence is for 1 year,which you renew for 5 yrs after it expires.
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charlesh
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Pranburi licence

Post by charlesh »

Steve/m is on the ball. Same experience although I stood back and watched the young Thai Louis Hamiltons go through their hoops firts. Also did the practical car and motorcycle test in the yard - a real hoot on a borrowed scooter.

Also sat for the console Pc driving questions. Boy was that an experience with some questions ambiguous, some with diagrams the size of a postage stamp and the grammar in some confusing. Failed the first set test not having the opportunity to read the road rules in English. Made a comback on the repeat for the motorcycle one (little different from the first) and got a re do for the car again.

Did U know it was OK to drive a tank or a racing car on Thai roads - with approval of course. And Yes it is prohibited to drive with a broken wind shileld but not if U have broken or inoperative brake lights!!! C I did learn something. And Yes they do fail people too especially in the practical driving test with several hopefuls including a young lady driving in high heel who collected the bollards gently on her reversal attempt.
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id35
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Re: Thai Drivers Licence

Post by id35 »

terry+carmen wrote:My wife and I live in Hua Hin and just did our licences in Cha Am.
........
Was told the Cha Am office is more helpful. In and out 30 min.
1. Is it really okay to get / renew a license in Cha Am, when you live in Hua Hin? Is it not depending on where in Hua Hin you live?

2. My International drivers license had expired and was not approved in Pranburi. I therefore had to do theory test with 30 questions, and driving test. Do I have to do that again next year, when I renew to 5-year, without having a valid International License?

3. Can I get the Certificate of Residence in Town Hall in Hua Hin? Where is it situated?
Norseman
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Post by Norseman »

The answers to your questions are:
1. Yes you can renew in Cha Am even if you live in Hua Hin.
2. No you don't need to do the test again and you don't need a international licence when you have a Thai licence.
3. No you obtain the proof of residence paper from the immigration office in Soi 102.

Good luck, and remember the medical check up + copy of your passport with a valid visa.
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
Noz
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Post by Noz »

I asked for the same directions to the Pranburi test centre on another thread but didn't know there was one in Cha-Am that could be used by Hua Hin residents. I may go to Cha Am instead as I think I'm less likely to get lost.

Has anyone applied for licences here recently and can comment on how easy it was and how busy? I have a UK car licence and International Driving Permit and want licences for both car and motorbike. I'm guessing I'll have to sit a motorbike test at least.

If anyone has experience of both locations that would be great to know.

Thanks.
terry+carmen
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Licences

Post by terry+carmen »

I can only comment about Cha AM.

Easy to find, no queuing, I and my wife both have UK and International licences. No problem with both. They are very helpful too maybe because they have time and not too many people.

I went there about a week ago to renew my road tax in and out in less than 5 min. Asked about renewing my driving licence and was told to renew within a year of expiry..........yes a year.

I didn't believe that so checked very carefully and can confirm once you get your first yearly licence providing you have a yearly visa (I'm on a Retirement Visa) when it expires you have a year to renew your driving licence.

I have seen this posted on another thread too.
Noz
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Post by Noz »

Thanks T&C. I asked about last night and a lot of people were saying that your ability to use the Cha Am office may depend on exactly where in Hua Hin you live. Is your address a central Hua Hin address?
terry+carmen
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Licence

Post by terry+carmen »

We live in Coconut Gardens, Hin Lek Fai, just past Le Vallee on the Pa Lo U road. We are completely outside Hua Hin but no nearer to Cha Am than any most parts of Hua Hin. I would be tempted to go to Cha Am anyway just because they are so helpful.

One little tip is to make sure you take your proof of address which you can get from the police or immigration and the doctors letter + passport copies driving licence copies and anything else that springs to mind.

If you take the driving test try and take it seriously, I didn't and failed the braking test the first time much to my wifes amusement she passed first time. The guy after me was about 75 and he failed completely but still got his licence......as I said they are very helpful.
Noz
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Post by Noz »

Thanks again. Think I'll definitely give Cha Am a try then. Already in possession of all the paperwork so will try and get up there shortly.
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