Thai driving license in Hua Hin

[Bristolian]

If you are renewing a 5 year license I do not think you need the medical cert - well that was the case last year

I renewed both my car and motorcycle licence this year, at different times, and needed a medical cert on both occasions. This was in Bangkok and the cost of a medical cert was 100 baht on each occasion. If you could prove that you were breathing, unaided, you got the medical cert, probably if you were not breathing someone could have collected it for you

Where these existing 5 year licenses or were you changing from the 1 year type to the 5 year?

Motorcycle was one year to five year and car licence was five year to five year.

[HHTel]

I think I've said this before on another thread. When I first came to Thailand, I produced my UK paper licence to get a car licence and pointed to the 'provisional section' (they don't know what it means) for my bike licence. Paperwork only.

Last year I renewed my 5 year licences. They were both 13 months overdue. "Oh" the lady said. "You will have to do all the tests as it's over a year out of date". "Come on" I said. "It's only a month". "Okay" was the reply. "But remember in future, you only have one year to renew". Once again, no tests of any kind and I was in and out within the hour!! I have never done any of the tests that posters mention. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's my good looks..... LOL

[Bernard]

Completed the process of getting 5 year licence for both car and motorbike today and I just want to confirm that the MEDICAL CERT was needed. I deliberately held it back to see what the reaction would be and she asked for it specifically.

All in all a pain in the bum but I have to say that for the thankless paper shuffling job they do I thought the ladies behind the counter were very pleasant..............to those people who were nice to them that is. Anyone who got stroppy was given short shrift !

[PET]

Completed the process of getting 5 year licence for both car and motorbike today and I just want to confirm that the MEDICAL CERT was needed. I deliberately held it back to see what the reaction would be and she asked for it specifically.

All in all a pain in the bum but I have to say that for the thankless paper shuffling job they do I thought the ladies behind the counter were very pleasant..............to those people who were nice to them that is. Anyone who got stroppy was given short shrift !

The point was, is it needed when you renew your present 5 year license - when I did it last year it was not ?

[a10ams]

Completed the process of getting 5 year licence for both car and motorbike today and I just want to confirm that the MEDICAL CERT was needed. I deliberately held it back to see what the reaction would be and she asked for it specifically.

All in all a pain in the bum but I have to say that for the thankless paper shuffling job they do I thought the ladies behind the counter were very pleasant..............to those people who were nice to them that is. Anyone who got stroppy was given short shrift !

The point was, is it needed when you renew your present 5 year license - when I did it last year it was not ?

It was not needed at Pranburi two weeks ago for a renewal of a five year licence.

I would assume it is still a requirement for the first five year application.

[hhinner]

This is from the dlt web site. Medical cert not mentioned for renewal of 5 year licence.

IN CASE OF FOREIGNER
RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENCE [BY YOURSELF] FROM ONE-YEAR (DRIVING LICENCE) TO FIVE-YEARS DRIVING LICENCE

HAVE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS AS FOLLOW
1. ORIGINAL ONE-YEAR THAI DRIVING LICENCE
2. PASSPORT WITH NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY)
3. ORIGINAL PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IN THAILAND CERTIFY FROM EMBASSY / IMMIGRATION BUREAU (VALID FOR 1 YEAR) OR WORK PERMIT WITH ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY
4. ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)

PROCEDURE
1) CHECK THE DOCUMENTS
2) PRINT THE APPLICATION FORM
3) TAKE ONLY A PHYSICAL TEST
4) PAY THE FEE / TAKE A PHOTO AND PRINT DRIVING LICENCE 
    (FEE 505 BAHT AND PLASTIC SMART CARD 100 BAHT)
    ADDITIONAL (CHANGE NAME OR ADDRESS CHARGE 50 BAHT)

REMARK :
1) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 1 YEAR
    - TAKE A THEORY TEST
2) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 3 YEARS
    - TAKE A THEORY TEST AND PRACTICAL TEST

IN CASE OF FOREIGNER
RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENCE [BY YOURSELF]
FIVE-YEARS DRIVING LICENCE

HAVE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS AS FOLLOW
1. ORIGINAL FIVE-YEARS THAI DRIVING LICENCE
2. PASSPORT WITH NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY)
3. ORIGINAL PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IN THAILAND CERTIFY FROM EMBASSY / IMMIGRATION BUREAU (VALID FOR 1 YEAR) OR WORK PERMIT WITH ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY

PROCEDURE
1) CHECK THE DOCUMENTS
2) PRINT THE APPLICATION FORM
3) TAKE ONLY A PHYSICAL TEST
4) PAY THE FEE / TAKE A PHOTO AND PRINT DRIVING LICENCE 
    (FEE 505 BAHT AND PLASTIC SMART CARD 100 BAHT)
    ADDITIONAL (CHANGE NAME OR ADDRESS CHARGE 50 BAHT)

REMARK :
1) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 1 YEAR
    - TAKE A THEORY TEST
2) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 3 YEARS
    - TAKE A THEORY TEST AND PRACTICAL TEST

[Bomber]

I got my 1 year "temporary" car license from Pranburi last Thursday, no problem at all. I had the following documents (including copies): IDL; DL from my home country; passport; copy of visa page;medical certificate; residency certificate. I had to do color blindness test, spacial/distance awareness test and reaction time test.
The whole process was pretty straight forward and no problem all. The worst part was trying to find the place!!

[jungle]

Could i get my Thai licence with just a 30 day visa ?. I do have a home here in Pranburi but i only come 3 or 4 times a year. I live in South Korea and every year i have to send off to the uk to get a new IDP, if i could get a Thai licence when i am in Hua Hin would be so much easier. ( i say this because i am coming on Sunday and i only just noticed my IDP ran out on 22nd December 2013. bit late to do anything now.

[Big Boy]

I think you can, but others would have to confirm. However, if you don't want to take your test again, tou will need to present an IDP or get your regular licence copied, translated and notarised.

[jungle]

cheers Big Boy, i think i will leave it untill i can get a new IDP and do it then, this time i will just have to hope my British or Korean license will do.

[Big Boy]

If you have a valid British licence, they will accept that without an IDP/notarisation.

Sorry, I read the South Korea bit, but didn't acknowledge that you were getting your IDP from the UK

[perfectswing]

A generell question to IDP versus Thai driver licence. If you are in posession of a valid IDP is it advisable to apply for a Thai driver licence when staying here for at least 3 month. Are there any advantages (having a Thai driver licence) for example when confronted by Thai police?
Thanks for any advise.

[Dannie Boy]

A generell question to IDP versus Thai driver licence. If you are in posession of a valid IDP is it advisable to apply for a Thai driver licence when staying here for at least 3 month. Are there any advantages (having a Thai driver licence) for example when confronted by Thai police?
Thanks for any advise.

The Thai DL is often accepted as a quasi ID, so that's an advantage and of course because its in Thai the police prefer it, as not all of them can read English or any other foreign language and it might save you from having to make a contribution to their "tea fund".

[perfectswing]

A generell question to IDP versus Thai driver licence. If you are in posession of a valid IDP is it advisable to apply for a Thai driver licence when staying here for at least 3 month. Are there any advantages (having a Thai driver licence) for example when confronted by Thai police?
Thanks for any advise.

The Thai DL is often accepted as a quasi ID, so that's an advantage and of course because its in Thai the police prefer it, as not all of them can read English or any other foreign language and it might save you from having to make a contribution to their "tea fund".

Thank you Dannie Boy, so I suppose it's worthwile to do this exercise.

[dundrillin]

I got my 1 year "temporary" car license from Pranburi last Thursday, no problem at all. I had the following documents (including copies): IDL; DL from my home country; passport; copy of visa page;medical certificate; residency certificate. I had to do color blindness test, spacial/distance awareness test and reaction time test.
The whole process was pretty straight forward and no problem all. The worst part was trying to find the place!!

Good point, how do you find the place? I will need to go there next week.