Renewing a 5 year licence?

[Korkenzieher]

I picked mine up recently at Cha-Am and my Thai GF told me that the 2 minute lecture (in Thai) from a lady in uniform, to the general assembly of people waiting, was to the effect that there were no 'premium options', and no way you could get round any part of the process by paying. It seems there has been something of a clampdown. That said, I didn't have any issues with the process as such, other than that it seemed un-necessarily drawn out.

[Dannie Boy]

I can understand and fully endorse having to go through a thorough process once, but it does seem to be an unnecessary burden to have to repeat it every 5 years - if only it were to improve the general standard of driving then I wouldn't mind, but I doubt that will be the case.

[oakdale160]

Ex pats here. Are very lucky, in both China and Korea i was not able to get a license as all the testing was in the local language and my Chinese or Korean was not good enough. I know in the us they will test you in Spanish in some states but I am sure that in the UK it is only in English.

[HHTel]

Until now, you can take the theory test in the UK in pretty much any language you like even taking a translater with you. However, from 7th of next month, the only permitted language is English.

[Thistle]

After reading all of the above posts,i have to comment.
I arrived at the Cha-Am license office this morning at 10.20 to renew my nearly expired one year car and motor bike license,hopefully to obtain 5 years in both cases.I submitted original letter from immigration,plus copy,two medical certificates,two copies of main passport page,and two copies of visa.I handed all of this,along with my two current licenses,and was requested to sign all paperwork.The lady then requested 960 baht,and asked me to sit and wait...Approximately 5 minutes later i was asked to come round for photographs,then asked to sit and wait again.Amazingly,5 minutes later i was called to the desk,handed both new licenses,along with receipts for payment and walked out of the office,all completed in less than 20 minutes.
I am fully aware that this is an extremely unusual scenario here in Thailand,however it just goes to show that sometimes,and with a bit of luck you can get to smile during the downpours.

[Nereus]

I am fully aware that this is an extremely unusual scenario here in Thailand.....

No, it is exactly the opposite! Read back through this and a couple of other posts, including all the bovine ordure that I went through at the same place a few months ago.

It is just so damn typical of what goes on in this backward country!

[Thistle]

My comment "extremely unusual scenario" was made precisely for the reason that i was so surprised that everything had gone so smoothly,especially after reading the other posts.