Thai Driving License renewal 2019 to 2025

[Big Boy]

I wonder, that does say, "Physical testing and training." Is that a dress code/requirement to actually take a driving test, as opposed to renewing a licence?

I was originally thinking it was for the 3 little tests everybody takes in the centre i.e. reaction, depth perception and colour blindness.

Maybe I can leave my frock in the wardrobe

[Ralfredo]

I was originally thinking it was for the 3 little tests everybody takes in the centre i.e. reaction, depth perception and colour blindness.

This might be "off dress topic", but a few months ago in Cha-Am, there were only two tests, reaction and colour blindness.

[Big Boy]

LOL, I am thinking back 5 years ago

[Big Boy]

Getting ready for next week, I did my e-learning course this morning. IMHO it was the worst e-learning I've ever done.

A one hour course, with the first half in Thai, with English sub-titles. I'm a slow reader, and really struggled to keep up.

The questions were quite random, and were nothing to do with what had been talked about in the 5 minutes preceeding the question. Yes, the answers were given a couple of minutes later.

The video started with the lady driver early on talking about the need to indicate 15 meters before overtaking, or turning right or left. My 1st and 4th question were identical i.e. what is the distance you need to indicate before overtaking or turning right or left? There were 4 options - 30 meters, 15 meters, 10 meters or 5 meters. I knew what the lady had said, but when I thought about it (I didn't know the answer beforehand), I discounted 5, 10 and 15 and opted for 30 because that is about what I would do. Funnily enough, I was right, and the video was wrong. Later in the video, 30 meters was confirmed.

Still, I guess I should be pleased I used common sense, and didn't listen to the video - I passed

[Ralfredo]

Getting ready for next week, I did my e-learning course this morning. IMHO it was the worst e-learning I've ever done.

I also took the course in January this year. When I renewed my licence in Cha Am in February, no one wanted to see my certificate...

[Big Boy]

I went to get my medical certificate this morning. It was the usual BP and weight check, followed by quite an interrogation by the doctor that I'd never heard of before, and certainly never subjected to previously. It wasn't a problem i.e. all the questions were health related, and there was nothing that I couldn't answer satisfactorily/honestly.

The doc seemed to have a huge list of questions on his computer screen that he was running through.

I was just checking my appointment for Wednesday, and noticed under the requirements, it quoted, "ORIGINAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (5 DISEASES FORM) FROM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL (VALID FOR 1 MONTH)." I guess the questions had been related to the 5 diseases form. Is this something new, or did I just encounter an over zealous doctor today?

[Ralfredo]

I went to the Red Cross Clinic in the city centre. The only thing the doctor wanted to discuss was snow levels in Sweden...

[Big Boy]

That sounds about right Ralfredo, which is why I asked if this long checklist was something new.

[Dannie Boy]

I think it was a special treat just for you BB!!

[Big Boy]

Maybe - I was quite surprised at how thorough the doc was.

[Big Boy]

I picked up my new driving licence this morning at Pranburi. I'd booked an appointment, and had completed the e-learning. Here are a couple of observations:

• Although the official documents list didn't mention it, because I was using my Yellow Book as proof of address, I needed to provide a photocopy of my pink ID Card - cost 3฿ at the little place next door.

• Something I wasn't aware of, they were offering a tourist temporary driving licence. I didn't take details, but there was a poster on the wall.

• Dress Code wasn't as strict as the app made out. I wore a white Thailand football top, black knee length shorts and a pair of Jesus sandals. The girl did comment that my shirt was perfect for the photo. I noticed that people not wearing plain shirts were made to wear one of the centre's white shirts.

• Test 1, which I failed first time around was a box with 3 buttons - red, amber and green. A light illuminated in front of me and I had to press the corresponding button. I failed because they displayed 2 shades of green and red lights. After I'd failed, the girl said I had failed 3 attempts to idenify amber lights, and she showed me the amber light. FFS, it was a lighter shade of green - and no, I don't have a problem with colours.

• Test 2 was the stop reaction test that I've always had problems with before. It used to be a single unit with inadquate legroom for a Farang with long legs. This time the pedals were a long way from the lights. I simply moved my chair back about 2' from where a Thai would sit, and it was a breeze.

• Test 3 was the bringing 2 objects in line, which was a doddle.

• Test 4 was a field of vision test (never seen that one before), where I had to put my nose in a groove, and lights came on randomly right and left. I simply had to shout right or left as they came on - no problem.

I was on my way home with my shiny new licence by 08:20.

[Ralfredo]

and had completed the e-learning.

Did they look for proof of that, such as the QR code? In Cha Am, they were completely uninterested in this.

[Big Boy]

I handed everything over to the girl on the desk. I've no idea what she did with it. However, as your e-learning log-in consisted of your passport number and date of birth, it wouldn't have been rocket science for your personal record to have been flagged with the result.

[Big Boy]

I didn't have my reading glasses with me when I collected my licence, and when the clerk told me to check the detail, I stared at the licence and said OK. In reality, I didn't have a clue if it was correct.

I've just checked my new licence now, and notice it no longer quotes my passport number. My passport number has now been replaced by my Pink ID Card number. At least that explains why I needed a copy of my Pink ID Card.

[buksida]

If you renew with only your passport, they'll use that. If you use your pink ID card instead, they'll take that number. I had the two licenses with each different option, which caused a meltdown in there!