Thailand Driving and Autos: Driving and Driver's License
Drivers operate their vehicles on the left-hand side of roads in Thailand.
Requirements for Locals
Driver’s licenses are issued by the Department of Land Transport Office. Information relating to the license is available on the office’s website but is only available in Thai: www.dlt.go.th/th/index.php. The requirements for applying for a new license or exchanging a foreign license are identical throughout the country. It is also possible to apply for a Thai driver’s license in other ASEAN states.
There is no provisional or learner's license in Thailand. New applicants must enroll at a formal driving school and can be issued with a temporary license once they pass the driving test. This is valid for one year. After one year the license can be upgraded to a Private Car License, which is valid for five years. There is a separate license for motorcycles. There are also other license categories that cover commercial vehicles, roadwork vehicles and the private and commercial use of the traditional three-wheel vehicles known as tuk-tuks.
Written and Road Test
There is a written and practical driving test, which must be passed at a driving school before a driver’s license can be issued. The written test is available in Thai or English. The practical test takes place in a driving school vehicle on a specially designed circuit at the school. Once a driving test has been passed, applicants for the temporary license need to visit an office of the Department of Land Transport in person to complete the license application procedure. There is a head office in the Chachutjak district of Bangkok and many regional offices throughout the country.
Residence
You must be a Thai national or resident for at least three months and hold a valid Non-Immigrant Visa to obtain a driver’s license.
Age
You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a driver’s license.
Identification
When all tests are completed, you must present your certificates of completion, together with an identification document and two color passport-sized photographs.
Fee
There is an application fee for both the temporary and private car license, which are paid at the office of the Department of Land Transport. All course and examination fees are paid directly to the driving school prior to the tests.
Other Requirements
A doctor's certificate stating that the applicant is in good health, both physically and mentally, must accompany all applications. This should not be older than 30 days. A standard form is available from most clinics. Applicants are also required to pass a color blindness test, reflex test, and depth perception test at the office of the Department of Land Transport.
Requirements for Foreigners
Driving Using a Foreign License
Foreign residents are expected to convert their driver’s licenses or to obtain a Thai driver’s license. A foreign license is accepted for the first three months of a stay in Thailand but it must contain a photograph and be either in English or accompanied by an official translation into English or Thai. Foreigners with an International Driving Permit, valid for 12 months from the date of issue, are legally able to drive in Thailand. See below for information on obtaining an International Driving Permit.
Obtaining a Local License
If you plan to be in Thailand for longer than three months, you will need a locally issued license. Foreigners must follow the same requirements as the requirements for locals, listed above; however, the practical driving test does not apply if you hold a full foreign license. You must present a translated version of your regular driver’s license when applying for a Thai license.
All of the application form is in Thai and foreign applicants are advised to bring an interpreter with them. The identity document used should be either the passport or the blue workbook that serves as your work permit. You will also need to provide a certified letter of address from your embassy, or from the Immigration Bureau. This document is provided free of charge by the Immigration Bureau but can take six weeks to arrive. At the head office in Chachutjak the application can be processed in a day. At the other regional offices the process can take several days to complete.
International Driving Permit
Thailand is a member of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which means that a valid International Driver's Permit (IDP) from a country that is also a member of this Convention can be used, if you do not have a valid Thai driver’s license. The IDP is valid for one year from the date of entry into Thailand and must be issued from the same country as your original driver’s license. Although the IDP is valid for up to one year after arrival in Thailand, after three months many comprehensive insurance policies are made void if the policyholder is still driving on a foreign license. Therefore, the majority of foreign residents will convert their IDP to a Thai license within this period.
An IDP includes your name, photo, and basic information in ten languages. When carried together with a foreign license, it can serve as local identification in addition to permitting you to drive. It is valid in over 150 countries. The IDP is only valid when carried in conjunction with a driver’s license issued by your home country. An IDP is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Australia
If you are an Australian citizen, you must have a valid Australian driver’s license to get an IDP. The local Australian Automobile Association (AAA) office issues IDPs: www.aaa.asn.au/touring/idp.htm.
Canada
To get an IDP in Canada, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Canadian provincial driver’s license. The Canadian Automobile Association issues IDPs: www.caa.ca/idp.
France
French citizens should contact the Automobile Club Association to get an IDP in France: www.automobile-club.org.
Germany
German citizens with valid EU driver’s licenses may apply for an IDP with the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobile-Club E.V. (ADAC): www.adac.de.
The United Kingdom
If you are a UK citizen, you can get an IDP from your local post office, the RAC (an automotive services company), or the Automobile Association (AA). You must be a resident of the UK, have a full UK driver’s license, and be at least 18 years old. For more information, visit the RAC at www.rac.co.uk, or the AA at www.theaa.com.
The United States
To obtain an IDP in the US, you must be over the age of 18 and have a valid US driver’s license. An IDP can be obtained from any Automobile Association of America (AAA) office or by mail if you are already overseas. For more information, visit the AAA website: www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html.
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