Driving licence in Thailand

Like many other countries, a driver's licence is required before someone can drive on any road in Thailand. Thai driver's licence is issued by the Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport and can be used throughout the Kingdom of Thailand and other ASEAN states.[1][2] The minimum age to drive a motor vehicle is 18, and 15 for a motorcycle.

Type of driver's licence

Below are the driver's license categories in Thailand[3]

Type of Licenses Under Motor Vehicle Act 1979Vehicle Permitted to drive
Type A — Temporary Driving License- Private Passenger Car (Sedan)

- Microbus and Passenger Pick-up
- Van and Pick-up

Type B — Computerized Lifetime Driving License; – Lifetime Driving License; – Computerized Five-year Driving License- Private Passenger Car (Sedan)

- Microbus and Passenger Pick-up
- Van and Pick-up

Type C — Taxi Driving License- Private Passenger Car (Sedan)

- Microbus and Passenger Pick-up
- Van and Pick-up

Type D — Public Motor tricycle driving licensePublic Motor tricycle
Type E — Temporary Motorcycle driving licenseMotorcycle
Type F — Lifetime Motorcycle driving license; – Five-year Motorcycle driving licenseMotorcycle
Type G - Public Motorcycle driving licensePublic Motorcycle
Type H - Road Roller driving licenseRoad Roller
Type I - Tractor driving licenseTractor
Type of license Under Land Transport Act 1979Vehicle Permitted to drive
Class 1Van
Class 2Commercial Trucks and Bus (Up to 3,500 kg. and up to 20 passengers on bus)
Class 3Trailer
Class 4Hazardous material vehicle

Applying for a driver's licence

Unlike most countries, there is no provisional or learner's licence in Thailand. Drivers who wish to obtain a driver's licence have to either learn through driving school or are at their own risk for not having a driving licence.

Car driver's licence candidates should set aside two full days for training and testing at the Department of Transport Office.

Day 1
When ready, candidates are required to make an appointment for visual and response performance tests and a four-hour legal, road code and defensive driving sessions at their local Department of Land Transport office. After this, candidates must sit a written examination. The examination is done though a computerised system and is available in Thai, English, Japanese and Chinese. Other languages apart from Thai may not be available in Department of Land Transport offices outside Bangkok. One resit is allowed on the same day.

Upon successful completion, candidates are allowed to make an appointment for practical examination. The practical examination must be done within 90 days of successful written examination.

Day 2
Candidates will be taken around the examination venue where procedure will be explained. There are generally three stages of examination.

  • Driving straight forward and backward
  • Two different types of parking

Depending on the examination venue, car rental may be available for an additional charge of 100 baht (approx US$3.20).

Upon successful completion, candidates will be given documents and redirected to the office where photo is taken and temporary licence is issued at the cost of 205 Baht (US$6.50). If the candidate fail to pass any part of the examination, candidate will be given a notice to redo the part he/she fail after three days but within 90 days of the last examination.

Driving outside Thailand

On any condition, the temporary driving licence is not valid outside the Kingdom of Thailand, and the international driving permit is not issued to a temporary driver's licence holder.[4]

  • ASEAN member states: Thai driver's licence is valid without International Driving Permit.
  • Rest of the world: International Driving Permit may or may not be required along with a valid Thai driver's licence. Due the new licences with English, the International Driving Permit is not required in English speaking countries.

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ http://asean.org/?static_post=agreement-on-the-recognition-of-domestic-driving-licences-issued-by-asean-countries-kuala-lumpur-9-july-1985
  3. ↑ "Driving license categories in Thailand" (PDF). aseancob.org. 1 Oct 2018.
  4. ↑ https://www.dlt.go.th/en/international-driving-licence/ DLT web site
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