Driving licence in Thailand

Like many other countries, a driver's licence is required before someone can drive on any road in Thailand. A 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 without an International Driving Permit.[1][2] The minimum age to drive a motor vehicle is 18, and to drive a motorcycle is 15.

Type of driver's licence

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

Type of Licence under Motor Vehicle Act 1979Vehicle Permitted to Drive
Type A — Temporary Driving Licence- Private Passenger Car (Sedan)

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

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

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

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

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

Type D — Public Motor tricycle driving licencePublic Motor tricycle
Type E — Temporary Motorcycle driving licenceMotorcycle
Type F — Lifetime Motorcycle driving licence; – Five-year Motorcycle driving licenceMotorcycle
Type G - Public Motorcycle driving licencePublic Motorcycle
Type H - Road Roller driving licenceRoad Roller
Type I - Tractor driving licenceTractor

Note: Lifetime driving licences are no longer issued. Existing lifetime driving licence holders may continue to use them. Replacements to lifetime driving licence are also valid for lifetime.

Type of Licence 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

Note: A licence of any of these classes can also be used to operate a licence of lower class number. For example, a Class 3 licence holder may also drive a van.

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.

The training and testing process usually takes two full days. Candidates 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 for a written examination. Upon successful completion, candidates may make an appointment for practical examination.

There are generally three stages of the practical examination: driving straight forward and backward, and two different types of parking.

Upon successful completion of the examination process, candidates will be given documents and redirected to the office where a photo is taken and a temporary licence is issued. If the candidate fails to pass any part of the examination, candidate will be given a notice to redo the failed parts of the examination.

See also

Thai driver's licence service

References
  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.
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