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What steps should I take to obtain a Thai driving license with foreign driving licenses?

Thai Driving LicenseInternational Driving PermitVisa RequirementsDriving License AcquisitionExpat AdviceThailandResidence CertificateHealth CertificateDriving SchoolDepartment of Land Transport (DLT)
Aug 25, 2024
6 months ago
Salim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have a passport and car driving license from The Netherlands, and a motorcycle driving license from Colombia.

I would like to get a thai license so I can drive a motor here.

What to do? Where do i go?

I’m in a small town, most lilely will need to take a bus/train/plane for a larger city like chiang mai/bangkok.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To obtain a Thai driving license, you will need to collect a residence certificate from immigration, a health certificate, and potentially an International Driving Permit. Depending on your situation, you could attend a driving school for 2,000-3,000 THB and complete a brief course to issue a certificate needed for the license. If using your Dutch license, it must be translated to English, certified by the Dutch embassy in Bangkok, and you will need to watch a short instructional video. You can also inquire locally at your nearest DLT office for further information and avoid traveling far if not necessary.
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Vivian *********
Thai driver license is easy in both English online three questions answer it go down about a couple of hours you get it.
6 months ago
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Henrik *****
It can be months to get a appointment for a driving test, but you can use a international drivers license the first 3 months, but only to the categories, you have in your home country where you get it.

( so for motorcycle you need to get international drivers license from Colombia )
6 months ago
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Ticha *****************
Less complicated way is to attend motorbike class at driving school for around 2,000-3,000 THB attend class for 2-3 days then the school will issue certificate. Use that cert to get motobike license at DLT.
6 months ago
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Tony ********
with dutch license get translated to English then go to dutch embassy bangkok to get certified then you only have to watch a video for a hour or so then you get thai license
6 months ago
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Shahed *************
Get a Thai driving license, enough article online about the steps and you can get one in the same day. You won’t need to take the test, but your existing DL need to be in English/translated & notarised.
6 months ago
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Willem ****
Go to your nearest DLT. Not need to go to Chiang Mai or Bangkok if that is not near.
6 months ago
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Paul ***************
Get an agent to help
6 months ago
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Martin *****
Hire an agent
6 months ago
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Salim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martin ****
 thank you for the advice Martin, do you happen to have any recommendations?
6 months ago
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Salim *******
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Bennito *********
Getting scammed in 3...2...1... #becareful
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Salim ******
 What he says is true. Drivers License is probably the most popular scam in Thailand. Anyone that offers to get you a drivers license without you going into the office is a scam 100%. Anyone that offers something for 3000 or 3500 baht, is going to disappear as soon as you transfer the money, or more likely give you a reason why they need 3000 more before they disappear.

I wouldn't be surprised if you start getting DMs from scammers about drivers license just by making this post.
6 months ago
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Salim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bennito ********
 traveling for over a decade now.

1 thing is certain, scammers everywhere 😅
6 months ago
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Bennito *********
@Salim ******
 I'm happy for you 👍🏼 Just make sure you don't become a victim 😉
6 months ago
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Bennito *********
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Lee ********
You can organise an international license easy enough.
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Lee *******
 Only in the country that issued the drivers license. Since the op is already in Thailand, not likely possible.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Brandon ***********
 incorrect. I was pulled over in thailand for no license then that night I organised an international license digital version to avoid further trouble.
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 There's no such thing as a digital IDP. You've been conned. But you're not the first and you won't be the last!
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Andy ***********
 conned??? It avoids paying fines to police 🤷🏻‍♂️
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 I'm talking about the fake international licence you bought. It won't work every time with the police because many know the fakes, others just can't be bothered.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Andy ***********
 they can be bothered cos it's money. They love handing out fines for no license/permit, no helmets. They sight it and let me go. Don't know why you can't understand that 😂
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Andy ***********
 how will it not work when I keep telling you it's works 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ you're backwards. I'm speaking from my experience not a story someone told me. I've even taken to the the police station and they accept it but ok you do you
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 If you say it works, that's good for you. All I'm telling you is you've bought a fake document.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Andy ***********
 fake or not. It's prevented me paying fines to police for not having it and paid for it self in 3 months.

So I still don't know how I've been conned! 😂
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Lee *******
 There's literally no such thing
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
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Brandon ************
You'll need a residence certificate from immigration, a health certificate, and whatever else the DLT office you apply at requires. Without an International Drivers Permit, it's possible you will have to take the test at the office as well.
6 months ago
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Salim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 to get an international drivers license I got to go to the DLT office and provide said documents?

Or is that something different?
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Salim ******
 I got one while in my hotel room in Phuket.

You can opt for a digital version which is still accepted until the hard copy arrives.

Go to this website. It's easy and accepted.

************************************************************************************************
%20driver%27s%20license&gclid=CjwKCAjwiaa2BhAiEiwAQBgyHttymX3DjHQ_IGatUhLwkJ6Z8wBAnBxrfnnHB5f_zIts3HHv-lC6fxoCMSwQAvD_BwE&utm_creative=708551085272&utm_campaign=streammystic-ww-dd-10082024&utm_position=&utm_network=g&utm_target=&utm_placement=&utm_match=b&gad_source=1
**********
*****
024?utm_term=international%20driver%27s%20license&gclid=CjwKCAjwiaa2BhAiEiwAQBgyHttymX3DjHQ_IGatUhLwkJ6Z8wBAnBxrfnnHB5f_zIts3HHv-lC6fxoCMSwQAvD_BwE&utm_creative=
*****
*****
72&utm_campaign=streammystic-ww-dd-
*****
024&utm_position=&utm_network=g&utm_target=&utm_placement=&utm_match=b&gad_source=1
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Lee *******
 This site is the number 1 scammer in Thailand. You've been scammed buddy, but it's Thailand and many foreigners are mugs for this.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Jim *******
 yet it's saved me thousands of baht in fines 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣 if the police accept it then I accept it
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Jim *******
 and still cheaper than bribing Thai police. So how was I scammed???? 🤔
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Lee *******
 You paid real money for a fake document, when you could have just bought the real thing? If it works for you it's good, but you were still scammed. It's a bit like saying "Hey I paid 500 baht for a taxi ride which usually costs 300 baht, but I got to where I wanted so how was I scammed?" If you're happy then it's all good! 👍👍
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Jim *******
 I tip all my drivers anyway so this example seems irrelevant 🤷🏻‍♂️
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Lee *******
 I'm talking about scamming, not about tipping. Big difference
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Jim *******
 and I'm pointing out the fact 200baht is hardly a scam when I always pay more than the agreed amount. 🤣
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Jim *******
 and the fake document has saved me paying more real money 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣

Had I paid for it and I still got fined then I would also comment to prevent the OP doing the same. I merely stated my experience and that's it's worked without hassle and has also been accepted across thailand through countless checkpoints via bike or car.
6 months ago
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Alessandro **********
@Lee *******
 don't worry, if you have an accident you'll pay all at once. With an online intl driver's license (scam), no insurance will cover you. Also, intl driving permit (legit one) only allows you to drive up to 90 days. Beyond 90 you have to get a Thai driver's license anyway
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Alessandro *********
 I needed something last minute and I was in thailand. I never said it was a long term solution but I guess you'll take it anyway you want and that's ok 👍🏻
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Lee *******
 That's great for you! You seem to get stopped a lot by the police! I've lived in Thailand for fifteen years, never been stopped once, so I guess that's good for me. However, the bottom line is you've been scammed. You might just as well printed your own international licence! 😂
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 This is a fake document which you have. Read this

******************************************************************
6 months ago
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Reply to
Andy ************
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Brandon ************
@Salim ******
 Not an international drivers license. That's something you buy online and is a scam. An international drivers permit can only be issued in the same country that your driver's license is from by whatever is the official entity designated to do so in that country.

You apply for Thai drivers license from the Department of Land Transport.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Brandon ***********
 how is it a scam???? I have one and works for all police checkpoints 🤷🏻‍♂️
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 If you've bought an International Driver's LICENCE, it's most certainly a scam. The correct document is an international Driver's PERMIT. The fact that the police couldn't be bothered means nothing. Eventually you'll be caught out
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Andy ***********
 mate I've travelled around Thailand alot and been stopped more times I can count. I've been fined twice for not having anything then I organised the intl permit and it's prevented more fines. And police can quite easily disregard it and still fine me but that hasn't happened. So you can say what you want it works for me 🤷🏻‍♂️
6 months ago
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Andy ************
@Lee *******
 And that's great! I was merely pointing out that you're the victim of an internet scam. If I bought a fake iPhone off the internet and it works, it's good for me isn't it? But it still doesn't remove the fact I've been scammed! Anyway, let it go, it seems to be worrying you that people are merely pointing out a fact
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Lee *******
 This company does not get you an "international drivers license" they do what I said in my original reply. You can ONLY get an International Drivers PERMIT from the country that issued your drivers license. This company has someone in your country actually go to one of the offices that issue them and then send it to you. You can do it yourself by mail from most countries, this company just does it for you and changes a lot more than if you did it yourself.

And I highly doubt any police officer would accept a digital copy of anything.

And all that is IF they actually do what they claim and aren't just sending you a forged document that you paid out the nose for.
6 months ago
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Lee ********
@Brandon ***********
 funny how that I'm speaking from experience of what has happened and you can't believe it. Maybe get outside a little more. It's worked and saved me everytime I've been pulled over which is a countless number of times. Even 2 or 3 times in one day bur hey what would I know right????
6 months ago
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Salim *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thank you
6 months ago
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Salim *******
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