If you are a foreigner who is living in Thailand and wants to drive a car, you need to have a valid international driving licence because a national driving licence from your country is not accepted for driving in Thailand. If you do not have it, you as a foreigner can get a Thai driving licence by passing the driving test to get a Thai driving licence.

In this article, we will summarise about where you can get the driving licence, what types of the driving licences you can have and what documents do you need to prepare.

Where to get the driving licence in Thailand

Bangkok

If you live in Bangkok, you need to submit your documents at the Department of Land Transport. Here are the branches in Bangkok:

• • Branch Office Area 1, Bangkhuntien: https://goo.gl/maps/GKqQVGryYtftYYzAA
  • Branch Office Area 2, Talingchan: https://goo.gl/maps/fi8TxRnb54h3bsNU7
  • Branch Office Area 3, Sukhumvit 62 Road: https://goo.gl/maps/yKMWMD4uXBFM733F7
  • Branch Office Area 4, Nong Jork: https://goo.gl/maps/Hc9fJzgw5jLxwUCr6
  • Branch Office Area 5, Jatujak: https://goo.gl/maps/FCLZQTCZWEkoePjp6

Chiangmai

• • Chiang Mai Provincial Office: https://goo.gl/maps/i5ser5yN3E52BERn7

Phuket

• • Phuket Provincial Office: https://goo.gl/maps/Pqa5g9gurrQKaoGd8

If you live in other provinces, you can submit your documents in the Department of Land Transport’s office in each province.

Documents you need to do a driving licence in Thailand

For Thai driving licence

• Your passport and a copy of the main page and visa page
• 2 of your 2 x 2 inches photos ((taken not more than 6 months or it can be done in the office.)
• Medical report for obtaining a driving licence (it can be asked from a clinic or hospital.)
• An Affidavit of Residence from your embassy or consulate or work permit and a copy
• A valid of your state or international licence for car or motorcycle and a copy
• Fee 200 baht for car and 100 baht for motorcycle

Note: The temporary Thai driving licence is valid for 2 years.

For International driving licence

• Your passport and a copy of the main page and visa page
• 2 of your 2 x 2 inches photos (taken not more than 6 months or it can be done in the office.)
• 5 years Thai driving licence for car or motorcycle and a copy
• An Affidavit of Residence from your embassy or consulate or work permit (with)
• Fee 500 baht

Note: The international driving licence is valid for only 1 year.

After you get the documents approved, you will need to do physical fitness, driving theory and practical driving tests. You can learn to prepare for the theory part with the e-learning of the Department of Land Transport. For the practical driving test, people normally sign up for driving schools to learn about Thai traffic rules and to get familiar with them before doing the test.

After you get the driving licence, car insurance in Thailand is also the next thing you consider. If you are still not sure which company you should get the car insurance in Thailand from. Check out Rabbit Care to search for the best deal of car insurance in Thailand by comparing many offers of car insurance in Thailand from many companies in Thailand to see which one suits you the most.