how to get a thai driving licens

[ITKMAN]

Just to confuse the issue!
http://www.phuketdir.com/pkttransport/

http://driving.information.in.th/

One thing I do n=know si the you have to go to the reagion served by that office. I've a friend in Situk, just N. of BuriRam and he got a F on his first test which happened during the driving protion. Even though the LAW says if you already have a DL only the color bnling test is given....

I took mine in BKK where there are many offices and had no driving test although the ded start to put me in a class edtc... Untill I spoke up that is...

I would chech with some local folks as to the 411 on the DL etc.

Besie the law about Int'l DL's being only good for the fiirst 90 Days you'll catch alot less heat from the BIB if you have a Thai DL.

I show mine for discounts on everything. I act like it is a Thia ID card and most prople bite into the program.

Get thje Thai DL, ASAP
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Hawaii/LOS..wicked style, MON!

[Chas]

Ok I have read through all of the posts on this site and the linked sites mentioned in them and I am both amused and confused. ( Esp by the site which includes this opening characterization of Thai drivers:

"Most drivers are well mannered, almost polite, . ."

This is NOt what comes to my mind when describing Thai drivers. . .sorry but I have a rather low opinion of folks who drive as if they are alone on the road. ( weaving around from one lane to the other, slowing and stopping without any signal, chatting on the cell phone oblivious to the world or careening along at 140 km/hr with a pickup truck loaded with workers) and I meet every one of these every day.

Anyway, on to my specific questions here.

I live in Hua Hin. American (one of the three or four here in the land of the Swedes and Brits) and my stateside license ( Vermont) expires in Jan.

I need a Thai driver's licence and I DO know where to go in Pranburi, having gone there with my spouse last year.

I want to avoid the tests. . .for no other reason than I dislike providing free entertainment for Thai onlookers.

Is here another American here who has done this? Taken a stateside license, done the paperwork there, given the photos and the money and just been issued the license?

My other question regards the latest situation there. With all the changes in visas etc, has anyone gotten a Thai licence in the past couple of weeks?

[lomuamart]

Chas,
I've got no idea about getting a licence. From what I've heard, it's not too difficult, depending on the visa you have.
However, why do you want to avoid a test?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[Chas]

I have a one year non-imm B and a work permit to match. ( In my 5th year here)
Not so much that I want to avoid the test (I am an excellent driver so I have been told, careful, attentive to traffic situations, and reasonably patient) but that I want to avoid the hassle of sitting around all day and going through it esp. the behind the wheel test. When I was there with my spouse a while ago for this purpose, the place was crowded with Thais who were enjoying the "show" esp when a farang turned up.

[buksida]

If you already have a license from your own country you can avoid the tests, if not you have to do them I'm afraid, all very simple stuff though, bit of reversing, parallel park no actual driving or road awareness is tested which goes to explain your comments about Thai drivers!
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Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

[prcscct]