It is difficult to be in Thailand for long periods without a driver’s license. The roads are more suitable for drivers than pedestrians and cyclists. However, this does not mean that you have to constantly ride tuk-tuk or pass on the driving license in Russia. The best option would be to get a Thai license.
Types of Thai rights for foreigners
Citizens of other countries can expect to get driver’s license in Thailand of 3 types:
- Temporary driver’s license is issued to everyone for 1 year. Then it is possible to renew the license or get a permanent driver’s license.
- Permanent driver’s license is issued for 5 years if you do not have a visa to Thailand or you have used a temporary Thai license for more than 12 months.
- International driving license is granted after 12 months from the date of obtaining a temporary driving license in Thailand, and only if you had a permanent license and a non-tourist visa.
Documents for obtaining Thai driving license
- Copy and original of the passport with visa or stamp and arrival mark
- Certificate of residence. The Resident Certificate is issued at the nearest immigration office. You need the original and a copy of the pages of your passport with a visa and your picture, the contract of rental housing (all about rental housing in Thailand) or the purchase of real estate in Thailand and two photos. An excellent alternative to the certificate – receipt from the Russian consulate in Thailand. You would only need to bring your passport. There you will fill out a form, and the consul will confirm your signature. You do not need proof of residency, so you can provide the address if you wish. With such a certificate, you can go to the Thai Traffic Police. It costs 300 baht.
- Medical Certificate (data on the state of health) is provided in each major Thai hospital. The cost of the certificate varies from place to place. The most budget-friendly place is considered a small pharmacy with a clinic in Bangkok.
.
What a medical certificate looks like (Source: exploreworld.ru)
If you want to buy a driver’s license in Thailand for more than one vehicle (A, B), you should pick up the whole list of documents for them separately.
What tests do I need to take?
1. definition of color blindness. You have to name the colors of the circles on the booth that the doctor points to. You will have to answer in English.
Definition of color blindness (Source: julia-batirova.com)
2. Testing a person for reaction time. You’ll be seated in a chair right in front of a board with an improvised traffic light. You will have to put your foot on the gas pedal. A green light will come on and you press on the gas, a red one on the brake. Your reaction time will be shown by a running line.
3. The eye test. From a distance of 3 meters, you will have to steer the parallel sticks on the box. The right stick cannot be moved, the left stick is able to move backwards and forwards. You will be given a remote control with two signed buttons (backward, forward). Try to move the left stick forward and then bring it back by placing it parallel to the adjacent stick.
Determination of Eye Measurement
4. Determination of the angle of vision. A special box is placed at your head. You only need to look forward. Lamps with different colors (red, yellow and green) will light up on either side of you. Your task is to point without errors all the colors. The normal angle of view will be 75 degrees.
You receive your individual scorecard, insert it, click test, and begin the 50 tests. You will have one hour to complete each task. You can do the assignments one at a time and come back to them later. When you decide you are done, click finish. You will not be able to make corrections once you have finished. On the screen you will see your scores, correct answers and errors. The passing score is 90% of correct answers. There is a green marker above the task so that you can see which question has already been answered. Now all that’s left is practice and “Thai rights are your rights!”
How does the practical part of the test go?”</h2
In order to get your bike driver’s license, you have to pass 3 tests. First, you have to ride 10 meters along a narrow line without going out of bounds or stopping. Then you need to drive on a narrow winding track. After that there will be a stop, where you must wait for a further traffic command. The last test tests the knowledge of Thailand Traffic Rules on the track with road signs. The driver must slow down before the stop sign, turn to the right side, put both feet on the ground when stopping, and turn on the turn signal in time.
Let’s get started!
Snake
The one you can’t jump off of
Fit the turn
Parallel parking
Smooth passage
There are 3 tests prepared for the car driver’s license on the same course as for motorcycle drivers. First, you must drive straight through to the end of the track and back out without hitting any guardrails. Next, the driver needs to drive backwards into the side of the box. To do this, six gear shifts are given. On the 7th attempt, the driver must drive out of the fenced-off area. On the last test, the car must be parked right up against the curb. The place to stop is outlined with a lane. Consider that the rear of the car should not protrude more than a quarter of a meter from the sidewalk. The front bumper should not go over the stop line and not be further than a meter away from it. The instructor makes a note after passing the test task.
Go get our license
After successfully completing the tests and exams, you pay 155 baht if you passed your Thai license to drive a motorcycle and 200 baht for your car license. Here they print them out and give you a ready-made license. The whole procedure for obtaining a driver’s license in Thailand is very fast and organized.
Read More: