Just spent most of the morning at the Hang Dong Roaad MV office renewing my 5 year licenses - one for car, one for bike. There were some significant changes from the previous renewal requirements, which I have shown below in caps..
1. First stop - the information desk on the second floor. There I was told that I would need 2 copies of:
my passport
my proof of residency (I have a Yellow Tabian Baan)
AND A COPY OF A 1 YEAR THAILAND VISA
Previously, people could get licenses while here on Tourist visas. Looks like they may not be able to renew them without a 1 year visa.
2. Got the forms to fill out - which were marked TESTING required - sessions at 9:30 and 1:00. Got a blue queue card marked testing starts at 10:00.
3. Went to desk 28 and handed in the paperwork. A few minutes later, a group of about 50 people was ushered in (I was the only non-Thai). They had us all do a quick colorblindness test, and sent us to the video room.
4. Five years ago, they had computers with a video in English for the foreigners. Not any more. The session began with one examiner giving a 10 minute lectire - all in Thai. Then we had to watch a 45 minute video on how to drive - again, all in Thai.
The video was cartoon instead of film, vocal and captions in Thai. Then another examiner came in for a few minutes of question and answers. After that, they kept anyone getting a commercial license for more instruction, and sent the rest of us out to pay the fees.
5. THE WOMAN COLLECTING THE FEES NEEDED TO SEE THE ORIGINALS OF MY PASSPORT AND YELLOW HOUSE BOOK. SHE ALSO NEEDED COPIES OF THE PASSPORT PAGE WITH MY MOST RECENT ARRIVAL STAMP.
Fees were the same as before. Car license was 500 plus 5 for the stamp, motorcycle was 250 plus 5 for the stamp. Then there is a 100 baht fee for each "smart card" license. All told, 960 baht.
Hope this helps.
1. First stop - the information desk on the second floor. There I was told that I would need 2 copies of:
my passport
my proof of residency (I have a Yellow Tabian Baan)
AND A COPY OF A 1 YEAR THAILAND VISA
Previously, people could get licenses while here on Tourist visas. Looks like they may not be able to renew them without a 1 year visa.
2. Got the forms to fill out - which were marked TESTING required - sessions at 9:30 and 1:00. Got a blue queue card marked testing starts at 10:00.
3. Went to desk 28 and handed in the paperwork. A few minutes later, a group of about 50 people was ushered in (I was the only non-Thai). They had us all do a quick colorblindness test, and sent us to the video room.
4. Five years ago, they had computers with a video in English for the foreigners. Not any more. The session began with one examiner giving a 10 minute lectire - all in Thai. Then we had to watch a 45 minute video on how to drive - again, all in Thai.
The video was cartoon instead of film, vocal and captions in Thai. Then another examiner came in for a few minutes of question and answers. After that, they kept anyone getting a commercial license for more instruction, and sent the rest of us out to pay the fees.
5. THE WOMAN COLLECTING THE FEES NEEDED TO SEE THE ORIGINALS OF MY PASSPORT AND YELLOW HOUSE BOOK. SHE ALSO NEEDED COPIES OF THE PASSPORT PAGE WITH MY MOST RECENT ARRIVAL STAMP.
Fees were the same as before. Car license was 500 plus 5 for the stamp, motorcycle was 250 plus 5 for the stamp. Then there is a 100 baht fee for each "smart card" license. All told, 960 baht.
Hope this helps.