CanNot Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Hello, my 5 years driving licences is expiring in April so I went today to the DLT office in Bangkok (Chatuchak). I was there around 10 AM and was told that the foreigner queue limit is full (50 foreigners per day). They said that I have to come very early 7-8 AM to have a chance to be in the queue for the day but even then it would be no guarantee. Anybody can share experience and managed to get he renewal done in recent times? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy from Kent Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 The driving license experience in Thailand is unique. I encountered the same full up rejection you did. I showed up at the time they open @ 8:00AM to learn I was already late. We also found out the appointment system does not work for foreigners. This is one of those agencies where you just have to give yourself over for the day to them. By that I mean you have to show up very early and plan to spend most of the day just sitting there. It's only once every 5 years so I can manage it fine. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanNot Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 What time you been there to get a queue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilotman Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 can't you book an appointment? I renewed mine late last year and had an appointment, booked a month earlier. That was at the Pattaya DLT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabhand Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 The system in play at Pattaya DLT seems much better organised. I attended at about 10.30am a couple of weeks back. Had my paperwork checked, 5 year renewal for car and motorbike, the lady then gave me a choice of 9am or 1.30pm for a date in about 2 weeks time. Put my name to the 9am slot - was the final name on a 10 name list. So they have 20 slots per day for foreigners. Will be turning up next week for the tests / video then, hopefully, walk out with the, near 6 year (based on next birthday start rule) new licences. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampiK Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Also in Bangkok depending where you do it. Chatuchak is the biggest and therefore most foreigners go there. Rama 2 there are almost empty (about 6 months ago there were only 2 foreigner including me for renewing the license). But not sure if you are allowed to go there if you stay Sukhumvit area or north of Bangkok..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewsterbudgen Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 I made an appointment in person (Ban Chak); I had to wait 3 months before a date was available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilotman Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 4 hours ago, HampiK said: Also in Bangkok depending where you do it. Chatuchak is the biggest and therefore most foreigners go there. Rama 2 there are almost empty (about 6 months ago there were only 2 foreigner including me for renewing the license). But not sure if you are allowed to go there if you stay Sukhumvit area or north of Bangkok..... yet one more of a myriad of reasons not to live in Bangkok, unless forced to by work. Even then, chose to work in BKK or work elsewhere, elsewhere would be my first choice. Still, good we don't all feel the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 In this pandemic, there are still so many foreigners applying for DL? Amazing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewsterbudgen Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 5 minutes ago, Pilotman said: yet one more of a myriad of reasons not to live in Bangkok, unless forced to by work. Even then, chose to work in BKK or work elsewhere, elsewhere would be my first choice. Still, good we don't all feel the same. I think I'm just a city person. 25 years living in central London and 16 years (so far) living in central Bangkok. The countryside doesn't really appeal. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brewsterbudgen Posted March 18, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2021 Just now, EricTh said: In this pandemic, there are still so many foreigners applying for DL? Amazing. It is generally recommended to drive legally, pandemic or no pandemic. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pilotman Posted March 18, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2021 (edited) 11 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said: I think I'm just a city person. 25 years living in central London and 16 years (so far) living in central Bangkok. The countryside doesn't really appeal. It would be interesting to debate that sentence at length. My eldest daughter is kind of the same, but loves the countryside and outdoors, but also the City. My son is like me and avoids them like the plague. For me, Cities are anathema. I relish living in the relative silence of the rural scene and waking up in the morning to the sound of bird song and not that of traffic and people. I loath condo living for the same reasons. I don't relish being around people and the noise of a City is painful. As I said, good job we are not all the same. Bit off topic I know. Edited March 18, 2021 by Pilotman 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilotman Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 16 minutes ago, EricTh said: In this pandemic, there are still so many foreigners applying for DL? Amazing. its a legal requirement? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewsterbudgen Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 1 minute ago, Pilotman said: its a legal requirement? If you live here, yes. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 8 minutes ago, Pilotman said: its a legal requirement? Aren't most foreigners restricted from going to Thailand at this time due to quarantine, difficulty in getting jobs etc? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomazbodner Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Normally you need to go to DLT and show documents, they'll tell you what is needed and what is not, what you're missing, etc. and then they'll give you a queue, and write it into this big book that has 50 entries per day. You can choose an empty slot but generally that's a few months later. You'll get a pink form with your name and appointment date and time. That's when you go back with requested paperwork and get license renewed. Thai people can make appointment online. So can foreigners with pink IDs by putting the name (in Thai) and number from top of the card, that looks like ID Card number, into the application form. That said - I've heard that it is faster to do it at the DLT in foreigner queue than Thai queue, as that is even longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrdns Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Hi Do you need a medical attest for a 5 year renewal in this case Motorcycle license? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark5335 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 21 minutes ago, EricTh said: Aren't most foreigners restricted from going to Thailand at this time due to quarantine, difficulty in getting jobs etc? There are tens of thousands of foreigner that reside in Thailand on a long term basis (some on non-B extensions/WP's others on Non-O extensions with external income sources). They need to renew their DL's. If Mochit and Bangchak DLT's are too crowded they can either make an appointment which requires waiting for a month or so, or if urgent they can got to the less busy DLT branches in Ladkrabang/Minburi or Rama 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark5335 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 10 minutes ago, rgrdns said: Hi Do you need a medical attest for a 5 year renewal in this case Motorcycle license? Regards Yes, since the beginning of this month, a medical cert is now required for renewing a 5 year DL (cars & motorcycles). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, mark5335 said: There are tens of thousands of foreigner that reside in Thailand on a long term basis (some on non-B extensions/WP's others on Non-O extensions with external income sources). They need to renew their DL's. If Mochit and Bangchak DLT's are too crowded they can either make an appointment which requires waiting for a month or so, or if urgent they can got to the less busy DLT branches in Ladkrabang/Minburi or Rama 2. If I remember it correctly, most foreign workers are from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. They usually have a different special queue separate from the farang. Edited March 18, 2021 by EricTh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Dunkelblum Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Is nobody getting sick of Thai people/authorities discriminating against non-Thais? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilotman Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 20 minutes ago, Don Dunkelblum said: Is nobody getting sick of Thai people/authorities discriminating against non-Thais? No, not really. It's their country and they are entitled to impose whatever rules on none citizens it likes. I would expect nothing less from my home government in the UK in regards to immigrants and other none citizens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Dunkelblum Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Funny interpretation you have of rights and rules. I wonder if your government in the UK agrees with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nojohndoe Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 1 minute ago, Pilotman said: No, not really. It's their country and they are entitled to impose whatever rules on none citizens it likes. I would expect nothing less from my home government in the UK in regards to immigrants and other none citizens. Quite right ! Thus the entertainment value of spending a Sunday afternoon on the roundabouts of the exit of the Chunnel and observing the idiocy of Eurotypes trying to comprehend driving on the other side of the road ! In Thailand it is less amusing simply because it is a cluster fudge on the roads. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 33 minutes ago, mark5335 said: Yes, since the beginning of this month, a medical cert is now required for renewing a 5 year DL (cars & motorcycles). It's not what I would call onerous, my medical certificate examination consisted of the doctor tapping my knee to see if I still had reflexes. 200 baht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanNot Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 35 minutes ago, mark5335 said: Yes, since the beginning of this month, a medical cert is now required for renewing a 5 year DL (cars & motorcycles). Oh - missed that as well, even if I not came to this stage yet ????. Will get a medical certificate then as well and try it more early next week. Also worth mentioning long pants and no flipflops are required (not kidding!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
from the home of CC Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 47 minutes ago, Don Dunkelblum said: Is nobody getting sick of Thai people/authorities discriminating against non-Thais? after allowing numerous foreigners to stay here because of the 'they couldn't leave because' clause, it sure doesn't look too many of them were discriminated against. The countries that most 'non-Thais are from would of thrown their butt's out by now.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 So it seems Rama 2 office is the crack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soi3eddie Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said: I think I'm just a city person. 25 years living in central London and 16 years (so far) living in central Bangkok. The countryside doesn't really appeal. I'm also from London and love Bangkok. Great place to live although I travel out a lot to Pattaya and Hua Hin. As for DLT Morchit, they are a real pain. Even in pre covid times renewal of licences there would take at least half a day. My mc and car licences were obtained at different times so I have to go twice every five years. At least its less than 10 minutes from home for me. Next dl renewal 2022. Last week I renewed Road tax on my motorbike and their drive through service only took 10 minutes waiting and 2 minutes at the kiosk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soi3eddie Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 5 hours ago, Pilotman said: It would be interesting to debate that sentence at length. My eldest daughter is kind of the same, but loves the countryside and outdoors, but also the City. My son is like me and avoids them like the plague. For me, Cities are anathema. I relish living in the relative silence of the rural scene and waking up in the morning to the sound of bird song and not that of traffic and people. I loath condo living for the same reasons. I don't relish being around people and the noise of a City is painful. As I said, good job we are not all the same. Bit off topic I know. Interesting comments. I live in Bangkok. So much for the noise. Depends where you live. I'm just up the road from Victory Monument. You mention rural birdsong I made a short film from my horrible condo balcony a while ago. I invite you to view it here. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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