Driving License For Thailand
While many westerners drive for years without acquiring a Thai driving license, getting one is highly advisable for any long stays.
International driver license are acceptable, however insurance policies sometimes state in the small print that the driver must be licensed in Thailand to be fully covered and driving without a valid license offers the police a greater chance to penalize any infraction.

A Thai driver license requires the following.

• Firstly that you are physically capable of operating a vehicle and be at least 18 years old.

• You must hold a valid Non-Immigrant Visa. (Tourists no matter how long you stay need not apply).

• For the actual test you can be accompanied by a Thai translator to help fill out the forms and tests.

• You will have present your passport with the appropriate visa along with signed photocopies of the passport's first page, the page with the current non-immigrant visa, the page with the last entry stamp and the TM-card., a certified letter of address from the applicant's embassy, or from the Immigration Bureau (document can not be older than 30 days).

• If you are legally working in Thailand, then your work permit will serve in place of these documents.

• Also required are a medical certificate (available from any clinic or hospital) attesting to your good health, two passport photos, a valid international driver's license or a translated copy of your national license verified by your embassy or consulate.

The application procedure
You will take a Thai language application form for the 1 year temporary driving license. Your translator will help fill out the forms. You hand in the forms and then wait a few minutes to them back.

You will have to pass several tests

• Color Blindness Test: An official will point to colored dots and you should responds by stating the dot's color.

• Reflex Test: Another official will seat you behind an alternative gas and brake pedal and push the accelerator until the green led's start to light up. Hit the brake pedal before the led's reach the red zone. You will have to repeat this test twice.

• Depth Perception Test: Use forward and back buttons to align a moving pin with a fixed one, in a small box at app. 10 meters distance.

If you have passed all of these tests, your documents will be signed and handed back to you. You will have to queue up again but at the end you will be handed a 1 year temporary Thai driver's license.

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