How to get a driving licence in Thailand

This guide assumes you already have a driving license and/or motorcycle license in your home country.

If you’re driving a car or riding a motorcycle in Thailand, check which licence or permit is required for that vehicle. Check your insurance conditions separately; holding a licence does not guarantee cover.

An IDP (International Driving Permit) accompanies your original driving licence. For UK licence holders visiting Thailand, the FCDO says to carry a 1968 IDP alongside your UK licence.

GOV.UK's IDP guidance, checked 13 September 2026, lists participating PayPoint shops and a £5.50 fee. Applicants must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, hold a full UK driving licence and be at least 18. A 1968 permit lasts three years or until the UK licence expires, whichever comes first. That is the permit's expiry rule, not permission to drive in Thailand for that whole period.

If you’re planning to stay in Thailand for a longer amount of time, you may want to consider getting a Thai license.

First things first…

Can I get a Thai driving license on a Tourist Visa?

The answer is yes. Regardless of what you read in forums, you can, and it is allowed. I did it when I was a tourist, and I asked in person at the Department of Land Transport. The official answer I was given is that anyone staying longer than 30 days can apply. This means if you’re entering on Visa Exemption, you cannot apply.

That said, it will be slightly more difficult because of one document – the ‘Affirmation of Residency‘, sometimes called a Residence Certificate. In Bangkok, you’ll find it difficult to obtain this through the immigration office, whilst in Pattaya it’s far easier – more on that later.

Documents

Before you head down to your local Department of Land Transportation, you need to gather the correct set of documents.

If you are applying for both a motorcycle and a car license, confirm the documents and copies needed for each application with your chosen office.

Here’s what you need to take with you:

• Original passport
• Valid original driving license. For a non-English licence, the DLT conversion checklist specifies a Thai or English translation certified by your embassy or consulate.
• Photocopy of the photo page, visa page, and your last entry stamp. That’s 3 things from your passport. Note: The TM6 departure card was abolished in April 2022 and is no longer required.
• Photocopy of your driving license
• Original ‘Affirmation of Residence‘ certificate (alternatively, a Work Permit can be used). You can use just one original for both licenses, just photocopy the original. But you do need the original!
• Health certificate from a clinic or hospital. The DLT conversion checklist specifies a 30-day validity period from issue; confirm the accepted form and validity with your office before obtaining it.
• Application form: check which form your chosen office accepts. Our saved copy is a one-page scan; the reverse-side instructions it refers to are not included.

Check which documents and copies your chosen office requires you to sign.

Confirm the document checklist with the office where you plan to apply. From that list, the only thing that can be frustrating is the Affirmation of Residence.

The government's November 2024 foreign-licence conversion checklist also lists an e-learning training certificate. The DLT conversion checklist specifies one hour of e-learning for foreigners. Before you go, check with your chosen office which course and certificate it requires.

The photocopy counter pictured below was just inside the entrance to Building 4. Check current copying arrangements and prices with the office.

Find your Department of Land Transportation

For this guide, I visited the office in Mo Chit / Chatuchak. Check booking arrangements with your chosen office or through DLT Smart Queue before you go.

The office I used is very close to BTS Mo Chit / MRT Chatuchak.

Take Exit 2 from the BTS or Exit 4 from the MRT and walk straight until you arrive at the complex on the left. It’s a big place… bigger than I expected. You are looking for Building 4, signposted อาคาร๔ (aa-kaan sèe).

This is the exact location:

My advice is to arrive at 8 or 8:30am. I arrived at 8:30am on a Wednesday and had both of my licences by 12:15pm.

Don’t do as I did and wear shorts (it was a very hot day) because they will not let you in to the area which you need to take your physical exam. If you did make this mistake, you can buy some Thai size trousers and squeeze in to them at Building 2 for ~200 baht. I did look quite silly for the rest of the day.

After you arrive

Here’s how it went at Chatuchak. Follow the instructions for your own appointment; this account is not a guarantee of the same sequence, waiting times or test requirements.

If you need to do any photocopies, get this done now.

Head to Floor 2 – you should see a few queues as in the picture below. Get in any queue – they’ll  check your documents and give you a queue number. After you have your queue number, sit down near a screen and keep a look out for your number. When it’s called you’ll be seen and someone will sit and confirm your address, do some paperwork and hand it back to you.

Now it’s time to go upstairs and do your physical exam – it’s very easy.

Physical exam & theory

After you go to Floor 3, approach the desk at the front (this is where you’ll get caught out for wearing shorts). He or she will check your passport and tell you to go sit down and watch the TV.

The TV has a video on repeat telling you how to do the physical exam. You’ll sit here until the next group of people are called in. The numbers are called in Thai, so just hang around awkwardly and ask if it’s your turn to go in.

A group of about 20 is shuffled into a room (no photos allowed unfortunately). This room is quite funny, it’s like an obstacle course with a line painted on the floor. Everyone takes turns to do 4 different little tests.

First, there’s a lady with a traffic light with red green and orange – you have to shout the colors that are showing as she changes them – then within seconds you’re whisked away to test 2.

Test 2 is a perception test. You sit down and have to press a button to line up two sticks within an inch of each other.

Test 3 is a reaction test. You’ll sit in a chair with your foot on an accelerator and when the light turns red you have 0.75 seconds to get your foot on to the brake – I’d be surprised if someone manages to fail this.

On to Test 4, this is a peripheral vision test. You put your head on to a device, look straight forward and shout out the colors that appear to the left and right of your vision.

Physical exam done. You should be told to go to Floor 4. Go up the stairs and approach the booth on the right, the lady will tell you which room number to go in for the theory video.

You’ll enter a small classroom with a few people, watch a video for what could have been an hour or more, then leave. Half of it is in Thai with no subtitles, the other half has English subtitles and it just talks about the speed limits and common reasons for accidents.

Getting your licence(s)

After the theory video, you’re sent back down to Floor 2 with another number. When your number is called, go to the booth. He/she will check your documents again, confirm your name and address, take your photo and print your card. This is where you pay. I applied for both car and motorcycle licence at the same time, the cost was 305 baht.

The DLT conversion checklist lists fees, including the application fee, of 205 baht for a car licence and 105 baht for a motorcycle licence. Confirm what your office will charge for both applications.

All done!