About 3 or 4 years ago I thought it was about time I got myself a Thai driving license (bai-k├аp-k├мi thai). All the expats and semi-expats I knew at the time said it was a simple procedure and I had nothing to worry about. I would also save myself having to remember to go to a Post Office in the UK and buy an International Driving Permit (bai-k├аp-k├мi s─Гa-gon) every year.
Coincidentally I had one of the waiters from Hot Male Bar in Bangkok spending a long weekend with me in Hua Hin and he agreed to accompany me to a hospital where I needed to obtain a Thai medical certificate as a precursor to getting the license.
So the first stage was to see a doctor, but before I could see the doctor the nurse told me I had to be able to read a series of numbers on a set of cards. She then brought a ring binder with several laminated cards, on which was a set of coloured circles made up of small coloured dots. I was then asked to say what number I saw. Crikey, in most cases I couldnтАЩt see any numbers at all! I asked my waiter friend if he saw any numbers. The nurse interjected and said I couldnтАЩt get any help. I said I wasnтАЩt asking for help, I just wanted to know if he saw a number. Yes, he could see a number. I gave up, okay what is the number? My friend and the nurse said тАЬ16тАЭ. Damn I still couldnтАЩt see any number! We went through a whole series of numbers and in almost every case I couldnтАЩt see a number. I had failed and therefore I could not see the doctor. What? CanтАЩt I just pay whatever and get the certificate? тАЬNo, I couldnтАЩtтАЭ the nurse probably said, and quite emphatically if I remember correctly! Damn!
We tried another hospital and, sadly, the same result, so much for being told it was a simple procedure, I never even got to first base! I never tried again, until recently.
I was reading a topic on another board (I know, such heresy!) : ) on the subject of getting a Thai driving license. Two things surprised me. It was said that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is only valid for up to 90 days. Well, if that indeed is the case, then IтАЩve flouted that rule/law many times. It was also said that my insurance may not be effective after the 90 day period if I still have an IDP and no Thai driving license. Of course none of this is of any consequence as long as you donтАЩt have an accident, but have an accident and the police get involved then, presumably, everything changes. I donтАЩt know if any of this is true, but it disturbed me and prompted me to have another attempt at getting a Thai driving license.
FIRST STAGE
I visited the Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin, it is a relatively new hospital and it was the first time I had visited it. Hmm . . . very plush I thought, so much nicer than any hospital IтАЩve visited in the UK.
Shortly after arriving I was called by the nurse, I felt certain degree of trepidation; would I get to first base this time? My weight and height were measured and my blood pressure and temperature taken. Hooray no colour test!
After waiting just over an hour I was seen by a doctor, who seemed very interested in my previous illness and its side effects. He listened to my chest and back then he said he wasnтАЩt sure if I could drive in Thailand with one eye. My hopes sank . . . oh, no! Actually, I have two eyes, but one is next to useless, it has a cataract and the muscle is scarred following radiotherapy and, over the years, it has gradually lost most of its movement. The doctor said he would have to consult his manager. I was asked to wait.
The doctor returned and told me to go to the nursesтАЩ station. I duly turned up as requested and the nurse told me to follow her to the cashiers where I was asked to pay 300 baht. Had I been given a medical certificate? Yes, I had, no problem the nurse said . . . hooray, IтАЩd reached first base!
My certificate said the following, тАЬThis patient is physically and mentally free from defect and does not appear to have symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction.тАЭ Hmm . . . all very reassuring!
STAGE TWO
The next stage was to visit the Immigration Office (or dtaw maw in Thai for short) and obtain a Certificate of Residence. I looked up the Immigration DepartmentтАЩs website and noted I needed to complete form TM.18, which I did and printed it off. I found that I had received a Certificate of Residence several years ago, but the requirement is that it must not be more than 3 months old, so I took it with me thinking it might speed things up. I also took 2 photos, copies of the main page of my passport, my departure card and recent visa pages. I also took a recent electricity bill with my address on it.
Oh, such good luck, only two people ahead of me! I was called within 15 minutes, but was then told I was in the wrong room, Certificates of Residence and 90 day notifications are now dealt with in another room. Drat! Nothing ever remains the same for long in immigration matters! Good, no other applicant was in the other room. Ah, I had completed the wrong form, they had their own local version, which I was given and told to go outside, where a very helpful lady helped me to quickly complete it. I had to say where I was to have the test, тАЬPetchaburri or PranburiтАЭ she asked. тАЬPranburiтАЭ I said. тАЬFor a car or a motor bike?тАЭ she asked. тАЬCar,тАЭ I said. тАЬ500 BahtтАЭ she said! Crikey, I thought the Internet had said it would cost 300 Baht, ah well, no matter!
I handed in all my documents. They wanted only 1 photo not 2 and within 5-10 minutes I was given my Certificate of Residence. So all done within 30 minutes. Thank God I wasnтАЩt doing this at the Bangkok office I thought, it probably would have taken me 2-3 hours!
STAGE THREE
On the other board it was recommended that you take a Thai person with you to the Transport Office. I therefore popped into the office of the Thai lady who helps me renew my road tax and car insurance. Yes, they also assist foreigners to obtain a Thai driving license. She checked my papers and confirmed that everything was in order. She then asked me to be at her office at 8.00am the following morning. Good Lord, a bit early I thought. : ( She said we needed to be at the Transport Office by 9.00am. Then she crushed my hopes by saying I would be given the colour test at the Transport Office . . . oh no, I hadnтАЩt escaped the colour test after all! Suddenly I felt sick in the stomach, so near, yet so far I thought.
STAGE FOUR
I turned up at 8.00am, rather bleary eyed and feeling terribly anxious. My car agent told me not to worry, I would not be shown any cards, what I would be asked is to say whether the lights I saw were either red, green or yellow. Oh, that sounded easy!
When we arrived at the Transport Office I was so glad I had the Thai lady with me, all the signage was in Thai and I would have had no idea where to go. Upstairs there were around 20 people, mainly Thai, but some foreigners waiting to be tested.
I was about last in line. My Thai agent explained what was required, good Lord, I felt as nervous as the 17 year boy I was when I first took my driving test in the UK.
The four tests took place in quite a small room with one lady conducting all four tests. Everyone remained present as each person was called to take each test . . . adding to my pressure!
First Test
I was required to sit at a machine with my chin placed on a small bar. I was told not to move and to say out loud what colours I saw to the left and to the right. Oh my God, I was now sweating profusely; I couldnтАЩt see the colours without moving my head. I see very little in my left eye. I kept failing this test. My Thai agent intervened to explain about my eye problem. I could feel everyoneтАЩs eyes on me! I was allowed to pull away from the small bar and was then able to see the colours. Great . . . I passed this test! In real life situations I have found that I move my head from side to side whereas previously I would probably have just flicked my eyes from side to side.
Second Test
I had to stand 6-8 feet away from a small set of traffic lights and when each light changed (not in the same position as real lights) I was to say which colour I saw. Oh my God, yet again I was having difficulty. I heard my agent say тАЬjai yen-yen!тАЭ (Calm down!). My agent again talked to the tester and she asked me to take my spectacles off and cover my bad eye with my hand. Success! I then identified all the colours without problem.
Third Test
I had to sit at a table with two pedals at my foot, an accelerator and a brake. I was to put my foot on the accelerator and quickly press the brake before the red light appeared. After one false start I passed this test. I wasnтАЩt heavy enough on the brake.
Fourth and Final Test
Still sitting at the table, I had a control box with two buttons in front of me. When ordered to do so I was to press the buttons to align two coloured rods in a box 6 to 8 feet away from me. I passed this test.
AllтАЩs well that ends well . . .
At last we were all done and we all trooped out of the small, now oppressively hot, room to pay 205 Baht at the cashierтАЩs office. I then had my photo taken and within 5-10 minutes was given my first Thai driving license. What an ordeal! For some reason I am unaware of, the license lasts for only 1 year. I will have to return in 12 months to apply for a 5 year license. Please someone reassure me that I donтАЩt have to go through all those tests again!
Lastly, my Thai agent said if I didnтАЩt have an International Driving Permit things would have been infinitely worse. Apparently I would have had to go through a 3 hour test in the morning followed by another 2-3 hour test in the afternoon! Honestly I donтАЩt think my poor constitution could have endured such a day!
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Originally Posted by tobias
