I Received My 5 Year Renewal of Thai Driver License

[LoneTraveler]

Today July 14 2023, I renewed my 5 year driver's license. I thought I would share the experience because all the information on many forums are not up to date. This is my 3rd 5 year renewal so I thought I had the procedure and all documents required, covered. I was unaware and after reading all the posts on a number of forums it appears many foreigners are unaware as well.

I went to Central Mall and AEK in Udon and was told they do NOT renew 5 year license for foreigners. I was told to go to DLT on Highway #2 I was also told that I would need a letter from Immigration to obtain my license. Knowing in the past I used a yellow Book in lieu of Immigration letter I felt I was covered, also I have a pink ID card both with my current address in Udon.I decided to go to Amphur Phen, less traffic and people. I had family member call ahead because she knows "big Boss" at Amphur, he also told her that a letter from Immigration is required even though I had yellow book and Pink ID Card.

Me, being a stubborn Irishman, I went to the Amphur without the letter thinking that my yellow book was sufficient and because this is not the first time I have been given misinformation concerning a number of matters. Upon arrival I was told although my documents were in order, I needed to obtain Immigration letter because this is a new change in requirement.

I do not know if this is for Udon only or a Nationwide change. I went to Immigration and received the Letter for permission to obtain a drivers license (500 Baht) and I was told this is a new requirement and to obtain the letter again in 5 years before I attempt to renew my 5 year license. Therefore, 2 hours of driving and 2 days of running around, I received my renewal this morning. My advice, get the letter from Immigration to save yourself some grief and wasting of your time after being told it is a new requirement.

Documents required: Passport pages, face page and current Visa page, Medical Certificate and old license. Also I received a new passport since my last renewal of driving license and the new passport number must be updated. I thought that this may be the reason they requested a letter from Immigration. Not so. Immigration said not a factor for renewal all foreigners must heed the new requirement. Sorry for the long winded post but I feel,I must share to spare others of my frustrating experience.

[Isaanfarang]

I got my DL 5-year-renewal 2 days ago after I did the online course and made appointment with the office on Khon Kaen road. Copy of my pink Foreigner ID and my yellow housebook was enought, no need to get any documents from immigration. I also showed a copy of my previous passport because I got a new one with different number in the meantime.

[msa]

I renewed my DL in Kumphawapi in May and had no problem using my yellow book only. Had my daughter take care of the logistics. I did watch the videos online.

[SeekingSakYant]

Y'all still get frustrated? I try to use a Philosophy of "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". Waste of what time hoss? Mai bin rai, we're retired...

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Y'all still get frustrated? I try to use a Philosophy of "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". Waste of what time hoss?

Mai bin rai

, we're retired...

I'm guessing that you meant, 'mai pen rai' or as they say in the north-east, 'baw pen yung'.

[Potamoi]

For three days now I have been trying to watch the video online.

https://www.dlt-elearning.com/

PC with Chrome or Firefox just get the spinning circle. Brave actually gives an generic error. The phone shows this message:

It seems the system was down for maintenance but it didn't work the day before the 16:00-24:00 on 13-Sep-23 as well as today the 14th.

It allowed me to register with my new passport number, it added a Pxxx prefix to my passport number and said it would be my user name. When login in with that user name and my birthdate as "ddmmyyyy" it failed with a generic error making me assume the system is in shambles at the moment as so many gov websites and apps seem to be at times.

I decided to take DM's advice and just walk-in to the Nong Han office after finding out the convenient Udon Central Mall office is open only Saturday and Sunday.

Nong Han DL office is on the left (North side) ~km marker 32 on highway 22 (AH15) toward Sakon Nakhon 17.36411,103.080161 BEFORE the Global, Tops and Lotus's which are on the right side of the highway.

The Smart Queue touch screen was only in Thai so far as I could see. One of the agents took pity watching me mess around and invited me to the window. I showed him my licence. He called over another agent tending to online testing and other DL tasks. She spoke a little english and said "give papers" then "sit down".

I gave her my colour copies of:
- Passport ID page
- Passport page showing the link to my old passport
- Passport visa extension page
- Passport last entry stamp page
- Yellow book pages with any content (2)
- Copy of old DL and Pink card front
- Copy of old DL and Pink Card back
- EDIT: Original and copy of Dr. Medical form (100 THB) from clinic near home
and original DL expiring in a few days.

NO letter from Immigration!
NO verification screenshot of Video completion.

After about 3 min, she gave me back the copies of my work permit.
She did not need to see the original books and asked for 505 THB.
She then told me to go sit for a photo. I thought I would need to sit for the video or do some other testing but nope. Easy as you please. Not even my Achilles heel, the dreaded color-blind test. Perhaps due to this being my third 5 year license? Perhaps because I didn't have a Thai speaker with me? Unsure, but I'll take it as a win either way.

Photo taken, signed all copy pages then 2-3 min later she called my name and handed me my new 5 year DL.

I was in and out in 10 min. I noted that she used my Pink Card number instead of my passport number. I suppose if I did not give her the pink she would have likely used my passport number which would have been my preference but hey, I felt like all went very well in every other respect. I'm sure I can still use my DL for airline and hotel as I did before.

A quick stop at the convenient Global House and Tops just a couple kms away and I was headed back to Udon.

I noted a checkpoint at ~km 13 on the way out of Udon so I was sure to keep my cruise control on 90kph.

Happy chappy. Thanks Drunk Monkey!

EDIT: Tonight I tested the PC DL video again out of curiosity. It did work so I watched it all more to see how well they did in the production and if there was any actual content worth the time.

[Drunk Monkey]

For three days now I have been trying to watch the video online.

https://www.dlt-elearning.com/

PC with Chrome or Firefox just get the spinning circle. Brave actually gives an generic error. The phone shows this message:
DLTdown.jpg

It seems the system was down for maintenance but it didn't work the day before the 16:00-24:00 on 13-Sep-23 as well as today the 14th.

It allowed me to register with my new passport number, it added a Pxxx prefix to my passport number and said it would be my user name. When login in with that user name and my birthdate as "ddmmyyyy" it failed with a generic error making me assume the system is in shambles at the moment as so many gov websites and apps seem to be at times.

I decided to take DM's advice and just walk-in to the Nong Han office after finding out the convenient Udon Central Mall office is open only Saturday and Sunday.

Nong Han DL office is on the left (North side) ~km marker 32 on highway 22 (AH15) toward Sakon Nakhon 17.36411,103.080161 BEFORE the Global, Tops and Lotus's which are on the right side of the highway.

The Smart Queue touch screen was only in Thai so far as I could see. One of the agents took pity watching me mess around and invited me to the window. I showed him my licence. He called over another agent tending to online testing and other DL tasks. She spoke a little english and said "give papers" then "sit down".

I gave her my colour copies of:
- Passport ID page
- Passport page showing the link to my old passport
- Passport visa extension page
- Passport last entry stamp page
- Yellow book pages with any content (2)
- Copy of old DL and Pink card front
- Copy of old DL and Pink Card back
and original DL expiring in a few days.

NO letter from Immigration!
NO verification screenshot of Video completion.

After about 3 min, she gave me back the copies of my work permit.
She did not need to see the original books and asked for 505 THB.
She then told me to go sit for a photo. I thought I would need to sit for the video or do some other testing but nope. Easy as you please. Not even my Achilles heel, the dreaded color-blind test. Perhaps due to this being my third 5 year license? Perhaps because I didn't have a Thai speaker with me? Unsure, but I'll take it as a win either way.

Photo taken, signed all copy pages then 2-3 min later she called my name and handed me my new 5 year DL.

I was in and out in 10 min. I noted that she used my Pink Card number instead of my passport number. I suppose if I did not give her the pink she would have likely used my passport number which would have been my preference but hey, I felt like all went very well in every other respect. I'm sure I can still use my DL for airline and hotel as I did before.

A quick stop at the convenient Global House and Tops just a couple kms away and I was headed back to Udon.

I noted a checkpoint at ~km 13 on the way out of Udon so I was sure to keep my cruise control on 90kph.

Happy chappy. Thanks Drunk Monkey!

Pleased all went well n you got sorted Potty .. that Nong Han office is pretty dam easy.

[glalt]

My five year license expired and I went to the Loei renewal office. They needed my yellow book which I don't have and a slip from the doctor they recommended. The doctor checked me out and told me that age 78 is too old to drive. I also went to the local amphur to get a yellow book. I needed to have my passport translated and an interview asking for my US family papers. I don't have any US family papers and both my parents died years ago. I told my wife that the local amphur is not competent doesn't know how to make a yellow book so they asked for nonsense papers. A friend of mine received his yellow book the same day from a much larger amphur. I'm now driving on an expired license.

[Doodoo]

Time for an agent and cash, possibly

[Jello]

My five year license expired and I went to the Loei renewal office. They needed my yellow book which I don't have and a slip from the doctor they recommended. The doctor checked me out and told me that age 78 is too old to drive.

That sucks. Can you try to renew your license in a different Amphur?

[Potamoi]

My five year license expired and I went to the Loei renewal office. They needed my yellow book which I don't have and a slip from the doctor they recommended. The doctor checked me out and told me that age 78 is too old to drive. I also went to the local amphur to get a yellow book. I needed to have my passport translated and an interview asking for my US family papers. I don't have any US family papers and both my parents died years ago. I told my wife that the local amphur is not competent doesn't know how to make a yellow book so they asked for nonsense papers. A friend of mine received his yellow book the same day from a much larger amphur. I'm now driving on an expired license.

If you (and your wife?) feel you are competent, how about trying this:
1. Go to Immigration and get the letter for proof of address that everyone bitches about getting. No need yellow book if you get that letter. Make a copy of the letter.
2. Go to a different clinic. Make sure your BP is in order since that is about all they check. Make a copy.
3. Copy all of the relevant pages in passport ahead of time along with old license front and back
(basically make the job of the DLT person as easy as possible)
4. Watch the video online and bring a paper copy of the verification (screen shot) printed out
5. Go to Nong Han if you happen to be in that area else the DLT of choice since its a 3hr drive to Nong Han for you but if you are going to be in Udon for another reason, it's only 35 min away.
6. Don't bring a Thai speaker with you as it may make things easier Be nice and they will help you, I'm thinking.
7. Bring 505 baht
8. or let Smart Drive manage all this stuff for you (don't know what they charge)