Getting Drivers Licenses in Udon Thani

[stillakid]

This is a short report about getting drivers licenses for a car  and motorcycle (motorbike) in Udon Thani (Isaan).  First , it is easiest to have a person with you who speaks fluent Thai.  My Thai fiancée and I met our landlady at the Thai immigration office in Udon at about 10:30 AM.  The landlady had to fill out a form verifying that we are renting a house from her and they took copies of her Thai ID card and blue house book. 

 

I needed to have my passport, my International Drivers License and I gave them my USA drivers license (not sure if I needed that), two recent passport size pictures.  They made copies of everything and had me sign each page.  We paid the total of 500 baht for two original Certificates of Residence.  This process took about 30 minutes and was very easy.

 

We then went about 0.5 km to a doctor's clinic to get a medical certificate.  Naturally, we did not see any doctor but only the receptionist.  We paid total of 200 baht for two certificates and took about 5 minutes.

 

Now, for the long trip on Highway 2, 17 kilometers south of ring road to the Transport Office.  I would have missed the office because it is on the opposite (west side) of the highway and I did not see any English name on the building.

 

Because we were dallying a bit, we got to the office at about 11:55 AM.  In the lower lobby, we made 2 copies of my USA drivers license, 2 copies of my International Drivers License and 2 copies of my passport picture page.  Total cost of copies was 20 baht.

 

We then went upstairs to the drivers license office.  It was 12:03 and they closed for lunch from 12 until 1 PM.  OK, mai ben lai ......

They have a small food area in back of the offices and we had a good cheap Thai lunch.

 

Back upstairs at about 12:45, to get a jump on the huge crowds.   555555  Only about 8 people waiting and most were there for the 3 hour videos to watch for a first license.  Since I have an international license, I did not have to bother with that.

 

Waited until 1:00 and went directly to the counter and presented two sets of everything to the clerk (not too friendly but I was able to coax a smile out of her eventually).  Sign each copy again then I was directed to another part of the office for testing.  The reaction test was very easy but I had to do it several times because I did not step on the brake pedal hard enough to register.  The color test  --  call out which color light was illuminated  -   red, yellow, green, red, green, red, yellow, etc.  I guess the nice lady was satisfied, so back to the front desk and pay 360 baht total for both licenses. 

 

Now we took a stack of papers and a que number card to another room for a celebrity photo session.  I tried to give a huge stupid smile and my Thai lady would not let me, although the guy taking the pic was smiling at me.  Wait 3 or 4 minutes and out popped two complete licenses, one for a car and one for a motorcycle.  Done  Kawp Koon Krup   Bye Bye. 

 

We were done before 1:30 PM.  I was told that if you go to the Transport Office in the morning, it is quite busy.  So maybe afternoon is best.

 

Recap stuff needed:

 

Immigration:

1.  Passport

2.  International Drivers License

3.  Form from landlord (blank form available from Immigration office) for proof of residence.

 

Transport Office:  Need two copies of each paper, one for car license and one for motorcycle license

1.  Passport

2.  Copy of picture page of passport

3.  Original International Drivers License

4.  Copy of International Drivers License

5.  Residency Certificate from Immigration (has mug shot attached)

6.  Doctor's Certificate

7.  USA Drivers License and copy (not sure if needed)

 

Total cost  --  Not much.

 

Hassle  --  Almost None.  Immigration office and parts of Transport office was air conditioned.

 

Hope this helps someone  a little.

 

Stillakid

[Garzan]

Great news, and congrats!

When you get your Yellow Book you can skip the Immigration Office part. :-)

 

 

Sent from my too expensive Samsung tablet.

[stillakid]

Thanks for your help.  You were correct  --  eazy peazy.