WHAT'S ON THAILAND

I just got two drivers license in Thailand (Chiang Mai). Thailand has a different license for a car and a motorcycle, so you have to get two license if you want both a car and motorcycle license.

The required paperwork:

• Affidavit of residence executed at your consulate or your Thai work permit.
• Coyp of the photo page of your passport, non-immigrant one year visa and latest entry stamp.
• A certified medical report.
• The drivers license from your home country.

Since I am a US citizen, I assume the process I experienced is the same as others.

• In Chiang Mai, I got a medical certificate a Rajavej Hospital for 50 baht.
• At US Consultate, I certified my address for 1200 baht.
• At the Transportation Department in Chiang Mai, you can make copies for 2 bath per page.
• You provide all the documents (to Counter 21) on the second floor.
• They will check your documents, have you sign all pages, and send you to check your eye sight and physical reactions.
• First, we checked our eyes by reading a color chart on the wall: red, green and yellow.
• Next, we sat in a chair with a simulated gas pedal and brake. We had to push on the gas and then when the light turns red, quickly break. I did this twice. Fun.
• Then you have to put your head in a test configuration, look straight ahead, and check you side vision with red, yellow, green lights. Confusing, but fun!
• Then, if you are a foreigner and have a valid foreign license, it is off to pay. Thai citizens and those without valid licenses go take a drivers test.

Current charges for your Thai drivers licenses:

• Car drivers license fee: 105 baht
• Smart card charge for car license (includes photo): 100 baht
• Motorcycle license fee: 55 baht
• Smart card fee for motorcycle license (includes the same photo): 100 baht
• Both licenses (total): 360 Baht

You sit for your photos and then you get two licenses, and you are done.

Address:

Thai Department of Motor Vehicles, Chiang Mai
192 Moo 7 Mae Hia Sub-District, Muang District.

Phone: 053-270-410

Geo Coordinates:

• Latitude: 18.7456 North
• Longitude: 98.962 East

I rarely do these things in Bangkok, because everything is easy and fast in Chiang Mai!