Thai driving licence for foreigners
Residents are expected to hold a Thai licence. This guide lists the documents, the medical certificate, the DLT e-learning, the tests and the fees, and says plainly where sources disagree.
- Where
- Department of Land Transport (DLT) offices. Bangkok head office: Chatuchak, 1032 Phahonyothin Road
- Documents
- Passport, certificate of residence from Immigration or your embassy, medical certificate (within 30 days), original foreign licence and copy, DLT e-learning certificate
- Visa
- Non-immigrant visa or work permit expected; tourist visas are officially not accepted, practice varies by office
- Fees
- Car: 205 THB for 2 years, 505 THB for 5 years. Motorcycle: 105 THB for 2 years (one source says 155), 255 THB for 5 years
- Medical certificate
- About 100 to 500 THB depending on the clinic
- Theory test
- 50 multiple-choice questions, pass mark 45, available in English. Conversion exemption: sources differ
- Booking
- DLT Smart Queue online; walk-ins are no longer guaranteed at Bangkok offices
Reviewed 5 October 2026. The DLT website returned no readable text when we checked, so apart from one government page, the details come from commercial guides. Fees were consistent across at least five of them.
Sources: Thai Government Public Relations Department · Forbes & Partners: convert a foreign licence · Thailand Starter Kit: Thai driving licence
Foreign residents can convert a home-country licence or apply for a new one at a Department of Land Transport (DLT) office. Typical documents: passport, certificate of residence, medical certificate, original licence and the DLT e-learning certificate. Reported fees are 205 THB (car) and 105 THB (motorcycle) for the 2-year licence and 505 THB and 255 THB for the 5-year licence. Whether the theory test applies to conversions depends on the office.
Step by step
- Get a certificate of residence from the Immigration Bureau or a letter from your embassy. The embassy letter is reported to cost roughly 3,500 THB in one source.
- Get a medical certificate from a clinic. It must be recent, within 30 days.
- Complete the DLT e-learning and keep the certificate. The government page lists it for conversion. Reported length varies from about 30 minutes to 5 hours, so plan an afternoon.
- Book a slot through the DLT Smart Queue and bring originals and copies.
- Take the on-site checks: colour vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and reaction.
- Pay the fee and receive a temporary licence valid for 2 years.
Theory and driving tests
New applicants without a foreign licence take the theory test and a practical driving test.
Fees
| Licence | 2 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 205 THB | 505 THB |
| Motorcycle | 105 THB | 255 THB |
One guide lists the 2-year motorcycle fee as 155 THB. The 105 THB figure appears in six sources.
International driving permit
The Thai government page says visitors with a valid international driving permit may drive. How long, and for how long your insurance honours it, is not confirmed by an official source we could read. A 2025 draft rule, reported by one outlet, would stop accepting the IDP as the basis for a Thai licence. Long-term residents should hold a Thai licence, and driving without a valid licence can affect your insurance, so check your policy.
Sources
- Thai Government Public Relations Department: driving licence - official, 19 November 2024
- Forbes & Partners: convert foreign driving licence - 19 December 2025
- Thailand Starter Kit: Thai driving licence - 2 October 2026
- The Thailand Life: learning to drive - 5 May 2026
- Nation Thailand: DLT draft rule - 20 June 2025
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert my foreign licence on a tourist visa?
Officially a non-immigrant visa or work permit is expected. Some offices accept a certificate of residence on other visas. Ask your office.
How much is a Thai driving licence?
Reported fees are 205 THB for a 2-year car licence and 505 THB for 5 years, plus the medical certificate and any residence certificate.
Do I have to take a driving test?
New applicants do. Most sources say conversions are exempt from the practical test, and the theory test requirement depends on the office.
Is the licence valid for 5 years?
First licences are temporary for 2 years, then 5-year licences follow. One guide says conversions get 5 years at once, which we could not confirm.
Keep planning
Need the right visa before you apply?
Most offices expect a longer-stay visa. We can tell you which one fits.