A Thai licence is for people who live in the country long term and do not want to depend on an IDP and on questions from an insurer. Below is the procedure from the official DLT description and the text of the law, checked on 19 October 2026.
Who needs one
Anyone who lives in Thailand permanently, rents or buys a vehicle and drives every day. A tourist on a two-week trip is better off with a national licence and an IDP, as described in the answer are Russian licences valid. Who it does not suit: people with no residence document or work permit, because the DLT page gives no other route for foreigners.
What to bring
According to the DLT list for a foreigner:
- a passport and a copy
- a residence certificate (ใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่) or a work permit showing an address, not expired
- a medical certificate saying you have no conditions that make driving dangerous and no mental disorder, issued no earlier than 1 month before filing, in the form set by the Medical Council of Thailand
The DLT page does not explain where to get the residence certificate or how to apply for it. Ask at immigration and when you book at the office.
The applicant conditions under the law: age 18 or older, or 15 for a temporary motorcycle licence up to 110 cc, the ability to drive, knowledge of the rules, no illness or disability that prevents driving, and no existing licence of the same category or a suspension (Section 46 and DLT).
How it works: steps
- Book. Only in advance through the DLT Smart Queue app or gecc.dlt.go.th.
- Document check and application at the office.
- Health check: colour vision, depth and field of vision, foot reaction to the brake
- Training of at least 5 hours.
- Computer written test.
- Driving test. On a track: 7 exercises for a car, 5 for a motorcycle.
- Fee and photo. DLT notes that the payment window closes at 15:30, and then you receive the licence.
What you take for a car and for a motorcycle
| Car | Motorcycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of exercises | 7 | 5 |
| Content | stopping at the kerb, forward and reverse on a straight, reverse parking, hill start, U-turn, parking at a right angle, following traffic signs | following traffic signs, narrow straight lane, Z curve, S curves, avoiding obstacles |
Car and motorcycle licences are separate by law, and one does not replace the other (Section 43). A scooter needs a motorcycle licence: why category B is not enough.
How long a licence lasts
| Type | Validity | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary licence for a car, three-wheeler or motorcycle | 2 years | Section 44 of the Motor Vehicle Act |
| 5-year licence | 5 years | Section 44; issued if you held the temporary one for at least a year (Section 47) |
If a 5-year licence ends on a day other than the birthday, it is extended to the birthday in the same or the following year (Section 44).
What it costs
| What | Car | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary licence | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| 5-year licence | THB 500 | THB 250 |
| Application fee | THB 5 | THB 5 |
The amounts come from the DLT service guide for citizens (B.E. 2568, that is 2025 edition), checked on 19 October 2026. The medical certificate is not included, and we did not check clinic prices. The DLT tariff page (dated 2022) lists older amounts, for example THB 100 and 50 for a temporary licence, so go by the service guide and confirm at the office.
Will your home licence be credited
We found no official text on crediting Russian licences. What is known: the UK government says Britons living in Thailand can apply for a Thai licence using their UK one. And in a DLT draft announcement that was open for comment from 19 June to 3 July 2025, a foreigner with a valid licence of the same category is offered 1 hour of training instead of 5. We have not confirmed that this is the final rule, so plan for the full route and check on the spot. The related question about the IDP and recognising Russian licences is covered separately.
What we could not find in official sources
- A single current DLT fee table: the tariff page (dated 2022) lists older amounts and licences ‘for one year’, while the service guide gives THB 200 and 100
- The price of the medical certificate: it depends on the clinic
- The procedure for crediting Russian licences when getting a Thai one
- Instructions on how a foreigner gets a residence certificate for DLT
- Whether you can apply on a tourist stamp
This page is reviewed every 90 days. Renting a car is covered in the guide to renting a car in Phuket.
FAQ
Can a tourist get a Thai licence?
For a foreigner the DLT list of documents names only a residence certificate (ใบสำคัญถิ่นที่อยู่) or a work permit showing an address that has not expired. The page says nothing about tourists on visa exemption or other statuses. Ask the DLT office or call 1584 beforehand to find out whether your status qualifies.
What do you take in the motorcycle test?
The motorcycle riding test on the track has 5 exercises on the DLT list: riding to traffic signs, a narrow straight lane, a Z-shaped curve, S-shaped curves and avoiding obstacles. A car licence does not replace this test.
How long is a Thai licence valid?
A temporary licence is valid for 2 years (Section 44 of the Motor Vehicle Act). A 5-year licence under Section 47 can be issued once you have held the temporary one for at least a year. If a 5-year licence expires on a day other than the holder's birthday, it is extended to the next birthday.
Is a foreign licence credited, or do I have to take the tests?
The UK government says Britons living in Thailand can apply for a Thai licence using their UK licence. A June 2025 DLT draft announcement proposes cutting the training to 1 hour for a foreigner holding a valid licence of the same category. We did not find the final text or the rules for Russian licences. Ask the office which stages they will credit.
How much does a Thai licence cost?
According to the DLT service guide a temporary car licence costs THB 200 and a motorcycle one THB 100, plus THB 5 for the application: THB 205 and 105 in total. A 5-year licence is THB 500 for a car and THB 250 for a motorcycle, plus THB 5. The medical certificate is not included, and we did not check clinic prices. The tariff page on the DLT site (dated 2022) lists older amounts, so confirm the price at the office before you go.
Sources
- Department of Land Transport (DLT). Temporary driving licence (new application): procedure and documents
- DLT. Obtaining a 5-year licence in place of a temporary one
- DLT. Service guide for citizens B.E. 2568 (2025): fees for temporary and 5-year licences
- DLT. Fee tariffs (page dated 20.09.2022, table under the Motor Vehicle Act)
- DLT. Applicant age
- Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 (1979), consolidated text, Office of the Council of State: Sections 43, 44, 46, 47
- DLT. Draft announcement on training and tests for licence applicants and renewals, public consultation 19.06-03.07.2025
- GOV.UK. Thailand travel advice: safety and security (Thai licence for residents on a UK licence)
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