[Adamanta]

I am not sure about learner's permit. I guess she can keep trying until she passes though I know some people who end up buying a fake license. But, I wouldn't do that. I saw them doing the practical side of the driver's license the other year. It was done in the car park. They had to drive to the other end. Turn around. And then come back. I guess it is the theory she is failing at.

[Wr8dIAUk]

thanks for reminding me I was caught sometime in August or September for having no licence and no helmet and I decided to go and get it done, just haven't been able to figure out since, as nobody I know has a licence! sounds like the ideal way to spend the first few days of the holiday in March, sorting this out

[Baromaro]

I think most see it as a matter of giving the police officer some extra cash if they are stopped and thats probably true until they smash something or someone and have to stay at the monkey house until they cough up 200k.

[Adamanta]

I wouldn't drive without a license in Bangkok for sure as the chances are higher there for being stopped by a policeman. The first thing they ask is to see your license. In addition for any minor offence you did, they will also fine you for driving without a license. I am not sure what would happen, but you would have to fill in paperwork to prove that you have a license and that the car is yours. For motorcycles, they impound your bike where you were caught and you have to rush home to get your license. If you don't get back on time your bike is taken to the police station where it costs more to get it out.

[Wr8dIAUk]

I only know you are allowed to use your own motorcycle for the driving test

[ireleda]

Here they have a large lot layed out with turns, lines, cross streets and stop signs and with your motorcycle over corrugations, and parking is done at a kerb layed out like a street, and they all set on a bench in the shade and watch you, they are not stupid and put one of their owns life at risk riding with no Thai driver trying for a license.

[Nikkkola]

That is great, hunsolo. Congratulations.

[Usendyduexy]

And in Thailand it is so easy to be involved in an accident even if it is not your fault.

There used to be a scam some years ago-not heard of it lately-where a Thai in a battered old car would delibrately drive in the back of a farang driven vehicle and then demand an extortionate sum to get his vehicle repaired as the farang had stopped suddenly/failed to signal/etc.
The local cop would be brought in-or someone dressed as such-who would advise the farang to pay up to avoid police action and costly/time-consuming court appearances. Farang pays a usually negotiated amount Cop and driver share proceeds and move on to next victim.

[Hervams]

My girlfriend had her driver license taken away from an officer for speeding. She said he wasn't supposed to take it but she never went back to the police station to claim it. She's been driving over 2 years without it.

Her little brother also drives without a license. He never got a license. Neither of them seem to know what will happen if they get caught nor do they seem to care.

[hoconnor6605]

My wife who bought her first car recently, is driving it in Bkk.without having licence, to prepare for her drivers exam, she always has a licenced driver with her, in her car. I asked her what would happen if police would stop her for minor infraction?....she does not know..so anyone can tell me about Thai/Bkk. traffic laws?..how stern they are?...

[monologue]

I wouldn't dare drive with no licence in Bkk; the chance of an accident is quite high the way people drive.
I was stopped for doing an unauthorised U-turn and the first thing the cop asked for was my licence, which I did have on me.
Then he kept reaching for his radio but not quite bringing it up to talk into it (I recognised this as pyschological extortion warfare). I was polite and asked him if I could pay the fine there and then (a pychological extortion warfare defence mechanism) because I had to be at work early the next day.
He said it was 400 baht, which I gave him hurriedly, waied and sped off.
I hear it should be only 200 baht but it was district 8.

[MaigicyuNinia]

Do what I do. Although I have a real drivers license, I always present my fake drivers license, different address, different name, real photo.
The next point, never display your real registration plate on your car, have a fake set of those made up as well. LOL Just kiding but it sounds like a good idear.

[hoconnor6605]

Thank you all for your comments they helped. Mr Barrow # 4: Actualy Nooch passed the theory part of test with "Flying colors" (her own words)..but it is the parking that she has problems with, and that failed her,...if the practical testing is done only in parking lots there,..then it is easier to pass there then here in U.S., where you have to go out into the traffic -with testing officer sitting next to you- and prove your mettle

[Fvmfrctt]

Sparky, LOL on your post about extortion. Seems you have adjusted to living in thailand.

[hoconnor6605]

Well...to ALL..my Nooch got her licence yesterday Monday, (on her second try)....a day she will remember all her life...so no more risks of getting cought driving without a licence, and bad news for taxis in Bkk. on Friday evening I won`t need their services from the airport.....

[hoconnor6605]

Well, thanks for that info....here in U.S. they have "Learner`s Permit" where a unlicenced person can drive car, but must have a licenced driver in the car with him/her, and in case of traffic mishap, consequences are completely different then if driving without a licence-(same as a licenced driver I guess) she doesn`t know if there is "Learners permit" there?....she failed once on drivers exam, but gonna try it today-Wednesday, again.How many failures/try`s at getting licence is one allowed?...no limit?

[Adamanta]

My girlfriend had her driver license taken away from an officer for speeding. She said he wasn't supposed to take it but she never went back to the police station to claim in. She's been driving over 2 years without it.

Every time I was stopped by the police for minor offence (going down a one-way road the wrong way etc.) the policeman always took my license. I then had to pick it up at the station later when I paid the fine. The only time he didn't take the license was because he wanted a bribe. I was on holiday in the middle of nowhere and he knew I didn't want to waste time going to the police station.

My girlfriend had her driver license taken away from an officer for speeding. She said he wasn't supposed to take it but she never went back to the police station to claim in. She's been driving over 2 years without it.

Her case would be slightly different as there would be a record of her having a license.

For any foreigner reading this, I would strongly recommend for you to carry a valid license at all times. Like Sved said, you never know what incident you could become involved with on your next trip. And in Thailand it is so easy to be involved in an accident even if it is not your fault.

[QxmFwtlam]

I had lost my driving license from the country I came from (drunk driving). In my initial years here, I drove without a license. When I get stopped by police, I showed them my country’s ID card, all English. The policeman asked me what card that was. I told him, it’s my driver’s license all in one ID card. I told him in my country, we used one card for everything. I told him that police in my county uses barcode scanner on PDA to scan information from my ID, via GPRS access the HQ’s database via HTTP, thus revealing all my details, license, permit and etc within the GPRS reply.

He took my story, hook line and sinker. He let me go overwhelmed by my technological jargons.

[Baromaro]

If there is an accident your traffic insurance wont cover you.

If you get hurt your health insurance will probably not cover you and god forbid if you hurt someone else your liability insurance wont cover you and the bail bond will get you nowhere.

I mean all it takes is someone to bump into you and the ball is in motion.


There is a three days waiting between the tests but not sure about a limit. My wife knew people who tested three times in a row within nine days.

[hoconnor6605]

..Ha-Ha-Ha,...Good thinking of those driving test examiners...Thanks for explaining that.