Thai Driving Licence: Get or Renew in Pattaya

• You hold a Japanese licence or an International Driving Permit and want to convert it to a Thai licence
• You are staying in Pattaya long term and want to ride or drive legally
• Your two-year temporary licence is due for renewal and you would rather do it in Japanese
• You do not want to spend time on DLT bookings and paperwork

English is not always spoken at the Pattaya DLT office. Our staff prepare the documents with you, accompany you on the day and interpret at every counter.

The documents, your effort and the time needed depend on the licence you hold. This is the general picture described by several sources as of September 2026.

Under the practice to date, holders of a valid Japanese driving licence or an International Driving Permit have been exempt from the written and practical tests when converting to a Thai licence. On the day you take the aptitude checks (colour vision, field of vision, reaction and depth perception) and a lecture (video or e-learning). This is the practice reported consistently by expat media.

If you convert on the basis of your Japanese licence, you attach a licence extract certificate issued by the Embassy or Consulate of Japan in Thailand. If you use an International Driving Permit, you present the valid original. We suggest the route that suits your documents and length of stay.

About reported changes: In June 2025, a draft regulation was reported that would stop accepting International Driving Permits and require foreign licence holders to take the written test. Reports from 2026 say some offices have required it, but the start date and how it applies to foreigners have not been confirmed.

Typical documents for a conversion (holders of a Japanese licence or an IDP). Immigration status and the office's current practice may require additional items.

• Original passport plus copies of the photo page, current visa and latest entry stamp
• Proof of residence (a residence certificate from the Embassy of Japan, or a residence certificate issued by Immigration; a work permit is also accepted)
• Medical certificate issued within the last month (available from clinics in Pattaya)
• Original and copy of your Japanese licence together with the embassy's licence extract certificate, or a valid original International Driving Permit
• For renewals, your current Thai licence

We help obtain the residence certificate, book the clinic and prepare copies. Presenting your passport and taking the aptitude checks must be done in person.

1. Consultation. We ask about your current licence, visa type and the class you need (car or motorcycle), then explain the documents and schedule
2. Document preparation. Residence certificate, medical certificate and copies. If an embassy extract certificate is needed, we build that into the timeline
3. DLT booking. The Pattaya office (Bang Lamung DLT) works by appointment. The next slot is often several days to two weeks away, and further ahead in busy periods
4. On the day. Our staff accompany you through reception, document check, aptitude tests, the lecture, the photo and issuance
5. Collect your licence. A first licence is issued as a two-year temporary licence

According to first-hand accounts, the day generally runs in the order below. Counter layout and order may change.

1. Take a queue number at reception and have your documents checked
2. Aptitude checks (colour vision, field of vision, reaction, depth perception), about ten minutes
3. Lecture (about one hour for conversions and renewals); e-learning completed in advance may replace it
4. Pay the fee, have your photo taken and receive your licence

Some accounts say that, arriving when reception opens with complete documents, the process took about two hours.

What to bring: Originals and copies of the documents above (plenty of spare copies), your booking confirmation, the glasses or contact lenses you normally use, and cash for the fees

Motorcycle and car licences are separate, and each has its own fee. Several accounts describe completing both on the same day; for two-year licences the total is 310 THB. Mention both classes when booking.

Conversion generally covers the classes you can drive under your Japanese licence. If yours covers cars only, a motorcycle licence is usually treated as a new application with tests.

These are our fees as of October 2026. "Two licences" is the price when you apply for two licences at the same time.

We explain what the fee covers and what you need to do yourself when you apply. The times are a guide and may vary with conditions at the Land Transport Office.

When payment is due

• New licence (Easy course): no advance payment is needed when you book.
• Renewal or conversion (Easy course and one-week course): advance payment is required to confirm the booking and secure your slot at the DLT. We book your visit once the payment is confirmed.
• Payment is due when you confirm the booking. You can pay the full amount in advance, or pay a deposit when booking and the balance on the day, before we set off for the procedure. You can pay by transfer to our Thai bank account, transfer to our Japanese bank account, or in cash at our office. The deposit amount is confirmed with your quote.

We quote the official fees paid to the DLT separately from our support fee.

Official fees are the amounts listed by several sources as of September 2026 and may be revised.

• Document dates: The residence and medical certificates are often required to be within 30 days of issue, so it is safest to get them once the date is set
• Remaining visa validity: Some sources say applications are not accepted if little time remains (one mentions at least 15 days)
• Type of residence document: Some accounts say a TM.30 receipt alone was not enough and a residence certificate was requested
• Aptitude checks: One account notes that many applicants had to retry the brake reaction test
• Rebooking: A change or cancellation can push the next slot several weeks away

What we do

• Check and list the documents you need, and prepare copies
• Help obtain the residence certificate and book the clinic
• Book the DLT appointment and provide transport on the day if you wish
• Interpret at each counter and tell you what comes next

What you need to do

• Present your passport for identification
• Take the aptitude checks (vision, colour, reaction, depth perception)
• Attend the lecture (video or e-learning)
• For renewals, bring your current licence

Letting us know the following helps us explain the procedure and schedule sooner.

• The classes you want (motorcycle, car or both), and the classes and expiry of licences you hold
• Your visa type and remaining validity, the days you can visit the DLT, and whether you need transport
• Any deadlines (departure date, visa or licence expiry)

For a new licence (Easy course), no advance payment is needed when you book. For renewals and conversions, advance payment is required to secure the slot (in full, or a deposit at booking with the balance on the day before the procedure). You can pay by transfer to our Thai or Japanese bank account or in cash at our office. We explain cancellations, date changes and receipts when you request our support.

• Short tourist stays (visa exemption or tourist visa) may not be accepted because of the residence requirement. Long-term residents are the usual applicants
• Whether a two-year temporary licence is renewed as a five-year licence can depend on your visa type and remaining validity. Tell us your visa status before renewal
• Car and motorcycle licences are separate. If you drive both, each needs its own procedure
• Changes to DLT procedures have been reported for 2026, but details such as when they apply to foreigners are not yet confirmed. We check the current practice each time we assist

Driving-licence procedures for residents of the Pattaya area are handled at the Bang Lamung branch of the Chonburi Provincial Land Transport Office (สำนักงานขนส่งจังหวัดชลบุรี สาขาอำเภอบางละมุง). The office is on Krathing Lai Road, inland from central Pattaya.

When you use our service, we make the booking and prepare the documents, and we accompany you to the counter on the day. Office practice can change, so if you are going on your own, please call before you visit.

(As of 12 November 2026. The address, telephone number and closing time were cross-checked on Google Maps and several directory sites.)