Drivers License - Address Change

[PolarAttack]

I?m planning on getting my Thai drivers licenses.  Right now my IDP for the bike and car will expire in October.  I am living at a temporary home until the construction is complete on our new place. Date unknown but possibly before Oct.

My question is this - If I get a Thai license at this current address is it a lot of trouble, confusion, headache to change the address on it in the future?  My gf said ?just wait and see what happens? but I am more proactive than that.

I did read though the "Apply for Drivers License" area on this forum but did not find anything current to my question.

Thanks,
Wayne

[iammike]

I moved from Chonburi to Buriram and I only changed the address on the license when the license was up for renewal.

Got stopped many times and no problems with the BiB, as long as your license is valid.

So don't bother changing the address !

[Tassie]

What does IDP mean?
What does BiB mean?
Regards

[iammike]

What does IDP mean?
What does BiB mean?
Regards

IDP = International Driving Permit (International Driving License)
BIB = Boys in Black (The Thai Police )

[dundeemk6]

Same here : my first Thai driver's license was issued 16 october 2006, lived at 4 different adresses (properly registered), never mentioned it to no one ... and no hassle ... everything you say can and will be used against you ... so just shut up !!! Don't mention the war ... just you have to go back to the centre that delivered it every 5 years ... what I consider a trip in memory lane ...

[PolarAttack]

 Thanks everyone and great advice.

I see this being even less an issue as the home being built is just a few blocks away from where I am currently living so the house address is basically the same. Same same but different.
Now the tough part. Convincing my girlfriend it was her idea for me to get my license at this time.

 Follow up question:  Thai ID Cards for Aliens.   With having a Thai drivers license would it still be beneficial to get the ID card?  I?m just looking at getting everything done at once or within the first year and then not worrying about those things - except for renewals and expiries. Well, and of course rule changes.

[iammike]

Re: Thai ID Cards for Aliens

AFAIK, you only can get if you Have a Yellow Housebook.

And as (I believe) you are building a house, wait till the house is finished before getting a Yellow House Book.

I never bothered to get the ID Card, I have the letter to go and get one still somewhere, but I never could be bothered. The  Thai Driving license is the one I use, for check-in at Hotels, Airport (Domestic flights) etc

[Starman]

What does IDP mean?
What does BiB mean?
Regards

IDP = International Driving Permit (International Driving License)
BIB = Boys in Black (The Thai Police )

Boys in Black?

Surely it's Boys in Brown.

[iammike]

What does IDP mean?
What does BiB mean?
Regards

IDP = International Driving Permit (International Driving License)
BIB = Boys in Black (The Thai Police )

Boys in Black?

Surely it's Boys in Brown.

Hahahah you are right, it could depend on which country you are in

[PolarAttack]

Re: Thai ID Cards for Aliens

AFAIK, you only can get if you Have a Yellow Housebook.

And as (I believe) you are building a house, wait till the house is finished before getting a Yellow House Book.

I never bothered to get the ID Card, I have the letter to go and get one still somewhere, but I never could be bothered. The  Thai Driving license is the one I use, for check-in at Hotels, Airport (Domestic flights) etc

 Thanks for that good advice.
I won?t rush on the Thai ID card until the house is complete.

[fishy]

My two bobs worth.. I tried to get a fellang ID card two times...Yellow card... The local Ampher did not want to know about it as I was not married... On the second try I went in with info from the Thai legislation/criteria which states you do not have to be married.. if you are a fellang and request one they are obliged to give one...simple as that going by the Thai legislation! I gave up applying.. I was not hot headed and the missus really had no idea what the card was anyway... For what it is worth the card really does not help you anywhere... If I stay at a motel I just give my passport. I could show my Thai Drivers license and explain it has my Passport details written on it but at the end of the day a Passport does the same as a Yellow Card... Not worth the hassle of getting one...  What is the benefit of having one???

[Starman]

My two bobs worth.. I tried to get a fellang ID card two times...Yellow card... The local Ampher did not want to know about it as I was not married... On the second try I went in with info from the Thai legislation/criteria which states you do not have to be married.. if you are a fellang and request one they are obliged to give one...simple as that going by the Thai legislation! I gave up applying.. I was not hot headed and the missus really had no idea what the card was anyway... For what it is worth the card really does not help you anywhere... If I stay at a motel I just give my passport. I could show my Thai Drivers license and explain it has my Passport details written on it but at the end of the day a Passport does the same as a Yellow Card... Not worth the hassle of getting one...  What is the benefit of having one???

I think you are getting confused. An ID card for a non Thai, often called "Farang", is pink. The house registration book is yellow.

There seem to be different rules at different offices. As an example, I know that both Muang and Prakhonchai districts require the translation of your passport to be certified by the MFA in Bangkok. Lamplaimat and Ban Dan districts do not have this requirement.

I believe a BE member had the problem of not being married but was eventually issued with a yellow book.

The benefits? The only obvious one is when registering a vehicle. With a yellow book it is easy to register in your own name.

Personally I have never even attempted to get one. All of our vehicles are registered in my wife's name and I am happy with that situation. Until there are other benefits, or if the book and ID become compulsory, I shall not bother to get one.

[PolarAttack]

Thanks Fishy & Starman for the additional information 

[iammike]

Benefits:

Yellow House Book, I used when renewing my Driving License, it was duly accepted without having to go to Immigration to get a Letter of Residence !

Id Card: No idea yet of the Benefits, but a friend of mine uses it all the time to identify himself at Banks ? I use my passport

[Starman]

Benefits:

Yellow House Book, I used when renewing my Driving License, it was duly accepted without having to go to Immigration to get a Letter of Residence !

Id Card: No idea yet of the Benefits, but a friend of mine uses it all the time to identify himself at Banks ? I use my passport

If you use the office in Buriram to renew your licence you do not need to go to immigration. A 10 minute trip to the police station to get a letter of residence is sufficient.