By Javier Sánchez · Updated 2026-10-19

Which DLT office should a foreigner use?

Which office you choose matters more than most people expect. Staff in the big expat provinces are used to foreign passports, but those offices are also the busiest.

This is a detail of the main guide: how to get a Thai driving licence as a foreigner.

Which office you choose matters more than most people expect. Staff in the big expat provinces are used to foreign passports, but they are also the busiest. Provincial offices often have shorter waits, while rules and capacity vary. Always phone first to confirm walk-ins, the visa they accept, and whether they waive the practical test.

Offices by city

Bangkok

Chatuchak head office: 1032 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak 10900.

  • Fills up fast. Book the earliest slot Smart Queue offers.
  • Other area offices: Bang Khun Thian (Area 1), Taling Chan (Area 2), Sukhumvit 62 (Area 3, handy for Sukhumvit residents) and Nong Chok (Area 4).
  • Reported to apply the practical test to some conversions case by case.
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Chiang Mai

Provincial Land Transport Office 1, Mae Hia branch: 192 Moo 7, Chiang Mai–Hang Dong Road.

  • The usual choice for expats, south of the city near the airport on the Hang Dong road.
  • Reported hours Monday to Friday 08:30–16:30.
  • Conversions are often finished in one to two days when the paperwork is complete.

What sources report: Which Chiang Mai branch

  • Mae Hia branch (Provincial Land Transport Office 1), 192 Moo 7, Hang Dong Road: the main choice for expats. The Thaiger, Nov 2025
  • Also a Nong Hoi branch of the same office. The Thaiger, Nov 2025
  • Only the Hang Dong Road office, hours Monday to Friday 08:30–16:30. Chiang Mai Visa Run, an agency page
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Phuket

Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office, Rattanakosin 200 Pee Road, Mueang (Phuket Town).

  • One of the offices most used to foreign applicants.
  • Verified At the Phuket DLT a work permit or the Certificate of Residence is accepted as proof of residence, and a 90-day report receipt is not. At Phuket Immigration the certificate is 500 THB on the spot, or free from the next day (a week the last time).

What sources report: Phuket address

  • 42/1 Rattanakosin 200 Pee Road, Mueang, Phuket 83000 (tel. 076-214-929). The Thaiger, Nov 2025
  • 42/59 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Road (Talat Yai), or 42/1 Rattanakosin Song Roy Pee Road (Taladnua, tel. 076-241-930). agency listings
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Pattaya and Jomtien

Chonburi land transport, Bang Lamung branch, Sukhumvit Road (Nong Pla Lai), about 8 km north of Jomtien.

  • Slots are scarce. One reader reported a 6 to 8 week wait in early 2026.
  • For that reason many residents use an agent here (about 4,000 THB all-in, per the same reader).
  • Check the branch name before you go, as it appears under several English names.

What sources report: Pattaya branch

  • Bang Lamung branch, 143 Moo 3, Sukhumvit Road, Nong Pla Lai (tel. 038-069054-5). agency listings
  • A Chonburi DLT office in Sriracha is listed as serving the area. one listing
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Hua Hin

Prachuap Khiri Khan province, on or near Phetkasem Road south of town.

  • Phone before you travel to confirm which branch handles foreigners.

What sources report: Hua Hin branch

  • No DLT inside Hua Hin town; the Pranburi branch, 61 Moo 3 Petchkasem Road, Khao Noi, about 20 km south, serves it (tel. 032-62-1343). one listing
  • A Hua Hin branch on Petchkasem Road about 5 km south of town (tel. 032-520-495), open 08:00–16:00 on weekdays. another listing
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Koh Samui

Na Thon branch of the Surat Thani provincial office.

  • Limited daily capacity.
  • More complex cases (for example some IDP conversions) can be sent to the Surat Thani mainland office.

What sources report: Koh Samui office

  • The Na Thon branch of the Surat Thani provincial office, with limited daily capacity. one guide
  • An office on Route 4169 in Ang Thong. another guide
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Other provinces

Krabi, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and other provinces

We found no reliable first-hand reports for these offices, so we won't guess. The general rules above apply, and quieter provincial offices are often faster than Bangkok. Phone the Provincial Land Transport Office, ask for the foreign-applicant counter, and confirm the visa, the translation and the residence-certificate rules before you pay for anything.

Frequently asked questions

Which DLT office is best for foreigners?

The big expat provinces (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya) are used to foreign passports but are busy. Provincial offices are often faster, so phone first and ask for the foreigner counter.

Can I apply at any DLT office in Thailand?

In general yes, but acceptance of visas, documents and the practical test varies by office and officer. If one office refuses, ask another.

Where is the Phuket DLT office?

Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office, on Rattanakosin 200 Pee Road in Mueang. Sources give slightly different house numbers, so check the map before you go.

Do I need to phone before I go?

Yes. Confirm whether walk-ins are accepted, which visa the office takes and whether it waives the practical test.

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TM.30 and the Certificate of Residence in Thailand What TM.30 is, who must file it, what happens without it, and how to get the Certificate of Residence for your licence or vehicle, with fees and delays. How to renew a Thai driving licence as a foreigner Renew your Thai driving licence in 2026: when you can, documents, the reduced tests, fees (505 THB car, 255 THB motorcycle) and what if it has expired. The Thai driving theory test: format, pass mark and sample questions What the Thai driving licence theory test looks like: 50 questions, 45 to pass, English available, topics, tips and 12 sample questions with answers.

Sources

Requirements, fees and procedures change and differ by office. Confirm with the Department of Land Transport or your local office before you act.