Do you need an agent for a Thai driving licence?

What an agent does

A good agent books the appointment, prepares and checks the documents and goes with you to the office. Some also arrange the medical certificate and the certificate of residence. They do not take the tests for you.

What it costs

Agents typically charge 1,500 to 5,000 THB, all in. One reader in Pattaya reported about 4,000 THB. Doing it yourself usually costs 700 to 1,000 THB, so the difference is what you pay for time and certainty.

When it is worth it

• You cannot get a Smart Queue slot. In Pattaya one reader reported a 6 to 8 week wait.
• The app will not let you register, or asks for a Thai phone number. See how to book.
• Your paperwork is unusual: a tourist visa, an untranslated licence, a licence from a rare country.
• You do not have time to visit Immigration and the clinic yourself.

It is usually not worth it in smaller provinces, where walk-ins work, or when you hold a non-immigrant visa and a licence in English.

What to get in writing

1. The total price

   Which fees are included: licence fee, medical certificate, certificate of residence, translation.

2. What they do and do not do

   Booking, document check, accompanying you, repeating the tests if you fail.

3. The office and the date

   See the offices foreigners use.

4. Your own receipts

   The DLT fees are paid by you, at the office, with a receipt in your name.

The shortcut to avoid

Some people offer a licence "without tests". Paying for one is illegal, and a licence obtained that way can be revoked. It can also leave you uninsured after an accident, because the insurer can refuse a claim for a licence that was not issued properly. See the licence trap.

Frequently asked questions