Remember a few posts ago when I said things were going great? I should have know better than to say that.
Universe: "Hold my beer"
2020 is not going well so far. An overnight visit at the hospital, sickness, medications, and a new nebulizer has nearly wiped out our bank account. I'm still sick and coughing and my son is not 100% either.
Next I thought I'd get my Thai driving license. According to the information I found online, it was going to be fairly easy. I needed a current driving license from my home country, work permit or residency certificate, health certificate, copies of visa and passport.
When I arrived with all documents in hand, I was immediately told my driver's license was not real and if I wanted to use it I needed to fly to Bangkok, go to the US embassy and attain a document stating that my license was real.
Since that wasn't an option, I could take the driving course and tests. Considering how bad all the drivers are in Thailand, how hard could the test be.
I was told I had a 5 (actually 6) hour instruction course. I told them I don't speak Thai and they said, it's ok, you can take it in English.
Once the class started I quickly realized that it was all Thai. At a break I asked if they had a book or something in English I could look through. I was handed a small booklet that was so old. It was so old it was typed on a typewriter, not printed with a printer. See below photos below. Some of this information is wrong or misleading and does not include everything you need.
I made notes and found some information online and tried to study.
After 6 mind numbing hours it was time to take the written test. That was in English. I failed miserably. Many of the questions were about registering your car or timing belts. Information I did not have.
After failing, I went to the front where a man yelled at me in Thai and repeated "FRIDAY!" over and over. I could not understand him and started to cry in frustration and exhaustion while a woman laughed at me. My new friend finished his test and came to my rescue. They wanted me to return Friday for the driving portion of the test. I told them I did not have a car and was told, they provide the car and we have a choice of manual or automatic. Translated by my new friend. Also confirmed by an outside source that had recently taken the driving test. This is important for later.
I'm assuming I have to take the written test again since I failed, but no one will tell me anything. Good new, you can take the test as many times as you want in order to pass. That may not be true. It's hard to tell at this point.
I return Friday with my new friend. Luckily he lives nearby and offered to give me a ride. We go to the waiting area and then watch a sample test and know what we need to do. Then told to wait, they will call our name. *Spoiler alert, no one will call your name.
We waited for a while but noticed lots of people using personal vehicles. My friend asked and was told you could use your own vehicle if you wanted. My friend decided he was much more comfortable in his own vehicle and went to get it and wait in line. I continued to wait and wait and wait.
I watched my friend take his test and it looked like he did really well! But he forgot to wear his seat belt and failed the test. (No where on any of the information does it say you should wear a seat belt in Thailand)
He was kind enough to ask when I would be going and they told him I have to use my own car because they do not provide one. (WHAT THE ACTUAL %&#$)
It's all I can do not to scream, cry, and choke someone.
My friend did offer to let me use his vehicle, but it's a big truck and while I have no issues with driving a big truck, I wasn't going to be able to parallel park that sucker.
We got a coffee and drove home while complaining at how stupid all of this is.
What I have learned so far is:
Thai people will tell you what you want to hear, not the truth.
Never believe anything anyone is telling you.
Be prepared for anything.
No one will tell you where to go or what to do next.
Bring a book, food, and toilet paper, it's going to take forever.
I'm really trying to wrap my brain around a governmental office that is so chaotic. No one knows anything and all information is subject to change at any moment. Everybody does every thing differently. There are no standards.
To be fair, no governmental office is great, but this......
I've heard, "That's the Thai way....." As if that explains it all away, but it seems to really do a disservice to everyone. It confuses, frustrates, and wastes the time of the public. The employees must dislike the free for all attitude. The streets are not safer for it. I'm sure may people give up and just drive without a license.
I am almost to that point, I don't know what my options are in the future.
I am posting some links to sample tests I found online and copies of the booklet I got to look at at the Transportation office.
My advice if you want to get your Thai driving license is talk to as many people as possible but believe only about 50% of what they tell you. They are not lying, but their experience will be different than yours. The written questions will be oddly phrased and some will be hard to figure out. Hire a local if you can to help you through the process. Bribe them if you can.
This link will send you a google doc with more useful information if you subscribe:
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