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Please read the Disclaimer Regulations state that any person who wishes to drive a motor vehicle in the UK must hold a valid GB or Northern Ireland licence for that category of vehicle. Persons who are nationals of EU/EEA member states may use a licence issued by that state until their 70th birthday or for a period of 3 years, whichever is longer. As a concession, persons who hold an appropriate licence issued by a state outside the EU/EEA (e.g. Thailand) may drive with that licence for a maximum period of 1 year. If the person is in the UK as a visitor, this 1 year period starts on their last date of entry, but if that person is here as a resident (e.g. settlement visa - fiancé, spouse, FLR, ILR, etc.) then the 1 year period starts on their first date of entry. Please note: If a resident wishes to continue driving after this period, then they must apply for a GB or NI provisional licence and then pass the appropriate driving tests. It is strongly recommended that this is done well before the year expires. Waiting times for tests can be up to 6 months! As a resident, leaving the UK and returning again does not restart the one year concessionary period.
Application forms can be obtained from most post offices. As UK licences are now a photo card, the application must be accompanied by a photograph of the applicant. As with a passport application, the photograph must be endorsed by "an appropriate person" who has known the applicant for at least 2 years. If this is not possible then the application may be taken to a local DVLA office (address in phone book under "Driving") along with the applicants passport. If the name on the licence is to be different to the name in the passport, then proof of the name change (e.g. a marriage certificate) is also required. Any documents in Thai must be accompanied by an English (or in Wales, Welsh) translation. The office will confirm identity and send the documents to the DVLA head office in Swansea. There will be a fee for this service. Please note: This information does not appear on the DVLA website. ( Holders of a British passport can do this at a main post office.) Once the provisional licence has been received, one can apply for the theory test. This is in 2 parts. The first is 50 multiple choice questions. The minimum pass mark is 43. The test is on a computer screen, and the candidate answers by clicking on the appropriate place. Some questions will have only 1 correct answer, others more. So it is essential that the questions are read carefully and understood. Unfortunately, Thai is not one of the languages offered for the test. If you are concerned about reading the questions, then you can request to have the questions read to you in English over headphones. You must make this request when booking the test. Alternatively, you may request that the DSA provides an interpreter, but you will have to pay their fee and take the test at a centre convenient for them. To ensure that there is no cheating you cannot bring your own interpreter. The second part is a hazard perception test. This consists of a series of video clips, and the candidate clicks the mouse when they see a potential or actual hazard. I would strongly recommend some on road experience before taking this test. Both parts must be passed at the same time. Once the theory test is passed, you can apply for the practical one. The practical test lasts officially for 37 minutes, but in practice this can be between 30 to 45 mins, depending on road and traffic conditions. The test will start with an eyesight test (reading a standard size number plate at a distance of not less than 20.5 metres. If you need glasses to do this, then you must wear them whilst driving. If you fail this part, the rest of the test will be abandoned.) This is followed by 2 questions on routine safety checks. These will either be "Tell me" or "Show me," e.g. "Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil." Or "Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working." Then the actual driving part will commence. From the point of view of the examiner, you will already have passed. The test is judged not on what you get right, but on what you get wrong. Faults are graded as follows:-
You may bring a friend or relative with you to interpret, but they must not be an ADI. Be warned, if your interpreter speaks other than to translate what the examiner has said, then the examiner will assume they are giving you instruction, and the test will be abandoned!
Finally, a note on the New Drivers Act. Under the terms of this, all new drivers are effectively on probation for 2 years after their test. This means if you collect 6 or more penalty points during that period, your test pass is revoked and you will have to take both tests again. Motor CyclesAll of the above applies for both cars and motor cycles. However, before riding a motor cycle on the road you must also have a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate. Ask about this at the dealer where you bought the bike, or again use Yellow pages to find a bike instructor. Useful Links
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