Lost, Damaged or Amended Licences

Apply for a replacement at any Land Transport office using your Thai ID card, or passport for foreigners. Bring the damaged licence if you still have it; for a loss some offices ask for a police report. The replacement carries the same expiry date as the original, since it is not a renewal.

You should, so it matches your current civil registration record or passport. File an amendment request at a Land Transport office with the name-change certificate or house registration. Mismatched details are a common reason for refusal when applying for an international permit or exchanging a licence abroad.

It can be shown to traffic officers within Thailand under Royal Thai Police announcements, but for use abroad, car rental and filings with government agencies you still need the physical licence. Always carry the card itself when travelling outside the country.

International permits are issued only by the Department of Land Transport in Thailand, and Thai embassies cannot issue a replacement. Report the loss to local police for evidence, stop using the rental vehicle and notify the insurer immediately. Apply for a new permit at a Land Transport office once back in Thailand.

Apply for a duplicate at a land transport office with your ID card or passport, plus proof of residence for foreigners. A police report is often no longer required, but bring a daily record from the police station if the officer asks for confirmation of the loss. The duplicate keeps the original number and expiry date.

Renewal is generally accepted up to 90 days before the expiry date, and the new validity period runs on from the old expiry so no time is lost. Applicants must complete the Department of Land Transport refresher course, which can be taken online in advance. Book the office appointment first, then take the online course close to that date, because the course result itself expires after a limited period.

Most offices no longer require a police report if you can prove identity with a passport or Thai ID card. You apply for a replacement, have a new photograph taken and pay the replacement fee, usually collecting the card the same day. Note that a replacement carries only the remaining validity of the original, so if expiry is near, renewing is the better option.

File a replacement application at any Land Transport office with your ID or passport, plus the damaged licence if you still have it. A police report is usually unnecessary and no retesting applies, since your record is already in the registry, and the card is normally issued the same day when queues allow. Until the replacement is issued you cannot produce a licence on demand, which is a fineable offence. Keep a photo of your licence on your phone so you can quote the licence number immediately when applying for the replacement.

A police report is not required in every case, although a daily record from the station helps if you suspect misuse of your identity. Bring your ID card or passport with residence proof if you are foreign, plus the damaged licence where applicable. You file a replacement request at a DLT office, staff verify your record, take a photo, and issue the card the same day with the original expiry date unchanged. If the licence is already close to expiry, renewing is better value than replacing. Remember that driving without the licence on you is fined even when a valid licence exists, so keep a photo of it on your phone.