The Department of Land Transport (DLT) will once again extend the one-year provisional driver's licence to two years next month, for motorists who fail to apply for their full five-year licence in time.
The DLT's deputy director-general Nunthapong Cherdchu yesterday said the department will also increase the fee for the two-year provisional driver's licence, starting from May 23.
The fee for a two-year provisional licence for an ordinary vehicle will double to 200 baht, while the licence fees for a three-wheel vehicle and motorcycle will rise from 50 to 100 baht.
Drivers will also be charged an additional five baht for the request fee.
The move follows the department's extension of provisional driver's licences from one to two years last year to help drivers who fail to get their five-year licences in time, he said.
He added that drivers holding two-year provisional licences will still be able to renew their permits at the end of the first year rather than waiting, if they choose.
Mr Nunthapong said the fee increases were conducted in line with regulations in which the fee must be struck in accordance with the increased licence period.
Current holders of a one-year licence still have to renew their permits at the end of the one-year period if they choose not to apply for a two-year licence.
Once renewed, the status of the driver's licence will be upgraded and will be renewable every five years, Mr Nunthapong added.
As well, the DLT will also collect fees for foreign vehicles as a measure to regulate tourists' vehicles which enter through border checkpoints. The fee will be divided into two sections: purpose of visit, and permission to bring vehicles into the country.
Foreign drivers must register their vehicles with the department and pay a fee of 500 baht per entry for a car and 200 baht for a motorcycle.
They are also required to pay 500 baht per entry for tourism purposes and 2,000 baht for others.
As for prototype vehicles (those brought in for testing before their official manufacture), owners have to pay 2,000 baht for a car and 1,000 baht for a motorcycle, Mr Nunthapong said.