Beginning June, Thai driving licenses renewable online - but there's a catch

[Gaybutton]

The catch is you have to be under age 55 to be eligible. If you are older than that, which I imagine one or two of us are, driving license renewal procedures remain unchanged.
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Land Transport Department to allow online licence renewals

by Supoj Wancharoen

February 17, 2026

The Department of Land Transport (DLT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), is upgrading its service standards to allow motorists aged under 55 to renew their driving licences online from June.

Sorapong Paitoonpong, director-general of the Department of Land Transport, said the move will help manage the high volume of renewals for private cars and motorcycles, which average more than 2.5 million applicants per year.

Applicants aged under 55 whose licences have not expired for more than one year will be able to apply electronically without travelling to a transport office for a physical fitness test.

The measure will reduce the need to travel and better meet the demands of the digital age, he said, adding it will also ensure citizens receive the best possible services.

The service is expected to be launched in June 2026 in cooperation with the MOPH, which already has a system in place for issuing electronic medical certificates.

A digital document-sharing model, or API linkage with the MOPH, will be set up to enable accurate, real-time verification of the origin and authenticity of documents, he said.

However, during the initial phase, medical documents may be shared only among hospitals operated by the MOPH, rather than local clinics.

Mr Sorapong said those renewing their licences online will still be required to undergo a visual aptitude test, particularly for eyesight, but will not need to visit a transport office to do so.

The DLT is also working with medical professionals to revise guidelines for physical fitness testing under the scheme to ensure all drivers meet standardised physical and visual fitness requirements, he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... e-renewals

[Jun]

For comparison, I believe there is no age limit for license renewal online in the UK. My mother does it that way.

Despite apparently fewer health checks, the death rate on UK roads is almost an order of magnitude better than Thailand.

[Gaybutton]

For comparison, I believe there is no age limit for license renewal online in the UK.

Considering the ages of the drivers that have the vast majority of accidents in Thailand, in my opinion they have it backwards. I think people under 55 ought to be the ones who should be required to qualify. I think those 55 and older ought to be the ones who can renew online if they have a clean safety record.