Transport Driving Licence Renewals Go Digital: No More Tests Needed

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Grandprix

 

Rejoice, drivers! The Thai Cabinet just greenlit a forward-thinking move to bring convenience to the masses. With a new draft ministerial directive approved, eligible drivers will soon renew their driving licences online. No more queues, no physical tests.

 

This digital leap, spearheaded by the Transport Ministry, aims to cut time and costs, signalling a transformative digitalisation in Thai transport. Announced today, April 22, Deputy Spokesman Karom Polpornklang underscored the ease and economic relief this innovation offers.

 

Crucially, this virtual renewal is reserved for drivers in good health, though specifics like age and health metrics remain in the pipeline.

 

These will be decreed by the Director General of the Department of Land Transport (DLT), which will communicate soon. Meanwhile, those not meeting these standards must still face tests and training for renewals.

 

 

 

So, what's in the pipeline? Once formalised, the directive’s three-fold plan seeks to ease the entire process. Firstly, it opens up electronic renewals to those deemed fit sans physical tests.

 

Secondly, it retains mandatory testing for others. Finally, the directive jumps into action 90 days after making its Royal Gazette debut.

 

All eyes are on the specifics from the DLT, eagerly anticipated by drivers looking to sidestep the old-timey test queue.

 

This system promises a boon for time-strapped citizens and aligns with Thailand’s relentless drive toward digital efficiency, trumpeted by yet another tech triumph reported by The Nation. Await the criteria announcement to discover if you’re a shoo-in for hassle-free, digital licence renewals.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-04-23

 

 

[NE1]

Got a sneaky feeling this will be " Not available for foreigners "

[Gottfrid]

4 minutes ago, NE1 said:

Got a sneaky feeling this will be " Not available for foreigners "

Yeah, because you belong to the army: They are all against Us! And if you would be right, it´s not a big deal. I am pretty sure that you as a citizen in your own country have privileges over non-citizens as well.

[JoePai]

Strange, have never found the present 'system' difficult to renew ?

[Tropicalevo]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

though specifics like age and health metrics remain in the pipeline.

 

It will not make much difference to those who slip the staff 2,000 baht for a 'pass'.

Only the younger ones will save any money.

 

(Reports in other places state that there will be an age limit.)

[watchcat]

29 minutes ago, JoePai said:

never found the present 'system' difficult to renew

 

Same hear, yes you'll lose a few hours, but as an expat on retirement I've got all the time I want for a renewal once every 5  or 6 year.

[2long]

But what about that video we have to watch, to remind us not to go around killing people with poor driving habits!

Surely if these Muppets aren't reminded about the dangers, the roads will not be safe!

Yes, the one where those who are supposed to watch it sleep or play on their phones throughout its entirety!

[Cuchulainn]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

aligns with Thailand’s relentless drive toward digital efficiency

Relentless🤣🤣🤣

[BangkokReady]

48 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Strange, have never found the present 'system' difficult to renew ?

 

Sounds like it's more about time and convenience than difficulty.

[josephbloggs]

47 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Strange, have never found the present 'system' difficult to renew ?

 

Yep. Did mine two weeks ago. Literally in and out in an hour with a six year license in hand. So easy. 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

Got a sneaky feeling this will be " Not available for foreigners "

 

Any evidence? Or just desperate to claim, with no proof, there's always negatives about foreigners.

[NE1]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Any evidence? Or just desperate to claim, with no proof, there's always negatives about foreigners.

Sneaky feelings don't have evidence . I am just going on previous experience when an online something or other is rolled out you get the odd one or two that states , Not available to foreigners .

[watchcat]

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Any evidence? Or just desperate to claim, with no proof, there's always negatives about foreigners.

 

No proof what so ever, I read the article 3 times and found nothing of the sort.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

Got a sneaky feeling this will be " Not available for foreigners "

I would be extremely surprised if it is available to foreigners.

Visa status and residency have to be checked, so why build something into the software for a extemely small percentage of the applicants.

Will be like the elderly with a medical condition.

[NE1]

3 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

Fluent in Thai but judging by your answer you do you fit the first criteria?

Will that make any difference to my online application ?.......😀

[actonion]

31 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

 

Yep. Did mine two weeks ago. Literally in and out in an hour with a six year license in hand. So easy. 

 

In 1 hour? , at what licencing office was that at?

[ikke1959]

Do you do a test before a driverslicense anyway ??? If i see how some drivers are driving I think they never had 1 lesson nor a driving test... And be fair brake test and color test are not the best tests to check your driving skills

[FlorC]

That would be great ! Those eyes tests are getting very difficult .

But like sandyf already said :

Visa status and residency have to be checked, so why build something into the software for a extemely small percentage of the applicants.

 

 

And what about the picture, and only for those that have a phone ?

No more plastic card ?

[Marcous]

53 minutes ago, 2long said:

But what about that video we have to watch, to remind us not to go around killing people with poor driving habits!

Surely if these Muppets aren't reminded about the dangers, the roads will not be safe!

Yes, the one where those who are supposed to watch it sleep or play on their phones throughout its entirety!

Last time I renewed my licence, you could watch the video online then they give you a certificate to print out. So much easier.

[RayOday]

I renewed my 5 year license for another 5 years in Chiang Mai 2 months ago. Less waste hence more efficient. I completed a self-paced online refresher course of the road laws with just a few simple quiz questions. Once completed the program generated a QR dense code to capture on my phone. Went to the land transport office, presented the code of completion, requested documents, and  was asked to identify red, amber, green right at the counter then went to a 1 person queue had a license photo taken, received my new license in 5 minutes. While not completely digital it was a significant process improvement.

Now what are they actually doing to improve road safety (road deaths per Capita)? Nothing. It appears that the Dept off Land Transport & the police are disconnected. No on road enforcement.

I have a China drivers license & lived in China when people drove cars like bicycles (1995). Weaving in and out with no regard for lanes. Then it all changed with the upgrade in national road infrastructure and enforcement, which is key, Quantitative improvements are tracked by the WHO. I am aware of the veracity of China's data yet this concurs with my experience. What did they do? 

1. Strictly Enforced Traffic Laws

2. Infrastructure Development

3. Vehicle Safety Standards

4. Public Awareness Campaigns 

5. Emergency Response Improvements

It can be done IF there is the will and leadership to achieve less carnage.

 

P.S. I have driven from Shanghai to Yunnan and back several times stopping along the way. I also drove 4500 kms in Xinjiang prior to the current nastiness. I feel confident in my assessment of China's  road safety improvements.

[JackGats]

I don't remember taking any test when I got my driving licence renewed. Did it through an agency though. It was just a question of getting photographed. Anyway, what does "digitally" mean here? If you have to travel down to the Dpt anyway to get photographed, it doesn't change much whether you need to take a test or two (or watch a video).

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, because you belong to the army: They are all against Us! And if you would be right, it´s not a big deal. I am pretty sure that you as a citizen in your own country have privileges over non-citizens as well.

Can't think of any advantage I would have in the UK over someone arriving illegally on a boat.

[BangkokReady]

29 minutes ago, RayOday said:

Quantitative improvements are tracked by the WHO.

 

I would find it difficult to trust the WHO where China is concerned.

[Negita43]

It might be a good move administratively BUT is it a good move in terms of safety?

Given what I see on the Thai roads I would have thought stricter tests would have been in order to gain a license - (that's my initial thought but again we all know if you can't get a license via a test then you can drive without and there's not much chance of getting caught and if you do ......)

[Gottfrid]

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Can't think of any advantage I would have in the UK over someone arriving illegally on a boat.

You can´t! Arriving illegally? Then they stay without permission, and you are a citizen. That was the first advantage. You are legal and they are illegal.

After that, can they as an illegal alien open a bank account in UK? But you can, right? Can they get a registered work, pay tax and get a pension? Answer no! You can, YES!

Can they even get a driver license as an illegal alien? No I don´t think so. And the obvious list goes on.

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, NE1 said:

All I did was state what I have found on the likes of Bangkok Bank, when they too roll out an " Online solution to whatever "
When I apply it comes up " Not available to Foreigners "

Really?
 

3 hours ago, NE1 said:

Got a sneaky feeling this will be " Not available for foreigners "

So this short sentence means all that you wrote above???? I really have to learn this language.

[jayboy]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

I am pretty sure that you as a citizen in your own country have privileges over non-citizens as well.

 

I can't think of any, speaking of the UK, where foreign permanent residents are denied rights and privileges available to British citizens.

[smedly]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

 

Yep. Did mine two weeks ago. Literally in and out in an hour with a six year license in hand. So easy. 

 

yes it's easy, all done in an hour ?

 

online test video - 1hr

go to DLT and get a date -2hrs

go to immigration for residence cert - 3hrs

medical cert - 2hrs

DLT - 2-3 hrs

 

are you kidding?

[NE1]

38 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

So this short sentence means all that you wrote above???? I really have to learn this language.

or learn to relax and not get excited about something so trivial.

[Peterphuket]

4 hours ago, 2long said:

But what about that video we have to watch, to remind us not to go around killing people with poor driving habits!

Surely if these Muppets aren't reminded about the dangers, the roads will not be safe!

Yes, the one where those who are supposed to watch it sleep or play on their phones throughout its entirety!

They have since found out after years that most were asleep during the film screening, and have now come to the conclusion that it does not bring down the number of road casualties.