Driving license renewal changes - physical test exemption

[Gaybutton]

At the moment this is not yet official. If it goes through, it doesn't sound like anything special to me. First, those physical tests are so simple that as long as you're breathing, you'll pass. In all my years in Thailand I have known a grand total of 1 person who ever failed it - and in his case I wasn't surprised.

Also, the chances are good that above a certain age - not yet decided upon - you'll still have to pass the physical tests. And according to Murphy's Law, whatever age you happen to be, you'll be too old to qualify for any exemptions.

Maybe I'm missing something, I don't see how the online portion of this would be of much help to us. And I've learned to be very wary of relying on anything Thailand puts online, such as the 90-day address reports. Too many screw-ups for me.

And nothing about this means you won't still have to show up in person at the Land Office and go through that nightmare.

In other words, this might shorten the work load for the examiners, but I don't see anything of any kind of significance it would do for most of us.

Either way, I'm still seriously thinking about paying MOTS services their 3000 baht fee to do all the legwork, including the trip to immigration to get the residence certificate.
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Cabinet approves physical test exemption for driving licence renewal

by THE NATION

April 22, 2025

Cabinet approves e-renewal of driving licences without physical tests for eligible drivers; criteria to be set by the DLT.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft ministerial directive that will allow drivers in normal physical condition to renew their driving licences electronically without the need to undergo a physical test in person.

However, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) has yet to define the age range and physical criteria for drivers to be eligible for licence renewal without undergoing reaction and eyesight tests, a government spokesman said.

Deputy government spokesman Karom Polpornklang stated that the Cabinet approved the draft directive proposed by the Transport Ministry. The directive aims to enable driving licence renewals to be conducted electronically, in line with the Electronic Government Procurement Act B.E. 2565 (2022).

Karom added that the measure would help the public reduce travel-related expenses associated with visiting DLT offices for licence renewal.

According to Karom, the draft directive outlines three key points:
* Holders of driving licences under a certain age and with physical fitness criteria—yet to be specified by the DLT Director-General—will be exempt from taking a physical test during licence renewal.
* Individuals who do not meet the specified age or physical condition criteria will still be required to undergo reaction time and eyesight tests, as well as complete a training course, to renew their licences.
* The directive will come into effect 90 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40049098

See also: April 23 "Headline News" https://www.gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic ... 05#p117205

[Jun]

Either way, I'm still seriously thinking about paying MOTS services their 3000 baht fee to do all the legwork, including the trip to immigration to get the residence certificate.

Checking you have an appropriate residence certificate would be the kind if thing any country not riddled with corruption would have been doing via the computer systems for at least the last 20 years.
In Thailand, I suppose they have to make it just difficult enough for you to go to that agency in order to collect the tea money.

[Gaybutton]

In Thailand, I suppose they have to make it just difficult enough for you to go to that agency in order to collect the tea money.

I have always done my Thai driving licenses myself and could do it again when my current license expires. But for sure it is a major pain. You have to go to immigration to get the residence certificate and wait until your number is called. Then it's come back the next day to pick it up.

They say it is no longer necessary to present a medical certificate, but I get one anyway. They are available at any hospital or street clinic. My local street clinic charges 50 baht for it. The physical exam consists of you have walked in.

Then, since the Land Office will only allow a limited number of farang per day, you need to wake up around 5:00am and get out there before the farang limit is maxed out. Now you just sit there for about 2 hours until they open. If they still force people to watch that ridiculous training video on your smartphone, once you successfully answer the questions at the end, now you have to have to make a photocopy of the "you passed the test" part and go again to the Land Office to present it.

If tea money is involved, shhhhhh! - I'd hate for them to find out I'd be willing to pay more than their 3000 baht to avoid all that.

[Jun]

Then, since the Land Office will only allow a limited number of farang per day, you need to wake up around 5:00am and get out there before the farang limit is maxed out. Now you just sit there for about 2 hours until they open. If they still force people to watch that ridiculous training video on your smartphone, once you successfully answer the questions at the end, now you have to have to make a photocopy of the "you passed the test" part and go again to the Land Office to present it.

That's got tea money written all over it & in particular, it sounds like they want farang tea money. You're doing well to resist.

For comparison, my UK photocard license has to be renewed every 10 years & I can do that online.

As for results of these licencing controls:

"Country-by-country, Eritrea is by far the most dangerous country when it comes to fatal road traffic accidents, with 48.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013. In terms of popular destinations, Thailand is the most dangerous at 38.1. The UK remains one of the safest in the world at just 2.9 deaths per 100,000 people. We are rivalled only by Sweden (2.8 deaths) and Micronesia (1.9)."
[Source: https://www.beechampeacock.co.uk/news/r ... sus-world/]

[KeithAmbrose]

When you are 70 and over, the renewal is every 3 years. Also online, you just self declare you are fit to drive.

[Gaybutton]

When you are 70 and over, the renewal is every 3 years. Also online, you just self declare you are fit to drive.

I hope that's the way it will work. We'll see.

[Gaybutton]

Thailand is the most dangerous at 38.

I'm not surprised. First there is no requirement to attend a driving school. There are private driving schools that charge about 5000 baht for lessons, so most people avoid it. So, for them the only driver education at all is watching that video and I've seen for myself - most either sleep through it or play with their smartphones - paying no attention whatsoever to the video.

Another factor is the number of motorbikes compared to cars. And driving recklessly and without a helmet seems to be a national pastime. For quite some time the police would set up spots to catch and fine motorbikes whose drivers aren't wearing helmets. But for a long time now, I have not seen any of those set-ups.

It is said the most driving accidents occur within 25km of home. Well, of course! That's where people do most of their driving.

[Dodger]

The minute I hear the words "ON-lINE" used in Thailand my brain immediately feels shock waves. Now I know how Jack Nicholson must have felt in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".