Thai Cabinet has approved online renewals, or e-renewals, for driver’s licenses without visiting for physical tests for eligible drivers, as set by a criteria by the Department of Land Transport, Tuesday, April 22.
In a The Nation report, the approved draft ministerial directive allows drivers in “normal physical condition” to renew their licenses. However, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) is yet to define the age range and physical criteria for drivers to fall in this exception, skipping the reaction and eyesight test.
According to Deputy Government Spokesman Karom Polpornklang that the Cabinet approved the draft directive proposed by the Transport Ministry. This is aimed to enable “driving license renewals to be conducted electronically, in line with the Electronic Government Procurement Act B.E. 2565 (2022)”. Karom adds that this would help lessen travel-related expenses associated with visiting DLT offices for license renewals.
The draft includes three key points which are:
- Holder 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 license 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 license.
- The directive will come into effect 90 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.