Social media in Thailand spent the last week of October 2026 sharing claims that "lifetime" driving licences were about to be cancelled and that every driver over 55 would have to retake tests. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) says that is not true. If you are a foreign resident who drives in Thailand, or you are planning to get a Thai licence, here is what was actually said, what the current test rules are, and what to check before your next visit to a land transport office.
Last reviewed 2 November 2026. Checked against statements by the Department of Land Transport reported by Thai PBS, MGR Online, Thairath, the Bangkok Post and The Nation, the DLT's June 2026 notice on fitness tests published by the Government Public Relations Department, and the DLT announcement on training and fitness tests in the Royal Gazette.
At a glance
- No cancellation: on 30 October 2026, DLT director-general Sorapong Paitoonphong said reports that lifetime driving licences would be cancelled or confiscated were inaccurate. Existing holders can keep using them legally and keep all their rights.
- What the 55+ rule actually is: people aged 55 and over who apply for a new driving licence must pass a physical fitness test, based on technical (medical) recommendations. The DLT says this is about new applications only.
- Still under discussion: the government is reviewing road safety measures for older drivers. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said any surrender of lifetime licences would be voluntary, along the lines of Japan's approach, and that this still has to be discussed.
- Renewals in 2026: since June 2026, renewals no longer include a colour-vision test. Drivers aged 55 or under whose licence expired no more than one year ago skip the brake-reaction test. Drivers over 55 still take it.
- Next date to watch: the 17th Thailand Road Safety Seminar on 19–20 November 2026 at IMPACT Forum, Muang Thong Thani, where older-driver safety is on the agenda.
What started the rumour
On Thursday 29 October, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the DLT was considering a review of driving licence requirements for older motorists, particularly those aged 55 and above. According to the Bangkok Post, the idea under discussion would have existing licence holders go through assessments of their physical fitness and driving competence. Posts online quickly turned this into "lifetime licences will be cancelled".
The public reaction was strong. Thai PBS reported that well-known songwriter Nitipong Honark posted on Facebook asking the authorities to reconsider. He wrote that he had driven for more than 40 years without a serious accident and suggested a working group look at police, highway and insurance data before deciding whether drivers aged 55–70 are really a problem group. After the DLT's clarification he thanked the department and said he was relieved.
What the DLT said on 30 October
The DLT's statement, reported by Thai PBS, MGR Online and Thairath English, made three points:
- The department has not cancelled lifetime driving licences and has no plan to revoke or confiscate them.
- People who already hold a lifetime licence can continue to use it legally, with all their existing rights.
- The rule being talked about applies only to people applying for a new licence: applicants aged 55 and above must pass a physical fitness test in line with technical recommendations, to improve road safety.
On 31 October, The Nation quoted Siripong saying that lifetime licences would not be withdrawn and there would be no extra burden on the public. He said officials may study whether additional criteria are needed and look at examples from other countries, including Japan, where older drivers are encouraged to hand in their licences voluntarily in return for help with public transport. He stressed that such a step would be voluntary and has not been decided.
According to The Nation, the DLT has more than 11 million lifetime licences on record: about 5.64 million for private cars, 3,855 for private three-wheelers and about 5.44 million for motorcycles.
Why older drivers are in the news
Thai PBS linked the debate to several recent crashes involving elderly drivers, including a 67-year-old woman who drove into a shopping mall in On Nut, a 79-year-old man who hit a police officer clearing an accident, and a 78-year-old man who drove into a Guanyin shrine. Siripong also mentioned older drivers getting stuck in U-turn lanes built for motorcycles and older riders on electric motorcycles.
The data are more mixed than the headlines suggest. Figures from Thailand's road accident data centre for 1 January to 30 October 2026, cited by Thai PBS, show that people aged 36–60 made up 30.15% of road accident victims, followed by 25–35 (22.93%) and 19–24 (17.30%). People over 60 accounted for 10.25%. Thailand still records around 50 road deaths a day, or roughly 15,000 a year, according to The Nation.
The physical fitness tests: what you will actually do
The DLT's fitness test has four parts. The standards are set out in the DLT announcement on training and fitness tests, published in the Royal Gazette on 25 August 2022:
- Brake reaction: you use a foot brake three times. You pass if you react in 0.75 seconds or less in two of the three tries.
- Peripheral (wide) vision: you must see to the left and right at an angle of 75 degrees on each side, two times out of three.
- Depth perception: a test at a distance of 2.5–3.5 metres; you pass if your result is within 1 inch of the target in two of three tries.
- Colour vision: reading green, red and yellow from at least 3 metres away.
If you fail one part, you can retry that part once on the same day. If you fail again, you can come back on a later working day, within 90 days of your application.
What changed for renewals in 2026
In June 2026 the DLT changed how it applies these tests at transport offices, following advice from the Medical Council of Thailand:
| Situation | Tests required |
|---|---|
| First-time licence | All tests, including colour vision |
| Renewal, aged 55 or under, licence expired ≤ 1 year | Peripheral and depth vision only |
| Renewal, aged over 55 | Brake reaction + peripheral + depth vision |
| Renewal, any age, licence expired > 1 year | Brake reaction + peripheral + depth vision |
Colour vision is no longer tested at renewal. The 2022 announcement also says that if your old licence expired more than one year ago you must pass a written test, and if it expired more than three years ago you must also take a driving test. Check the current rules with your office before you go, because procedures are updated from time to time. The DLT says an online renewal system is being developed with the Ministry of Public Health and the Medical Council, and will be announced when ready.
What this means for foreign residents
The rules apply to everyone who applies for or renews a Thai licence, Thai or foreign. The DLT's statements did not mention any separate rule for foreigners.
According to the Ministry of Transport guidance published by the Government Public Relations Department, foreigners may drive in Thailand with a valid Thai licence, a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), or a licence from an ASEAN country. Foreign residents who want to convert a foreign licence to a Thai licence need:
- Passport (original and copy).
- Certificate of Residence in Thailand.
- Health certificate from a certified medical professional.
- Foreign driving licence (original and copy).
- E-learning training certificate from an approved course.
If you are 55 or older and applying for your first Thai licence, expect to do the full fitness test, including the brake-reaction test. If you are over 55 and renewing, plan for the brake-reaction and vision tests every time.
Checklist before your transport office visit
- Check the expiry date on your Thai licence. Renew before it lapses: being more than a year late means more tests.
- Bring your passport, a current Certificate of Residence and a recent medical certificate. Ask your office which forms it accepts.
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, bring them for the vision tests.
- If you are over 55, remember the brake test gives you three tries and you need two passes.
- Check whether your office needs an online booking before you travel there.
- Keep an eye on news from the Road Safety Seminar on 19–20 November in case new proposals for older drivers are announced.
- Questions? Call the DLT hotline 1584 (24 hours) or see dlt.go.th.
Editorial note: Foreigner's Thailand is an independent guide, not a government agency. Rules and office practice can change. Confirm requirements with your local land transport office, Thai Immigration (for residence documents) or your embassy before you apply.
Sources
- Thai PBS (Thai), DLT confirms lifetime licences are not cancelled (30 Oct 2026): https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/571884
- Thai PBS, DLT clarification and accident statistics (1 Nov 2026): https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/571975
- MGR Online, DLT statement (30 Oct 2026): https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9690000104194
- Thairath English, "Transport Department Confirms Lifetime Drivers Licenses Will Not Be Cancelled" (30 Oct 2026): https://en.thairath.co.th/news/governmentpolicy/2969342
- Bangkok Post, "Lifetime driving licences 'won't be binned'" (31 Oct 2026): https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3345751/lifetime-driving-licences-wont-be-binned
- The Nation, "Thailand considers stricter safety checks for older drivers" (31 Oct 2026): https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072961
- PRD Narathiwat, DLT notice on revised fitness tests for renewals (20 Jun 2026): https://narathiwat.prd.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/9/iid/514537
- The Nation, "DLT eases 2026 driving licence renewal rules" (16 Jun 2026): https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40067483
- DLT announcement on training and fitness tests, Royal Gazette (25 Aug 2022): https://infocenter.oic.go.th/FILEWEB/CABINFOCENTER20/DRAWER072/GENERAL/DATA0000/00000805.PDF
- PRD, "Thailand Clarifies Eligibility for Foreigners Driving in the Kingdom" (19 Nov 2024): https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/2874/iid/341038
Photo: Sukhumvit traffic, Bangkok, by Francisco Anzola, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sukhumvit_traffic_(8422419905).jpg).
.jpg){kind=link}