By Javier Sánchez · Updated 2026-10-11

How to renew a Thai driving licence as a foreigner

Renewing is much easier than getting a licence in the first place, and the tests were reduced in 2026. The key question is how long ago your licence expired: within a year is a simple renewal, longer may mean extra tests.

When you can renew

Your licence	What happens
Still valid	Normal renewal. Reports say you can start about six months before it expires.
Expired for less than one year	Normal renewal, and the reduced tests apply.
Expired for more than one year	Additional tests may be required, and you take the full set of physical tests.
Suspended or revoked	Not a renewal. See the points system in driving rules and fines.

The early window and what "additional tests" means come from guides, not from one official notice, and offices differ. Phone yours.

What sources report: How early you can renew

Up to 6 months before expiry, and typically within 12 months after. The Thailand Life, May 2026
Not stated: only "not expired or expired less than 1 year". Motorist, April 2026

The physical tests in 2026

The DLT revised its fitness criteria in 2026 on the advice of the Medical Council. As reported in June 2026:

Test	Aged 55 or under, expired up to 1 year	Over 55, or expired over 1 year
Colour vision	Not required (first-time applicants only)	Not required (first-time applicants only)
Peripheral vision	Yes	Yes
Depth perception	Yes	Yes
Foot reaction (brake)	Waived	Yes

The article does not say whether exactly one year of expiry counts inside the exemption, so do not leave it to the last day.

What sources report: When the new fitness rules took effect

Ministerial Regulation No. 2 B.E. 2568 has been in effect since 5 March 2025, with the 2026 criteria following it. The Nation Thailand, June 2026
A ministerial regulation took effect around 4 March 2026 waiving the physical tests for drivers aged 55 or under. One guide, mid-2026
From June 2026 most renewals involve only two quick aptitude checks. Another guide

What you need

Passport (or Thai ID card) and your current licence.
Medical certificate issued within the last 30 days.
Proof of the online training (see below).
Proof of address if your office asks for it, the same Certificate of Residence you used the first time.
Photos and cash for the fee.

The online training

Renewal usually includes the DLT e-learning course. You register on the DLT e-learning platform, choose a car or a motorcycle course, watch the videos (about one hour in total) and pass a short test. The certificate is what you show at the office.

Some offices run the video on site instead. If you do it online, you still go to the office for the physical tests and to receive the licence.

What sources report: Is there an online renewal?

Yes, in part: the training is done online on the DLT e-Learning platform, but you still visit the office. Motorist, April 2026
No online element yet: a full electronic renewal is being built with the Public Health Ministry and the Medical Council. The Nation Thailand, June 2026
Planned, but open to Thai ID holders only: the announced flow relies on the ThaiD app. One agency guide

Can a foreigner renew online?

Not completely. The DLT has said it is building a full electronic renewal system with the Public Health Ministry and the Medical Council, but it has not launched yet, and the flow announced so far relies on the ThaiD app, which needs a Thai national ID card. Foreign passport holders should plan on renewing in person, with the online training as a time-saver.

Fees and validity

Item	Cost (THB)
Car licence, 5-year	505
Motorcycle licence, 5-year	255
Medical certificate	100–300

Your first licence is a 2-year temporary one. The renewal after it is normally the 5-year licence. Some long-stay visa holders are issued the 5-year licence directly.

If your licence expired more than a year ago

You can still get back on the road, but treat it as a mini new application: the full physical tests, and depending on the office the training course and sometimes the theory test again. This is the case where practising the theory in English first pays off.

Practise the theory test

Tips

Renew early. The window before expiry makes everything simpler.
Book the appointment on DLT Smart Queue, or phone the office, before you go.
Time the medical certificate to be within 30 days of your visit.
Check the date on the card, not the one you remember. Temporary and 5-year licences look alike.
Keep your visa and address in order, since the office checks them again.

Frequently asked questions

How long before expiry can I renew my Thai driving licence?

Reports say you can renew from about six months before it expires, and up to a year after. The early window comes from guides rather than one official notice, so confirm with your office.

Can I renew my Thai licence online as a foreigner?

Only the training can be done online. You still go to a DLT office for the physical tests and to receive the licence. A fully online renewal relies on the ThaiD app, which needs a Thai national ID card.

How much does it cost to renew a Thai driving licence?

About 505 THB for a 5-year car licence and 255 THB for a motorcycle licence, plus the medical certificate (100 to 300 THB).

What if my Thai driving licence expired more than a year ago?

You take the full set of physical tests, and additional tests may be required, which, depending on the office, can include the training course and the theory test.

Do I need to retake the colour-vision test when renewing?

No. Since 2026 the colour-vision test is required only for first-time applicants.

Practise before the real test

470+ questions in English with the official Thai signs and road markings, and a mock exam for car or motorcycle. Free, no sign-up.

Start practising

Sources

Requirements, fees and procedures change and differ by office. Confirm with the Department of Land Transport or your local office before you act.