A brief history of the lifetime driving license

Many riders, particularly those who are older, may have experienced or be familiar with the era of the ‘lifetime driving license.’ As the name implies, this type of license was valid for life, without the need for any further fitness tests. It remained valid until the license holder either passed away or became unable to drive. However, since this type of driving license is no longer issued and cannot be renewed, it has become a rare item for both car and motorcycle drivers in Thailand, making it increasingly difficult to find.


Today, CAMEL TIRE would like to introduce a brief history of the lifetime driving license to our fellow riders who may not be familiar with it.


Before 1988, the authority to issue driving licenses was managed by the Police Registration Division (now part of the 'Royal Thai Police'). The introduction of the lifetime driving license was intended to reduce administrative congestion and lessen the burden of official procedures for the public.


At that time, permits and records were stored manually in paper registers, as there were no computer systems or modern technology. Renewing a driver's license was a time-consuming process that involved searching through physical documents. This was especially problematic when a driver's license was lost, as remembering the card number was often necessary to retrieve information. Without it, locating the records was difficult.The introduction of the lifetime driver's license helped reduce the number of people needing to contact the government for renewals, easing the administrative burden.


The End of Lifetime Driving Licenses
In 1988, the authority to issue driving licenses was transferred to the Department of Land Transport. Then, in 2003, the Motor Vehicle Act (No. 12) B.E. 2546 was enacted, which led to the abolition of lifetime driving licenses. This change was made to align the validity of driving licenses with more modern standards, supported by technological advancements that made license renewal faster and more efficient.


However, the Act did not specify that previously issued lifetime driving licenses would be invalidated. These licenses could still be used as before because, under legal principles, laws cannot have retroactive effects if they would cause harm. In the event of a damaged or lost card, individuals could apply for a replacement, which would still be a lifetime license—only now, it would be issued as a hard card, like other modern driving licenses.


The Potential Cancellation of Lifetime Driving Licenses
In recent years, the government and the Department of Land Transport have considered the possibility of canceling lifetime driving licenses or requiring individuals with such licenses to undergo a physical examination. This idea stems from concerns related to age and safety, as it is important to ensure that all drivers, regardless of their license type, remain fit to drive.


However, this idea has been opposed many times and is not feasible in law because the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 53, Paragraph 2, states that to call a driver's license holder to examine their qualifications or prohibited characteristics, there must be a reasonable ground to believe that the driver's license holder lacks the qualifications or has the prohibited characteristics as specified. Then that person can be called in individually for examination. As such, it is not possible to call in all holders of lifetime driving licenses for mandatory or random inspections.