Department of Land Transport
- Thailand News
Public CNG bus safety inspections launched by DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has initiated a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection for all public buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The inspections aim to bolster safety measures and boost passenger confidence. This mandatory inspection campaign will run until November 30. The DLT reported that 1,331 out of the total 13,426 CNG-powered buses nationwide have been inspected. Findings…
- Thailand News
ID check-mate: DLT gears up for tight security drive with ThaID app
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is cracking down on security, rolling out mandatory identity checks with the ThaID app from November 1 for anyone booking driving license and vehicle registration slots. That’s right, no more easy rides—it’s high-tech all the way via the DLT Smart Queue app and website! Today, October 15, Seksom Akkharaphan, the no-nonsense Deputy Director-General and…
- Thailand News
CNG and LPG vehicles face crackdown after tragic school bus fire
In a nationwide safety sweep, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) has ordered all vehicles equipped with compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks to undergo immediate inspection. This comes in response to the bus blaze tragedy on October 1, which claimed the lives of 20 primary school children and three teachers near Bangkok. The tragedy unfolded when…
- Thailand News
Thailand launches app to replace physical driving licences
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) has launched a new mobile application, QR Licence, designed to eliminate the need for motorists to carry a physical driver’s licence. This innovative app allows users to display their digital driving licence on electronic devices like smartphones and tablets. Director-General of the DLT, Seksom Akraphand highlighted the convenience offered by the app. He stated…
- Thailand News
Thailand backs 20-baht cap on mass transit fares
Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) backs the Transport Ministry‘s initiative to cap mass transit electric train fares at 20 baht per trip, according to Secretary-General Saree Ongsomwang, who also advocates for a fair budget allocation for public bus services across all provinces. Saree stated that the 20-baht fare cap was one of Pheu Thai’s campaign promises ahead of last year’s election.…
- Thailand News
Thailand drivers’ licences now display organ donor status
Driver’s licences in Thailand will now prominently display whether the holder is an organ donor, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced. This update, effective from August 7, aims to make the organ donation status of drivers more visible. The new licence design includes a larger Red Cross emblem with the words “organ donor” at the top right if the holder…
- Thailand News
Special vehicle registration numbers up for auction at DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT), through its Road Safety Fund, announced an upcoming auction of special vehicle registration numbers for private cars with a seating capacity of no more than seven. The auction, the eighth of its kind, will be held tomorrow, August 31, from 10am at the DLT’s Building 6, Floor 7. The event features the theme Special…
- Transport News
Thai transport twist: No chinese takeover in the fast lane, says DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) dismissed media reports suggesting Chinese companies are increasingly taking over struggling Thai transport businesses, emphasising that licences issued to one business cannot be transferred in the event of a takeover. “More importantly, only Thai legal entities registered and headquartered in Thailand are eligible to hold the licences.” The DLT clarified that at least 51%…
- Thailand News
Man caught with fake red plate on Mercedes in Nakhon Pathom
Highway police apprehended a man driving a new Mercedes Benz with a red license plate after they discovered the plate was counterfeit. The driver, identified only as Wanchai, admitted to ordering the attractive number plate online. The incident occurred today when Police Major General Phakaphon Suchon along with Pol. Lieut. Col. Kla Sombatphibun inspected the area under their jurisdiction. They…
- Thailand News
New 6.5 kilometre six-lane road to link Phutthamonthon Sai 4 with Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi Motorway
The Department of Highways in Thailand embarked upon a new project to construct a 6.5-kilometre-long six-lane road that will link Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road with the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi Motorway. The new roadway is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on the existing roads and foster urbanisation in the adjoining areas. The highway will extend through four districts in Nonthaburi and into…
- Thailand News
Unexpected traffic fines surprise vehicle owners at tax renewal in Prachuap Khiri Khan
At the Department of Land Transport (DLT) in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, vehicle owners renewing their annual taxes are being hit with unexpected charges, 735,000 baht in total, for unpaid traffic fines. Those who are unable to pay the fines immediately are issued a temporary tax renewal slip, valid for 30 days, during which they must clear their fines to…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s DLT combats illegal driving license sales exposed by MP on Facebook
Thailand‘s Department of Land Transport (DLT) is taking action against individuals selling driver’s licenses illegally, following a Move Forward Party MP’s exposĂ© on the matter. MP-elect Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn discovered several people advertising online services to provide driver’s licenses without requiring the driving test and posted screenshots of customers who had received valid DLT-certified licenses despite not taking the test. Wiroj expressed concerns…
- Thailand News
Giant license plates are illegal, warns Thailand’s DLT
Thais love to modify their vehicles, but attaching a comically big license plate to your car is illegal, warns Thailand‘s Department of Land Transport (DLT). The warning follows a viral TikTok clip of a pickup truck on the road featuring a regular license plate as well as a Phitsanulok province license plate so big it could probably be seen all the…
- Thailand News
Walk-in driving license services now available in Thailand
Obtaining a new driving license or renewing an old one just got easier in Thailand. Walk-in services are now available at transport offices nationwide without the need to book an appointment, according to the Department of Land Transport (DLT). Anyone wanting to renew their Thai driving license can obtain an ‘eLearning’ theoretical training certificate through the DLT’s website, which also…
- Hot News
License plate lottery – Today’s lucky number is 45,090,000
The Department of Land Transport’s license plate lottery – and auction of what they laughingly describe as “auspicious” vehicle licence plate numbers – on Saturday produced the highest-ever winning bid at 45.09 million baht (US$1.3 million) for plate number 9 Kor Kor 9999. On Saturday a total of 64 plates were up for auction and another 237 will be offered…
- Phuket News
Phuket police feel public backlash over arrest of foreign tourists in “scooter-gate”
Some members of the public have reacted with anger after Phuket police arrested a number of foreign tourists who were riding electric scooters. According to police in the normally busy tourist area of Patong, the tourists were charged with using unregistered vehicles on the road. Officers confiscated the scooters, threatening legal action against those who rented them out. However, photos…
- Crime News
Hundreds arrested, thousands of motorbikes seized in street racing crackdown
In a nationwide, 10-day crackdown on illegal street racing, Thai police arrested nearly 1,000 people and confiscated around 20,000 motorbikes and cars. The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that the Thai government is also pushing to amend the Land Traffic Act to include an “attempted racing” offense for gathering near public roads to participate in races. Royal Thai Police…
- Transport News
Public transport drivers subject to safety points system from December
The Department of Land Transport is implementing a points-based system to punish public transport drivers for bad behaviours starting December 1. The system will give drivers 100 points to begin with and demerit points for every violation of traffic laws or safety, resulting in a temporary suspension of their license. The Director-General of the department explained the system that will…
- Bangkok News
Partitions to be added to 3,000 taxis to fight Covid-19
A pilot project is underway, launched by the Department of Land Transport, to install 3,000 partitions in taxis for Covid-19 safety throughout the month of October. The Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob stated they hope the move instils confidence in hired transportation services and increases public safety against the spread of Covid-19. The acrylic partitions will be installed in taxies…
- Thailand News
Bangkok taxi driver faces fines, license suspension, training classes after passenger complains about ride
A Bangkok taxi driver has been fined, has his license suspended, and has to take a training class after his erratic behaviour unnerved a passenger. The passenger posted online about the eccentric taxi ride that was supposed to take them from Victory Monument to Klong 6, Pathum Thani, last Sunday. However, the passenger cut the ride short and got off…
- Transport News
Department of Land Transport will reopen, issue licenses
After suspending services on April 16th due to the third wave outbreak of Covid-19, the Department of Land Transport has announced they will reopen next week. The agency will restart renewing driving licenses in issuing new licenses, as well as giving driving tests. Services are set to resume all across the country at all DLT offices on June 21, according…
- Covid-19 News
Buses and motorbike taxis to face tougher disease prevention measures
Public buses, cars, and motorbike taxis now need to comply with tougher Covid-19 measures, following an announcement from the Department of Land Transport. Jirut Wisarnjit from the DLT, says the stricter rules are effective immediately and are in addition to measures already in place, such as mandatory mask-wearing, hand-washing, and use of contact-tracing apps. According to a Pattaya News report,…
- Transport News
Department of Land Transport calls on drivers to use its mobile app to pay car tax
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport says drivers should use the department’s dedicated app to make their annual car tax payments. Yongyut Nakdaeng from the DLT says paying via the app will help reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Motorists will receive a receipt and their tax disc in the post within 5 days. Thai-speaking drivers can call the DLT hotline…
- Thailand News
Speed limit on Thailand’s highways increased to 120 kilometres an hour
It’s official – the maximum speed limit on 4-lane highways in Thailand has been increased to 120 kilometres per hour, with the new regulation published in the Royal Gazette yesterday. Previously 90 kilometres per hour, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob says the increase in the maximum speed limit is aimed at improving the flow of traffic in line with conditions, while…
- Covid-19 News
Department of Land Transport eases rules for licence renewal to mitigate virus risk
The Department of Land Transport has suspended the need for written or practical tests for anyone renewing their driving licence between now and March 31. The department posted the decision on its Facebook page, saying tests are being cancelled in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19. According to a Nation Thailand report, the suspension applies to the following…
- Crime News
Department of Land Transport threatens hefty fines for customised vehicle headlights, taillights
The Department of Land Transport is warning motorists that they may face significant fines if they modify their vehicle’s headlights or taillights. Jantira Buruspat from the DLT says that customising a vehicle’s lights in a manner that contravenes either the Vehicle Act or the Land Transport Act can incur a fine of up to 50,000 baht. He says the reminder…
- Transport News
Thailand to cut down on uninsured vehicles on the road
Thailand’s Land Transport officials are trying to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road driving without compulsory car or motorbike insurance. Those without valid insurance will not be able to renew their vehicle registration. To track insurance, an interactive data base is being set up by the Office of Insurance Commission, and the Department of Land Transport. The…
- Thailand News
Officials deny plans to make elderly drivers re-take tests in order to keep licences
The Department of Land Transport says there are currently no plans to make elderly drivers re-take a test in order to keep their licences. The statement comes after rumours began to circulate that drivers over 70 and in possession of “lifetime” driving licences, would need to re-take both a driving test, as well as hearing and eyesight tests. Despite Thailand’s…
- Thailand News
Issuing of driving licences suspended during emergency decree
The Department of Land Transport has declared a moratorium on the issuing of new driving licences until the emergency decree ends (currently scheduled to end on May 31). Thai Residents reports that DLT Director General Jirut Wisarnjit says the recent extension to the emergency decree means services will not re-open from May 7 as planned. “The decision has been taken…
- Transport News
Thailand planning new rules and speed restrictions for big bikes
PHOTO: www.geonoise.co.th The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport, Chirute Visalachitra says new rules are being introduced for big bikes, including a ban on “lane-splitting” and a lower speed limit in built-up areas. Lane-splitting is the practice of riding between vehicles, with the Transport Ministry saying that under new rules, riders of big bikes will have to remain behind vehicles that…