Thailand Relaxes Vehicle Age Rules for Welfare Card Holders

The Department of Land Transport is accelerating the integration of its database to automatically relax vehicle ownership requirements for welfare card holders, covering more than one million cases, with data to be submitted to the Finance Ministry by August this year. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulgkiart disclosed that the Land Transport Department is proceeding with relaxed vehicle ownership criteria for state welfare card holders by adjusting the system to automatically exempt inspections for cars over 20 years old and motorcycles over 15 years old, covering more than one million cases. The One Stop Service system connecting district offices and transport offices in certain areas is already operational and is in the process of integrating all data for submission to the Finance Ministry by August 2026 to be used in determining registered beneficiaries' eligibility. Following the recent cabinet meeting, approximately 200,000 citizens filed appeals at transport offices, which is expected to result in 2-3 million additional people qualifying for state welfare card benefits from groups previously denied eligibility. Additionally, the government is expediting services for citizens with mobility difficulties, especially seniors and persons with disabilities, by directing the Interior Ministry to coordinate with village headmen and community leaders to collect data and arrange home-based service queues to reduce benefit gaps. If citizens lodge complaints through the department or other channels, the department will expedite fact-checking and if they meet the criteria, will quickly process their benefits.