Thailand Traffic Fines: Helmet THB 2,000, Speeding THB 4,000
Thailand fines riders and passengers without a helmet up to THB 2,000. Speeding and running a red light each carry up to THB 4,000. A first drink-driving offence carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine of THB 5,000 to 20,000. A licence starts with 12 points and is suspended for 90 days at 0 points.
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The caps below are the Land Traffic Act penalties as amended by Act No. 13, which took effect on 5 September 2022.
Thailand traffic fines at a glance
| Offence | Maximum fine | Where it sits in the Act |
|---|---|---|
| No helmet, rider or passenger | THB 2,000 | Section 122, penalty in section 148 |
| No seat belt | THB 2,000 | Section 123, penalty in section 148 |
| Speeding | THB 4,000 | Section 67, penalty in section 152 |
| Running a red light | THB 4,000 | Section 22, penalty in section 152 |
| Not stopping at a zebra crossing | THB 4,000 | Penalty list of 2022 |
| Phone in hand while driving | THB 4,000 | Section 43(9), penalty in section 157 |
| Driving the wrong way | THB 2,000 | Penalty list of 2022 |
| Parking in a no-parking place | THB 2,000 | Penalty list of 2022 |
| Drink-driving, first offence | THB 5,000 to 20,000 or up to 1 year in prison | Section 43(2) |
Helmet fine: THB 2,000, doubled for you if your passenger has none
Section 122 requires the rider and the passenger to wear a helmet made to protect against injury. The fine is up to THB 2,000. If your passenger has no helmet, your fine is doubled.
มาตรา ๑๑๙ มาตรา ๑๒๐ มาตรา ๑๒๑ มาตรา ๑๒๒ วรรคหนึ่งหรือวรรคสาม มาตรา ๑๒๓ วรรคหนึ่ง มาตรา ๑๒๓/๒ มาตรา ๑๒๔ มาตรา ๑๒๖ มาตรา ๑๒๙ หรือมาตรา ๑๓๓ ต้องระวางโทษปรับไม่เกินสองพันบาท
The helmet and seat belt sections carry a fine of up to THB 2,000.
Land Traffic Act (No. 13) B.E. 2565, section 19 (new section 148)
On a rented scooter, both you and your passenger must wear helmets at all times. A Thai government release names the helmet section of the Land Traffic Act as the legal basis.
Licence, international permit and rental scooters
Driving without a licence carries up to 1 month in jail or a fine of up to THB 1,000. Driving without showing your licence and a copy of the vehicle registration book carries a fine of up to THB 1,000. You must carry a valid licence and show it when police ask.
A foreign licence works with an international driving permit. An ASEAN licence works on its own. For a motorcycle, the permit needs a motorcycle endorsement, or you need a Thai motorcycle licence. Read the international driving permit guide and the Thai licence guide before you rent.
Hire scooters in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. Riding without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance. Without a valid licence you may not be entitled to compensation or damage protection after a car-rental accident. Check cover in the travel insurance guide.
At a checkpoint, carry these three documents at all times:
- your identification card
- your driver’s licence
- the vehicle registration book
Drink-driving limits and penalties
Most drivers count as drunk above 50 milligram percent blood alcohol. The limit is 20 milligram percent for drivers under 20. It is also 20 for drivers on a temporary licence, and for drivers with no licence or a suspended or revoked one.
Police test your breath first. If a breath test is not possible, blood can be tested, and you must consent first. The current testing regulation reached the Royal Gazette on 20 September 2024.
| Outcome | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| First offence | Up to 1 year | THB 5,000 to 20,000 |
| Repeat within 2 years | Up to 2 years | THB 50,000 to 100,000 |
| Another person is hurt | 1 to 5 years | THB 20,000 to 100,000 |
| Another person is seriously hurt | 2 to 6 years | THB 40,000 to 120,000 |
| Another person dies | 3 to 10 years | THB 60,000 to 200,000 |
After a first offence the court suspends your licence for at least 6 months or revokes it. For a repeat within 2 years the court must impose both prison and a fine. Driving drunk without a licence, or under suspension, raises the penalty by one third. Drink-driving also costs 4 points.
Holiday sale bans are separate from these limits. See the Songkran dates and rules and the alcohol sale hours pages.
Speeding, red lights, phone and seat belts
Speeding, running a red light and not stopping at a zebra crossing each carry up to THB 4,000. Section 67 sets the speed duty: you must drive at the speed set in the ministerial regulation. Obey the posted limit signs.
Driving the wrong way and parking where parking is banned each carry up to THB 2,000.
Do not hold a phone while driving. The Act bans phone use at the wheel unless you do not have to hold the phone. The fine is up to THB 4,000.
In a car, the driver must wear a seat belt at all times. Passengers in the front row and in other rows must wear one too. A child aged 6 or under must sit in a child seat.
On a pickup, driver and passengers wear belts in the front seats, and rear passengers of a double cab wear them too. The fine is up to THB 2,000.
How the 12-point system works
Every licence holder has 12 conduct points. The system started on 9 January 2023.
- Speeding, no helmet, no seat belt, not stopping at a zebra crossing or phone use costs 1 point.
- Running a red light costs 2 points.
- Drink-driving costs 4 points.
At 0 points your licence is suspended for 90 days for every vehicle type. Driving while suspended carries up to 3 months in prison or a fine of up to THB 10,000, or both. Deducted points come back one year after the offence. Lesser offences cost points only when the ticket goes unpaid past the deadline.
How to pay a traffic ticket
- Check every ticket in your name at ptm.police.go.th, the police ticket website.
- Or open the Thang Rath app, which lists paid and unpaid tickets.
- Pay by QR code in the app, with no trip to a police station, bank branch or payment point.
- Pay by the deadline on the ticket.
The laws and fines hub lists the other fines a visitor meets.
Not confirmed: Posted speed limits by road type are set by a ministerial regulation that is not quoted here, so follow the signs. The police notice does not say whether points are recorded against a foreign licence or an international permit. A tourist's access to the Thang Rath app without a Thai ID is not confirmed.
Common questions
Is a helmet compulsory for scooter riders and passengers in Thailand?
Section 122 requires the rider and the passenger to wear a helmet made to protect against injury. The fine is up to THB 2,000.
How much is the fine for driving without a licence in Thailand?
Driving without a licence carries up to 1 month in jail or a fine of up to THB 1,000. Failing to show your licence and a copy of the vehicle registration book carries a fine of up to THB 1,000.
What is the drink-driving limit in Thailand?
Most drivers count as drunk above 50 milligram percent blood alcohol. Drivers under 20 count as drunk above 20 milligram percent.
Do back-seat passengers have to wear a seat belt in Thailand?
Passengers in the front row and in other rows must wear a seat belt at all times. The fine is up to THB 2,000.
Is using a phone while driving illegal in Thailand?
The Act bans using a phone while driving unless you do not have to hold it. The fine for the offence group is up to THB 4,000.
How many points can a driver lose in Thailand?
Each licence holder has 12 conduct points. At 0 points the licence is suspended for 90 days.
Can I pay a Thai traffic ticket online?
You can check every ticket in your name at ptm.police.go.th. The Thang Rath app shows paid and unpaid tickets and takes payment by QR code.
What is the penalty if drink-driving kills someone?
The penalty is 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of THB 60,000 to 200,000.
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Thailand?
An international permit must be used together with your home-country licence. Drivers with a licence from an ASEAN member country can show their home licence.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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