Chiang Mai Living Guide

Driving & transport

Traffic tickets and payment in Thailand

Check the issuing authority, ticket details and payment method. Current fine amounts and drink-driving thresholds remain unverified.

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An example Thai speed-limit sign; check the signs and rules on each road
An example Thai speed-limit sign; check the signs and rules on each road · So Monggo · Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; display may crop.

Start with these three things

  1. Drink-driving is prohibited in Thailand.
  2. Official police guidance describes paying the amount stated on a ticket at a police station or another specified channel.
  3. Current offence-specific amounts, helmet legislation and online-payment eligibility for foreigners remain unverified.

Steps

"Tip" marks a planning suggestion, not an official rule.

  1. Tip Check the issuing authority, vehicle number, date, time and alleged offence carefully.
  2. Tip Before payment, ask the issuing station to explain anything you cannot read or understand.
  3. Check payment locations and deadlines on the ticket and in official police guidance.
  4. Tip Keep the receipt and ticket so you can query any repeated demand for payment.

What to prepare

  • Official payment guidance uses the amount stated on the ticket. Its postal-payment procedure specifies a ticket copy, delivery address and deadline.

Planning tips (not official rules)

  • Ask the issuer which identity documents are needed at the counter. Have the ticket and vehicle details ready when enquiring.

Where to ask

Thai police station or authority that issued the ticket

Official police guidance lists payment at the issuing station or other police stations nationwide.

Individual counter addresses and hours are not yet confirmed. Check the ticket and the issuer’s official guidance.

Things to watch for

"Tip" marks a planning suggestion, not an official rule.

  • Tip Do not determine your fine from a social-media photo or the amount paid by a friend.
  • Tip Ask for translation or an explanation before signing a document you do not understand.
  • The instalment-request procedure described by police concerns the specified category of non-criminal regulatory fines. It does not necessarily cover every offence.

Ticket details

Planning tips (not official rules)

Check whether the vehicle number and date match your circumstances and what the ticket concerns. If unfamiliar, find the issuer’s contact through official information rather than relying only on details in a message sent to you.

Payment difficulties

Thai police guidance explains the right to request instalments, with reasons, when a covered non-criminal regulatory fine cannot be paid in full. Ask the issuing authority whether your ticket qualifies and where to apply.

Accident prevention

The official safety guide warns against drink-driving and urges care at junctions and during lane changes.

Planning tips (not official rules)

If you plan to drink, arrange transport that does not require you to drive. Motorcycle riders and passengers should use suitable helmets. These are safety suggestions; no current helmet-offence fine amount is stated here.

Rules can change. Confirm with the Thai police authority that issued the ticket.

Sources & dates checked

  1. OfficialEmbassy of Japan in Thailand / Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 安全の手引き 令和8（2026）年版Embassy of Japan in Thailand / Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai · Checked 2026-10-11
  2. OfficialRoyal Thai Police 交通違反票の支払方法・権利の案内Royal Thai Police · Checked 2026-10-11