Bangkok has a paid tollway system that connects the metropolitan region with surrounding sub-districts and provinces.
Tollways can cost anywhere from THB10 to THB240, depending on the distance of the toll road. Using a tollway will normally help you reach your destination faster than a regular road.
While you can pay for tollways with cash, a more convenient method is cashless payment via an Easy Pass.
In this article, we are going to discuss everything you need to know about Easy Pass, including how to get it, how to top it up, and how to use it. We will also include M-Flow here, which is essentially an upgraded version of Easy Pass, available on certain tollways only.
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Key Takeaways
- Easy Pass is a prepaid card that lets you drive through Bangkok’s toll gates without stopping. Look for the blue Easy Pass lanes at each toll booth.
- To get one, go to the expressway office at a toll booth with your passport and THB300 for the sign-up and first top-up.
- Photograph your card when you get it. You will need the smart card number (S/N) and OBU number for topping up and any account upgrades.
- The simplest way to top up is through your Thai bank app. Save the menu as a favourite so you can do it in a few taps.
- Easy Pass sometimes malfunctions at certain lanes. If the gate doesn’t read your card, back out slowly and try again.
- M-Flow is a newer system that lets you pass through toll gates at full speed using license plate cameras. It runs on motorway 9 and on motorway 81 between Bang Yai and Kanchanaburi.
- If you use an M-Flow gate without paying within 7 days, the penalty is 10 times the toll fee plus THB200. Always settle balances on time.
Easy Pass vs M-Pass vs M-Flow
Thailand has three electronic toll systems, run by two different agencies. Here is how they fit together. (Verified October 2026.)
| System | Run by | How it works | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Pass | Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) | A tag in your car is read at a slow-down lane with a barrier | EXAT expressways, motorways 7 and 9, and the Don Muang Tollway |
| M-Pass | Department of Highways | The same tag idea as Easy Pass, issued for the motorways | Department of Highways motorways |
| M-Flow | Department of Highways | Cameras read your number plate at full speed, with no barrier | Barrier-free gates on the motorways that have them |
For most drivers in Bangkok, one Easy Pass covers almost every toll road you will use. If you also want to use M-Flow lanes, upgrade the same card to Easy Pass Plus, as explained below.
Easy Pass
Easy Pass is a prepaid ETC (electronic toll collection) card that offers a more convenient way to use tollways. With it, you can slowly drive through toll gates and the cost will be deducted automatically from your Easy Pass account.
The Easy Pass Lane is marked in blue. There will also be a big blue sign with “Easy Pass” at the toll gates.
Where to Buy It?
At many toll booths, you’ll see a building on the left. It’s an expressway office where you can buy an Easy Pass. There are two things you need:
- a passport
- THB300 for the sign-up and your first top-up (EXAT cut this from THB500 in 2020)
Then, you’ll get an Easy Pass card, a smart card number (S/N), OBU number, and a small card that you can install in your car.
Tip: It’s a good idea to take a picture of your Easy Pass card, especially the smart card number and OBU number. You will need it for topping up or upgrading your Easy Pass.
How to Check Balance?
After you drive through an Easy Pass toll gate, you will hear a loud “beep”. Then, there is a big screen on the right showing you the charge as well as your remaining balance.
How to Top Up?
While there are many ways to top up an Easy Pass, the easiest way I always use is through my bank account application. Go to “Top-Up” > “Easy Card” menu and enter my Easy Pass smart card number (S/N).
Tip: I save my Easy Pass top-up menu as a favorite. Whenever I need to top up, I can do it within a few touches.
Where You Can Use Easy Pass
Easy Pass works on these roads:
- EXAT expressways: Chaloem Maha Nakhon, Si Rat, Udon Ratthaya, Kanchanaphisek, Prachim Ratthaya, Chalong Rat, Burapha Withi, and the Bang Na to At Narong route (S1).
- Motorways: motorway 7 (Bangkok to Chon Buri) and motorway 9 (Bang Pa-in to Bang Phli).
- Tollway: the Uttaraphimuk Elevated Tollway, better known as the Don Muang Tollway.
Keep at Least THB200 on the Card
EXAT asks drivers not to let the balance drop below THB200. If you connect between several toll roads, the total can be more than you expect, and with too little credit the barrier at the exit will not open. EXAT says almost half of Easy Pass users carry less than THB200.
The simplest fix is auto top-up. The EXAT Portal app can top up your Easy Pass automatically from a linked credit or debit card, so you never get stuck at a gate.
Buying a Used Car With an Easy Pass Already Fitted
EXAT no longer transfers Easy Pass ownership in any case. If the car you buy comes with the previous owner’s tag, get your own card in your own name rather than topping up theirs. Our guide to buying a used car in Thailand covers the rest of the handover.
What If Easy Pass Doesn’t Work
However, keep in mind that Easy Pass doesn’t always work. Oftentimes, you’ll come across cars backing out of highway toll booths because the Easy Pass in that lane is not functioning.
If this happens to you, just slowly reverse and try again.
M-Flow
M-Flow is a new system introduced in 2022 that allows you to access tollways without the inconvenience of having to stop or slow down to pay. It uses video cameras to capture your car’s license plates while you’re driving through an M-Flow gate.
How to Use It?
M-Flow is very convenient. You can drive through an M-Flow gate without having to slow down your speed at all. The M-Flow gate will typically be on the right lane with a big M-Flow sign on the road.
Cost
The cost of using M-Flow is the same as a normal expressway. There is no extra fee for it.
Available Route
M-Flow runs on two motorways. The first is motorway no. 9, the ring road that connects Bangkok to the surrounding districts. The second is motorway no. 81 from Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi, which started charging tolls on 16 January 2026.
The Department of Highways is rolling M-Flow out to motorway no. 7 (Bangkok to Pattaya and Map Ta Phut) and motorway no. 6 (Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima) next, so check the signs before you assume a gate takes it.
How to Get It?
The easiest way to use M-Flow is to upgrade your Easy Pass to an Easy Pass Plus account by creating your account on the Thai Easy Pass website and adding your car information, phone number, and email.
You also need a smart card number and OBU number that come with your Easy Pass card.
Some processes are partially available in English. So, you may need help from your Thai friends to set it up if you can’t read some of the instructions. After that, every time you use M-Flow, the cost will be deducted automatically from your Easy Pass.
How to Pay for M-Flow?
If you don’t upgrade your Easy Pass, you can pay for M-Flow directly on this website. You need to add your car information there, and it will show all unpaid balances. You can then pay using mobile payment.
Normally, you need to wait for a day until your balance is updated.
What Happens If I Don’t Pay for M-Flow?
If you don’t pay for M-Flow within 7 days, the penalty is very high. You will need to pay 10 times the amount of the tollway fee plus a 200 baht fee.
So, always pay on time.
FAQ
Can foreigners get an Easy Pass in Thailand?
Yes. Bring your passport to an expressway office at a toll plaza and pay THB300 for the sign-up and first top-up.
Where can I use an Easy Pass?
On all EXAT expressways in and around Bangkok, on motorways 7 and 9, and on the Don Muang Tollway.
What is the difference between Easy Pass and M-Flow?
Easy Pass reads a tag in your car at a lane with a barrier. M-Flow uses cameras to read your number plate at full speed. To pay M-Flow tolls from your Easy Pass, upgrade it to Easy Pass Plus.
How much should I keep on my Easy Pass?
EXAT recommends never letting the balance fall below THB200, so you have enough for longer trips across several toll roads.
Who do I call if my Easy Pass has a problem?
The EXAT Call Center on 1543, which is open 24 hours a day.
Sources Cited
- EXAT: Easy Pass sign-up and minimum top-up THB300: THB300 since 16 June 2020, down from THB500.
- EXAT: Where Easy Pass can be used: expressways, motorways 7 and 9, Don Muang Tollway.
- EXAT: Easy Pass, M-Pass and M-Flow: how the three systems differ and the Easy Pass Plus upgrade.
- EXAT: Keep at least THB200 on your Easy Pass: minimum balance advice.
- Government Public Relations Department: motorway 81 tolls from 16 January 2026.
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