How to Renew Your Car Tax in Thailand: Documents, Costs, and Renewal Options (2026)

Renewing your car or motorbike registration in Thailand is a quick annual process. This guide covers the steps, documents, and costs involved.

If you own a car or motorbike in Thailand, you have to renew the registration and pay for car tax every year. 

Fortunately, the process is quick and fairly inexpensive.

By the end of the guide, you’ll know exactly what steps to take and which documents you need to register and pay for your car’s tax. 

Note that we use the word car throughout this guide, but this process applies to trucks, vans, and other private vehicles.

Steps to Renewing Your Car Registration

To renew your vehicle registration in Thailand, you must:

• Buy compulsory insurance
• Pass car inspection (if your car is older than 7 years old)
• Pass gas system inspection (CNG- or LPG-equipped cars only) 

Once these requirements are satisfied, you can then pay the car tax and receive your new annual registration sticker.

That said, let’s look at each step more closely. 

Buy Compulsory Insurance

The first step is to buy compulsory insurance, commonly known as Por Ror Bor. 

Here are the places where you can buy it:

• You can buy Por Ror Bor at the same time you buy your car insurance.
• You can contact any car insurance company or insurance broker directly to purchase it. They all offer the same plan for Por Ror Bor.
• You can buy it at inspection stations (more details on these inspection stations will be provided later).

Compulsory insurance typically costs around THB650 per year, but it only offers minimal coverage. 

Generally, we do not recommend relying solely on Por Ror Bor. If you drive in Thailand, it is always a good idea to buy private car insurance.

Read more: Car Insurance in Thailand: A Complete Buying Guide

Pass Inspection

Your vehicle must pass inspection, or what’s called Tor Ror Or in Thailand if:

• your car is more than seven years old or 
• your motorbike is more than five years old

The inspector will check the weight of your car, the lights, and emissions, along with other things to make sure the vehicle is road worthy.

This part of the process usually takes around 10 minutes and costs THB200 to THB300. You can do it at any inspection stations with Tor Ror Or sign in front of their offices.

Pass CNG and LPG System Inspection 

If a CNG or LPG system has been installed in the car, it needs to be inspected every five years by a certified engineer who installs these systems. You can do it at any garage that can install a CNG or LPG system. It’s going to cost you around THB1,000 to THB1,500.

If you don’t have it inspected every five years, you won’t be able to re-register your car. 

Also, CNG and LPG tanks need to be replaced every 10 years.

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Pay Annual Taxes

If your car passes inspection, the last step is to pay the annual tax for your car. 

There are two ways to do this.

Offline

You can pay annual taxes at the Department of Land Transport or at any certified inspection center that has the Tor Ror Or sign. 

When you get your car inspected and pay for taxes at a certified inspection center, you have to wait usually a few days to pick up your registration sticker, or Por Ror Bor. 

Then you have to apply that sticker to the upper left area of the inside of your front window. 

If you go to the Department of Land Transport, you’ll get the registration sticker on that day. 

Online

Alternatively, you can pay your annual car tax online by uploading all your paperwork to the Department of Land Transport (DLT) website. You’ll be asked to make a mobile payment. Then, the registration sticker will be mailed to you within a week. 

However, this option is only available to those who have a Thai ID card. You need the card to create an account on the DLT’s website.

Required Documents

Here’s a list of documents you need to renew your car registration in Thailand. 

• car blue book 
• compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor)
• inspection certificate (Tor Ror Or) if your car is older than seven years
• LPG or CNG gas system certificate 

Tip: You can buy Por Ror Bor for around THB650 per year. To make it easy to remember, just buy it together when you buy your private car insurance.

How Much Does it Cost to Register Your Car Every Year? 

Tax is calculated by car cylinder capacity or CC and car age using the formula below:

• first 600 cc: THB0.5 per CC
• 601-1800 cc: THB1.5 per CC
• 1801+: THB4 per CC

If the car is more than five years old you can take a tax deduction:

• year 6: 10 percent
• year 7: 20 percent
• year 8: 30 percent
• year 9: 40 percent
• year 10+: 50 percent

Here’s how to calculate your estimated car tax amount. 

For example, if you have an 11-year-old, 2,000 CC car, you should calculate ((600 x 0.5) + (1,200 x 1.5) + (200 x 4)). Then reduce that amount by 50 percent because the car is older than 10 years. 

The total would be (300+1800+800) – 50 percent = THB1,450.

A 3-year-old, 1,500 CC car would be (600 x 0.5) + (900 x 1.5) = THB1,650. 

Then, there’s the other fees as follows:

• Por Ror Bor: THB650
• mail delivery (online process): THB40
• Tor Ror Or fee (if you use a Tor Ror Or inspection station): THB100 to THB200
• inspection (if necessary): THB200 to THB300

These calculated fees are for a private car with less than seven seats. 

If your car has more than seven seats (a van) or it’s a public car, rates will be calculated differently. 

Important: If your car has more than 7 seats, car tax is calculated based on weight instead.

Where Should You Get it Done? 

You can get your Tor Ror Or certificate at the DLT or a certified inspection station with a Tor Ror Or sign. 

In our experience, if you can’t register your car and pay the taxes online, you should get it done at a certified inspection station with a Tor Ror Or sign. 

These are located in almost every neighborhood. 

All you need to do is bring your car’s blue book and they will handle all the other documents for you. The whole process should take less than 15 minutes if there’s not a long queue of cars. 

We don’t recommend going to the DLT unless you live nearby because queues tend to be long. In fact, you might spend half a day there. 

Other Ways to Renew: Drive Thru, Shop Thru, and Online Payment Options

The DLT counter and a certified Tor Ror Or inspection station cover most people, but the DLT runs a few other official channels if neither fits your schedule.

• Drive Thru for Tax (เลื่อนล้อต่อภาษี): pay from inside your car at selected DLT offices, no need to park or queue at a counter. You still need your blue book, valid Por Ror Bor, and inspection certificate if your vehicle needs one.
• Shop Thru for Tax: the DLT sets up payment counters inside partner department stores on Saturdays and Sundays, useful since DLT offices themselves are closed on weekends. Availability varies by mall, so check with your nearest participating location first.
• DLT e-Service website (eservice.dlt.go.th): pay by transferring from a bank account through internet banking, by Visa or Mastercard through a participating bank, or by scanning a QR code in your banking app. You can also print a payment slip and pay it at a bank counter or ATM before the deadline shown.
• DLT Vehicle Tax mobile app: the DLT’s own app mirrors the website’s online payment options from your phone.

Renewing Without a Thai ID Card

Both the website and the app need a Thai ID card to register an account, so most foreign residents renew in person instead. The DLT counter, a certified inspection station, Drive Thru, and Shop Thru all just need your blue book and the required paperwork, not a Thai ID.

Online payment also excludes a few vehicle types. Cars and trucks that run solely on natural gas can’t renew online, and vehicles heavier than 2,200 kilograms need DLT approval before the system will process them.

Channel	Works Without a Thai ID	Notes
DLT office	Yes	Sticker same day, but queues can be long
Certified inspection station (Tor Ror Or)	Yes	Fastest in-person option, around 15 minutes; sticker follows a few days later
Drive Thru for Tax	Yes	Pay without leaving your car, at selected DLT offices only
Shop Thru for Tax	Yes	Weekend only, at partner malls
Online (eservice.dlt.go.th or the app)	No, Thai ID required	DLT states 5 to 10 business days for the sticker to arrive by post

Electric Vehicles Are Taxed Differently

The CC-based formula further up this guide only applies to vehicles with a combustion engine. An EV has no cylinder capacity, so the DLT calculates its annual tax by weight instead. If you own a BEV, check the figure with the DLT or your dealer rather than using the CC formula above, since it doesn’t apply to your vehicle.

When Do I Need to Register My Car and Pay Tax?

You can register your car and pay the tax at least 90 days before your current registration sticker expires. To find out when you have to visit next, check the due date from your current registration sticker. 

What Happens If I Don’t Register My Car or Pay the Tax?

If you don’t have an up-to-date registration sticker and you’re stopped by the police, you will be fined up to THB2,000 per offense. 

On top of that, if your car tax has expired for more than three years, you have to re-register your car’s license plate with the DLT. 

The Overdue Tax Timeline: Surcharges, Re-Inspection, and Cancellation

Beyond the fine for driving with an expired sticker, letting your tax lapse changes what you need to do to fix it. The DLT adds a surcharge to what you owe for every month it stays unpaid, on top of the annual tax itself, so it’s cheaper to renew inside the 90-day window than to let it slide.

If your tax has been overdue for more than a year, you’ll need to pass inspection at a private Tor Ror Or station before you can pay again, even if your vehicle is younger than the usual seven-year (car) or five-year (motorbike) threshold. This applies through every payment channel, not just the DLT counter.

Overdue Period	What Happens
Stopped by police with an expired sticker	Fine of up to THB2,000 per offense
More than 1 year unpaid	Vehicle must pass a Tor Ror Or inspection before you can renew, regardless of its age
More than 3 years unpaid	Registration is suspended; you must return your plates to the DLT and re-register the vehicle

Paying Motorcycle Tax in Thailand 

If you have a motorcycle, you need to register it and pay tax on it every year. The process is exactly the same as if you owned a car. However, the cost of the Por Ror Bor and tax is much lower. It is also worth considering private motorbike insurance on top of the compulsory cover.

The Por Ror Bor should be around THB430, while the motorcycle tax is only THB100 per year. 

Note that if your motorcycle is older than five years, an inspection is required. 

Now, on to You

If you have a car in Thailand, don’t forget to renew the registration and pay the tax on it every year. It’s quick, easy, and affordable. 

If you have any questions or want to share your experience, please feel free to do so in the comment section below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check when my car tax expires?

Check the due date printed on your current registration sticker, on the upper left of your front windscreen. You can renew any time in the 90 days before that date.

Can foreigners renew car tax in Thailand?

Yes. The in-person options (the DLT counter, a certified inspection station, Drive Thru, and Shop Thru) just need your blue book and paperwork, no Thai ID card required. Only the online website and app need a Thai ID to register an account.

Is renewing car tax the same as renewing my driving license?

No, they’re separate processes with separate paperwork. Car tax renews the vehicle’s registration and pays its annual tax. Your Thai driving license is a personal document that runs on its own renewal cycle, and neither one substitutes for the other. See our guide on driving in Thailand for how the two fit together.

Do I need Thai car insurance before I can renew my tax?

You need Por Ror Bor, the compulsory insurance, before the DLT will renew your registration. It’s separate from private car insurance, which isn’t required by law but is worth having on top of it.

Can I renew my car tax at any DLT office, or only where the car is registered?

In practice, you can renew at a DLT office or certified inspection station anywhere in Thailand, not only in the province where the car is registered. If you’re near a provincial border or moved cities since you last renewed, this saves a trip back.

How long does it take to get the tax sticker?

Same day at the DLT counter. A few days if you use a certified inspection station. If you renew online, the DLT states 5 to 10 business days for the sticker to arrive by post.

What happens if my car’s annual tax has been overdue for more than a year?

You’ll need to pass a Tor Ror Or inspection before you can pay again, even if your car or motorbike is younger than the usual age threshold. Past three years overdue, the registration itself is suspended and you have to return your plates and re-register.