Every vehicle in Thailand needs its annual tax renewed, but few people know where the figure on the receipt comes from. Here are the rates in the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 as amended, the older-car discount, and what happens if you pay late.
In short
- Cars up to 7 seats are taxed by engine size (cc).
- Pickups, vans and electric cars are taxed by the weight on the registration book.
- Motorcycles pay 100 baht.
- Cars up to 7 seats registered for 5 years get a discount from year 6, up to 50%.
- Work it out with the annual car tax calculator.
Cars up to 7 seats (รย.1)
The Act sets rates by engine size:
| Engine size | Rate |
|---|---|
| First 600 cc | 0.50 baht per cc |
| 601–1,800 cc | 1.50 baht per cc |
| Over 1,800 cc | 4.00 baht per cc |
Cars owned by a company (and not on hire purchase to an individual) pay double.
Examples (from the rates above)
| Car | Working | Tax per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1,200 cc | 600 × 0.50 + 600 × 1.50 | 1,200 baht |
| 1,500 cc | 600 × 0.50 + 900 × 1.50 | 1,650 baht |
| 1,800 cc | 600 × 0.50 + 1,200 × 1.50 | 2,100 baht |
| 2,000 cc | 300 + 1,800 + 200 × 4.00 | 2,900 baht |
| 2,400 cc | 300 + 1,800 + 600 × 4.00 | 4,500 baht |
Every cc above 1,800 costs 4 baht, so tax climbs quickly for bigger engines.
Older-car discount
Section 29 of the Act gives cars up to 7 seats registered for five years since first registration a discount:
| Year | Off | A 1,500 cc car pays |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | – | 1,650 baht |
| 6 | 10% | 1,485 baht |
| 7 | 20% | 1,320 baht |
| 8 | 30% | 1,155 baht |
| 9 | 40% | 990 baht |
| 10 and later | 50% | 825 baht |
It applies only to cars up to 7 seats, not pickups, vans or motorcycles.
Pickups, vans and electric cars: by weight
Weight means the vehicle with its normal fitted equipment, without fuel, water or tools, as on the registration book.
| Weight (kg) | Pickup / private truck (รย.3) | Van over 7 seats (รย.2) and electric car |
|---|---|---|
| 1,001–1,250 | 750 | 800 |
| 1,251–1,500 | 900 | 1,000 |
| 1,501–1,750 | 1,050 | 1,300 |
| 1,751–2,000 | 1,350 | 1,600 |
| 2,001–2,500 | 1,650 | 1,900 |
| 2,501–3,000 | 1,950 | 2,200 |
Every weight band is in the annual car tax calculator.
Electric cars: the Act taxes electric cars up to 7 seats by weight at the rate for cars over 7 seats. The 2022 royal decree cut this by 80% for new EVs registered within three years of 9 November 2022, for one year from registration. On 30 September 2026 we found no newer decree in force.
Motorcycles
Private motorcycles pay 100 baht whatever their size.
Paying late
- Section 32 adds 1% of the tax per month, a part month counting as a month. A 1,500 cc car three months late pays 49.50 baht extra.
- The Department of Land Transport says vehicles more than a year overdue must pass a private inspection (ตรอ.) first.
- After 3 years unpaid in a row, the registration is cancelled.
Renewing early: the Department says you can pay up to 90 days before the due date.
A caution
One Department of Land Transport fee page prints the first-600-cc rate as 0.05 baht, which doesn’t match the Act’s 0.50 (the Department’s separate vehicle-tax rate page has it right). Our article and calculator follow the Act.
Note
This article is based on the consolidated Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 from the Office of the Council of State, the 2022 EV royal decree and Department of Land Transport pages, read on 30 September 2026. Examples are calculated from the Act’s rates; the Department’s notice or system shows the actual amount due.
