Lost Your Vehicle Tax Sticker in Thailand? How to Replace It and Whether You Need a Police Report

If your vehicle tax sticker is lost, you can request a replacement at a Department of Land Transport (DLT) office for a total fee of 25 baht. Apply as soon as you notice, ideally within 15 days. A police report is not always required: if you do not have a copy of the police daily record, the registrar can record your statement instead. This guide covers the steps, documents, and fees, including cases involving financed vehicles and used vehicles listed on Talata.

What Is the Vehicle Tax Sticker, and How Does It Differ From Compulsory Insurance?

The sticker commonly called pai wong klom is the annual vehicle tax sticker. Its official Thai name is “เครื่องหมายแสดงการเสียภาษี,” or the mark showing that vehicle tax has been paid. “Round sticker” is simply the popular name people use for it.

The tax sticker differs from compulsory motor insurance, commonly called Por Ror Bor, and from the vehicle’s registration plates. The DLT groups replacement requests for these items on the same service page, but they are separate items. If your plates are missing too, see our guide to a lost licence plate.

Do You Need to File a Police Report if Your Tax Sticker Is Lost?

A police report is not required in every case. The DLT service page lists a copy of the police daily record as supporting evidence. If you do not have one, the registrar can record your statement instead.

You can therefore go to the transport office to give a statement if you have not visited a police station. If you have already reported the loss, bring a copy of the police daily record.

Documents Needed to Replace a Lost Vehicle Tax Sticker

The DLT public service guide for private vehicles lists the following documents:

• The vehicle registration book, unless that book has also been lost
• A copy of the police daily record, or a statement recorded with the registrar if you do not have one
• The original sticker if you are replacing one that is damaged or illegible
• Proof of identity, such as a copy of an ID card or a corporate registration certificate

Bring your original ID card to show the officer as well. If the registration book is also lost, replace it at the same time; see our guide to a lost vehicle registration book.

If the Vehicle Owner Applies in Person

Bring the registration book, your original ID card and a copy, and a copy of the police daily record. If you do not have the police record, ask the officer about giving a statement to the registrar.

If Someone Applies on the Owner’s Behalf

The representative needs a power of attorney, copies of both the owner’s and the representative’s ID cards, and should bring their original ID card for identification. Ask the transport office about any stamp duty required for the power of attorney before you apply.

If the Vehicle Is Owned by a Company

Use a copy of the company registration certificate instead of an individual’s ID card copy. A representative also needs a power of attorney if an authorized director is not applying in person.

Where to Request a Replacement Tax Sticker: Step by Step

Apply at a DLT office. Before you go, check that the vehicle has no overdue tax and is not subject to a registration hold, which are conditions in the DLT public service guide. The main process has four steps:

1. Submit the application and supporting documents.
2. Pay the fee. The guide says payment must be made by 3:30 p.m.
3. Have the registrar update the vehicle registration record.
4. Receive the replacement tax sticker.

Allow time for queues. For more detail, see the public service guide for replacing a registration book or tax sticker (in Thai).

How Soon Should You Apply?

Apply as soon as possible, ideally within 15 days of learning that the sticker has been lost, damaged, or made illegible. The 15 day rule appears in the DLT guide for vehicles registered under the Land Transport Act; the guide for private vehicles does not state a deadline. Until you have a replacement, the vehicle has no tax sticker on display, so applying within 15 days is the safest approach.

Can You Apply in a Different Province?

Yes. According to Government Public Relations Department news of 18 February 2025, owners of four types of private vehicle (private cars seating up to 7, private cars seating more than 7, private trucks and private motorcycles) may request a replacement for a lost or damaged tax sticker or registration plate at a transport office anywhere in Thailand. You must collect the replacement from the same office where you applied. The DLT hotline, 1584, is open 24 hours.

Replacement Vehicle Tax Sticker Fees

The application fee is 5 baht and the replacement tax sticker costs 20 baht, for a total of 25 baht.

If a registration plate is also lost, its fee is separate: 100 baht per plate, and the plate must be collected within one year of applying.

What Happens if You Apply Late or Drive Without Displaying the Sticker?

These are two separate issues. Driving without displaying the tax sticker carries a fine of up to 2,000 baht under the traffic police fine schedule. For late applications, the DLT guide for Land Transport Act vehicles says a fine applies after 15 days; for a private vehicle, ask the office where you apply whether any fine is added.

A missing sticker does not necessarily mean that vehicle tax is overdue. If the tax is still valid, you can apply to replace the missing sticker.

Can You Drive to the Transport Office Without the Sticker?

You may be stopped on the way because the sticker is missing, so apply promptly and carry the registration book or a copy. If you are unsure what to carry, call the DLT hotline on 1584 or the office you plan to visit.

What if the Vehicle Is Financed?

If the finance company holds the registration book, contact it first to obtain the documents needed for the application. Then apply at a DLT office. The DLT service page lists the registration book, except where it has been lost, and proof of identity for the owner or possessor, as applicable.

With a financed vehicle, the finance company is often listed as the owner and the person making payments as the possessor. Ask the finance company whether it needs to provide any additional letter or document, as procedures may vary.

Is the Process the Same for a Motorcycle?

The main process is the same. The February 2025 announcement covers privately owned motorcycles as well: prepare the registration book (the green book), proof of identity, and either a copy of the police daily record or a statement recorded with the registrar. The fees are the same 5 baht and 20 baht.

For annual tax renewal after receiving a replacement sticker, see our guide to motorcycle tax renewal.

What Should Buyers and Sellers Check if a Used Vehicle Has No Tax Sticker?

Do not assume that a used vehicle’s tax is overdue simply because its sticker is missing. Check its tax status through the DLT’s annual vehicle tax inquiry system and compare the details with the registration book. If the tax is valid and only the sticker is missing, ask the transport office which documents the seller or the buyer after transfer needs to request a replacement.

Sellers should prepare the registration book and a valid tax sticker before a viewing. Buyers should check the documents and tax status before transferring ownership. If you are looking for a vehicle or want to list one, you can browse used cars and used motorcycles on Talata.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Get a New Sticker if You Lose the Old One?

Yes. Apply for a replacement at a DLT office as soon as possible, ideally within 15 days of discovering the loss. Bring the registration book, proof of identity, and a copy of the police daily record, or give a statement to the registrar.

Do You Need to File a Police Report if the Tax Sticker Is Lost?

Not in every case. If you do not have a copy of the police daily record, the registrar can record your statement at the transport office instead.

What Is the Fine for a Missing Tax Sticker?

Driving without displaying the tax sticker carries a fine of up to 2,000 baht. The replacement itself costs 25 baht.

Can Someone Else Request the Replacement for You?

Yes. The representative needs a power of attorney, copies of both ID cards, and should bring their original ID card for identification.

Can You Replace a Damaged or Illegible Sticker?

Yes. The replacement service covers lost, damaged, and illegible stickers. Bring the original sticker if it is damaged.

How Do the Tax Sticker, Compulsory Insurance, and Registration Plates Differ?

The tax sticker shows that annual vehicle tax has been paid. Por Ror Bor is compulsory motor insurance. Registration plates display the vehicle’s registration number. They are separate items.

Can You Request a Replacement in Another Province?

Yes, for the four types of private vehicle covered by the February 2025 announcement: private cars, private vans seating more than 7, private trucks and private motorcycles. You can apply at any transport office, but must collect the replacement from the same office where you applied.

Can You Renew Vehicle Tax While the Sticker Is Lost?

Yes. When you pay the next annual tax, you receive a new sticker for the following year anyway. The DLT conditions for paying tax online do not require the old sticker, and you can pay up to 90 days before the due date. If renewal is close, renewing may be simpler than requesting a separate replacement.

Can You Request a Replacement After Buying a Used Vehicle Without a Sticker?

Check the vehicle’s tax status first. Then ask the transport office which documents the current owner or possessor needs to request a replacement.

Must You Replace a Lost Sticker Before Selling the Vehicle?

Tell the buyer honestly and arrange a replacement before a viewing. Check the tax status and have the registration book ready.