How to Renew Motorcycle Tax in Thailand: The Complete 2026 Guide

Renewing the annual tax on a motorcycle in Thailand is fast and cheap. The tax itself costs 100 baht a year for a private bike, and you can pay it online through the Department of Land Transport (DLT), at a transport office, the post office, or a 7-Eleven. You'll need the registration book, valid compulsory insurance, and an inspection certificate if the bike is more than five years old.

This guide covers the documents, the real total cost, the online steps, and what to do if your tax has already lapsed. If you're shopping for or selling a used motorcycle on Talata, where listings from many sellers sit side by side for easy comparison, sorting out the tax early also saves trouble before you ride or transfer the bike.

What motorcycle tax is, and how it differs from CMI

Motorcycle tax is an annual fee you pay to the Department of Land Transport. In return you get a tax disc, the small square sticker fixed to the bike that shows the tax is paid and the motorcycle is road-legal for the year.

Motorcycle tax vs compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor)

These two get mixed up often, yet they're separate things you renew together each year. Compulsory motor insurance, known locally as Por Ror Bor (พ.ร.บ.), covers people: it pays medical costs and compensation after an accident. Tax is a government fee that goes toward roads and transport. The order matters. You need valid CMI in place first, because the system won't let you pay tax without it. For the full process on the insurance side, see renewing CMI for a motorcycle.

Why you renew every year

The tax disc has an expiry date. Ride past it and you're breaking the law and risking a fine. Leave it longer and the penalty keeps stacking up, and once the tax is more than three years overdue the registration is suspended and you're into a far messier re-registration process. Paying once a year, on time, is the cheap path.

Documents you need to renew motorcycle tax

There isn't much to gather. Have these ready before you go, or before you start the online form, so you don't get turned away.

• The vehicle registration book (the "green book"), original or a copy
• A valid Por Ror Bor (CMI) certificate that hasn't expired
• An inspection certificate from a Tor Ror Or (ตรอ.) station, for bikes over five years old only

If your bike is under five years old, skip the inspection certificate. You're left with the registration book and the CMI.

How much does motorcycle tax cost in Thailand

The tax is charged per bike, not by engine size the way car tax works. A small 110cc commuter and a 1,000cc big bike pay the same.

• Private motorcycle: 100 baht per bike
• Public motorcycle: 100 baht per bike
• Private motorcycle with sidecar: an extra 50 baht

The real total: tax plus CMI plus inspection

The 100 baht is only the tax. What you actually hand over includes CMI and, for older bikes, the inspection fee. CMI for a private motorcycle is priced by engine size: 161.57 baht for bikes up to 75cc, 323.14 baht for 75–125cc (where most everyday bikes fall), 430.14 baht for 125–150cc, and 645.21 baht above 150cc. Add the 100 baht tax, plus 60 baht for inspection if the bike is over five years. A typical under-five-year bike comes to roughly 420 baht; an older one closer to 480 baht.

Which motorcycles need an inspection first

A motorcycle registered more than five years ago has to pass an inspection at a private inspection station (Tor Ror Or) before each tax renewal. The fee is 60 baht. Age counts from the registration date in the book, not the model or manufacture year.

People often trip over the "seven years" figure they've seen online. That rule is for cars. Motorcycles use the five-year mark. If your bike has crossed it and hasn't been inspected, you can't renew the tax until you have the inspection certificate.

How to renew motorcycle tax online, step by step

Skip the trip and pay through the DLT website yourself.

1. Go to the DLT e-Service site at eservice.dlt.go.th
2. Register with your national ID (or passport number for foreign owners), or log in if you have an account
3. Choose the option to pay annual vehicle tax online
4. Enter the vehicle details, plate number, and your CMI information
5. Pick a payment method: bank transfer, credit card, or a service counter
6. Enter a delivery address, and the tax disc plus receipt are mailed to you

You'll get a temporary digital receipt to use straight away, and the physical tax disc follows by post within a couple of weeks.

Other online channels besides the DLT website

Several apps do the same job if you'd rather not use the website. The DLT Vehicle Tax app comes straight from the transport department, and you can also pay through mPAY, TrueMoney Wallet, or the Counter Service app. Each one finishes the payment on your phone and mails the disc to you.

Can bikes over five years renew online?

Yes, as long as the bike has passed its Tor Ror Or inspection first, since the system needs to see the inspection result before it lets you pay. If you're unsure, check your vehicle's status on the DLT site first and it will tell you whether you can pay online or need the inspection done. [VERIFY: 2026 DLT e-Service handling of over-5-year motorcycles]

Where you can renew motorcycle tax

If you'd rather pay in person, there are plenty of options.

• Transport offices nationwide
• Post offices (bikes that don't need inspection only)
• Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)
• Counter Service and 7-Eleven nationwide
• Drive Thru for Tax service points
• Self-service tax kiosks
• Malls in the "Shop Thru for Tax" program, in Bangkok and nearby provinces on weekends

Renewing at 7-Eleven and Counter Service: how much

Paying at 7-Eleven is genuinely possible, through the Counter Service desk in the store. There's a small service fee on top of the tax and CMI per transaction. [VERIFY: current Counter Service fee] The catch is that it only takes bikes that don't need inspection, meaning motorcycles five years old or newer. Older bikes have to be inspected and renewed at a transport office or another channel that supports it. For anyone who lives far from a transport office but has a 7-Eleven nearby, it's the easy choice.

How to check your tax due and any fines first

Before you pay, you can look up exactly what you owe, including any late penalty, so there's no guesswork. On eservice.dlt.go.th, set the vehicle type to motorcycle, choose the province where it's registered, then enter the plate number and the owner's ID number. The system shows the tax due plus any fine, and you can carry straight on to payment from the same screen.

What happens if your motorcycle tax lapses

Forgetting to renew isn't a disaster if you act quickly. The longer it sits, the worse it gets, and the fix depends on how many years have passed.

Lapsed under three years

You can still renew as normal, with a penalty of 1% of the tax per month. On a 100 baht tax that's about 1 baht a month, so two years overdue runs to roughly 24 baht. A bike over five years still needs its inspection first. Once you've paid the lot, you get the new disc on the spot.

Lapsed over three years: registration suspended

This one is heavier. Past three years, the registration is suspended. You have to return the old plate to the Department of Land Transport, apply to register the bike again, pay the back tax, buy fresh CMI, and cover extra registration fees. It's a longer process and costs several times more than a normal renewal.

The cheapest move is not letting it lapse at all. Watch the expiry date on the tax disc, and remember you can renew up to 90 days early to stay clear of penalties and any risk of suspension.

Why buy or sell a used motorcycle on Talata

Once you've renewed the tax and had the old bike inspected, some owners decide it's time for a change. If you're after a used motorcycle, Talata gathers listings from many sellers in one place, so you can filter by model, price, and area, compare several bikes at once, and contact the owner directly. Before you commit, check that the bike's tax and CMI haven't lapsed and that the name in the registration book matches the seller, so the transfer goes cleanly.

On the selling side, a bike with current tax and CMI tends to sell faster and transfer with less fuss, because the buyer can ride it away without chasing paperwork. Listing a used motorcycle for sale on Talata is free: add clear photos, fill in the details, set a fair price, and wait for interested buyers to reach out. Start whenever you're ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to renew motorcycle tax?

The registration book or a copy, a valid CMI (Por Ror Bor) certificate, and an inspection certificate from a Tor Ror Or station if the bike is over five years old. Under five years, the book and CMI are enough.

At what age does a motorcycle need an inspection before renewal?

Once it's more than five years old, counted from the registration date. It has to be inspected at a Tor Ror Or station first, for about 60 baht. Newer bikes can renew without one.

Can a motorcycle over five years old renew online?

Yes, once it has passed the Tor Ror Or inspection, after which you can pay through the DLT website as usual. Check your status on the site first and it will tell you whether you can pay online or need the inspection done.

How early can I renew?

Up to 90 days before the expiry date shown on the tax disc. Renewing early is the simplest way to avoid forgetting and getting hit with a penalty.

My tax lapsed two years ago. What's the penalty?

The penalty is 1% of the tax per month. On a 100 baht tax, two years works out to roughly 24 baht, plus the back tax owed, and an inspection first if the bike is over five years old.

I'm buying a used motorcycle. How do the tax and CMI transfer?

Whatever tax and CMI are left run with the bike, so as the buyer you should check neither has lapsed and note the expiry on the tax disc to plan the next renewal. The registration book is transferred at a transport office with documents from both buyer and seller.