In This Article
Parking Rules and Regulations
Start with the curb. Red-and-white stripes mean no stopping and no parking at any time, for any vehicle; even pulling in for a moment to let someone out counts as an offence, engine running or not. Yellow-and-white stripes mean no parking, but you may stop briefly to drop off or pick up passengers or load goods, as long as you leave straight away. Black-and-white stripes generally mean you can park along the curb, unless a sign says otherwise. Then check the distances. Section 57 of the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 bans parking on footpaths, on bridges and in tunnels, and within these distances: 10 metres of a junction, 10 metres of a traffic signal, 3 metres of a pedestrian crossing, 3 metres of a fire hydrant, 3 metres of a post box, 5 metres of a vehicle entrance, 15 metres of a railway crossing, and 15 metres before a bus-stop sign. It also bans double parking and parking anywhere you block traffic. Double parking is common in condo and mall car parks where spaces run out, but on a public road it is an offence. In a car park, the custom is to leave the car in neutral with the wheels straight so the owner of the car you've blocked can push yours out of the way.
No-Parking Signs and Odd/Even Days in Thailand
The standard no-parking sign is a blue circle with a red border and a single red diagonal line. It means no parking, though you can still stop briefly to drop off or pick up people or goods. The version with a red X across the blue circle is stricter: no stopping at all, not even for a drop-off. Treat it as you would a red-and-white curb. The written word for no parking, often on the plate, is ห้ามจอด. Many signs carry a plate underneath that limits the ban to certain days or hours, and this is where foreigners get caught. Common examples: no parking on odd-numbered dates from 06:00 to 20:00; no parking on odd dates all day and on even dates from 06:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 22:00; no parking on even dates on this side and on odd dates on the opposite side, 06:00 to 18:00; no parking every day from 05:00 to 22:00 except official holidays; and bans that apply only to vehicles with six or more wheels. An odd date is any date ending in an odd number (the 1st, 3rd, 25th), so the side you may park on can change at midnight. If the plate is only in Thai, photograph it and run it through a translation app before you leave the car.
Parking Costs by Location
Most Bangkok shopping malls give you free parking for a set time if you get your ticket stamped with a purchase receipt, then charge by the hour; the free period and the hourly rate differ from mall to mall, so read the board at the barrier. Hotel parking ranges from free to a nightly charge at city-centre hotels, so ask when you book. Outside Bangkok, in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket, finding a space is usually easier and mall parking is often free. At Suvarnabhumi Airport, the official AOT rates are 25 THB per hour, capped at 250 THB a day, in the car parks in front of the passenger terminal, and 20 THB per hour, capped at 140 THB a day, in the long-term car park at the Public Transportation Center. Part hours count as a full hour, and dropping off or picking up for 15 minutes or less is free.
Clamping, Towing and Fines
Parking where the Land Traffic Act forbids it is a fine-only offence, and the amount is set by the officer. Sources disagree on the ceiling: older summaries of the Act give a maximum of 500 THB, while KTC's 2024 guide puts it at up to 2,000 THB. Police can clamp illegally parked cars in zones announced in the Royal Gazette under the Royal Thai Police's 2021 regulation on moving and clamping vehicles. New zones are still being added; in August 2026, Bangkok added a clamping zone on Siriphong and Unakan roads. If your car is clamped, take the ticket (ใบสั่ง) left on the car to the police station named on it, pay the fine, and an officer will come and remove the clamp. Do not try to take it off yourself: KTC puts the penalty for that at up to 5,000 THB or three months in jail. A car that badly blocks traffic can be towed to the police station, and you pay the towing cost on top of the fine. If your car has gone and you don't know whether it was towed, call the police on 191. A paper ticket under the wiper is a fine to pay at the police station shown on it, within the deadline printed on the ticket.
Practical Parking Tips
In central Bangkok, the least stressful option is to park at a mall next to a BTS or MRT station and take the train the rest of the way. On streets with parking attendants, official or not, they will wave you into a space and keep an eye on the car; a small tip when you leave is normal. Fold your mirrors in when you park in a tight spot. Don't leave anything valuable in sight, even in a mall car park. Motorcycles have their own parking areas at most buildings, usually at the front or side, and many are free. If you drive a tall SUV or a pickup with a roof rack, check the height limit sign before entering older multi-storey car parks.
Make sure you are properly licensed
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