Phuket police checkpoints check scooter riders’ licences and compliance with traffic rules, including helmet use. Have your motorcycle documents ready, wear a helmet and make sure your passenger wears one too. For today’s checkpoint information, check locally; do not treat an older online map as a current schedule.
Where are police checkpoints in Phuket?
Police conduct checks across Phuket, including roving checkpoints. Locations and operating times can change. Prepare for a check on any journey rather than relying on a list of particular roads or junctions.
When approaching a checkpoint, slow down, follow officers’ directions and stop where instructed. Stay calm and be polite. Keep your documents accessible, and wait until you have stopped safely before retrieving them.
What officers check and what to carry
Be ready to show your driving licence and International Driving Permit (IDP), where required. Officers also enforce helmet rules and other traffic laws. Before accepting a rental scooter, ask the shop to show you its registration, current tax sticker and compulsory insurance paperwork.
What to carry: Your home licence with a motorcycle category plus an International Driving Permit with the motorcycle (A) category, obtained in your home country before you travel. Holders of licences from ASEAN countries can generally ride without an IDP for a short stay – check the licence covers motorcycles and is in English or has a certified translation.
An IDP cannot add a vehicle category that your home licence does not cover. Check your entitlement before booking, using the guide to the motorcycle category on your IDP.
Helmet and motorcycle licence penalties
Helmet rules and maximum fines, as of 2026: Helmets are compulsory for the rider and the passenger (Land Traffic Act s.122). The fine can be up to THB 2,000, and it can double to up to THB 4,000 for a rider whose passenger is also without a helmet. Police stepped up helmet checks from 1 June 2025. Police said that from 1 April 2026 offenders would be fined rather than warned first.
Licence penalty, as of 2026: Riding a scooter without a licence that covers motorcycles (for example a car-only licence, or an IDP without the motorcycle category) counts as riding unlicensed. The legal maximum is a fine of THB 1,000 and/or one month in jail. Police said that from 1 April 2026 offenders would be fined rather than warned first.
Other road rules and insurance
Other penalties, as of 2026: Up to THB 4,000 for speeding, running a red light or using a phone without hands-free; up to THB 2,000 for riding against traffic; THB 5,000-20,000 and/or up to one year in jail for drink-driving or reckless driving.
Put your phone away before moving and arrange another way to travel if you will be drinking. Read the scooter safety checklist before setting off.
Every registered vehicle must carry compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor), which is the owner’s/rental shop’s obligation. It does not pay for damage to the rental bike and is not a substitute for travel insurance.
Check your travel policy’s motorcycle conditions before riding, including its licensing requirements and exclusions.
What to do if you receive a fine
Ask which offence applies and request an explanation if you do not understand. Fines can be paid at a police station. Ask for an official receipt for any fine paid, and keep it with your trip documents.
Before riding again, address the reason for the fine. If you lack the required motorcycle documents or a helmet, arrange another form of transport. See the guide to travelling around Phuket for options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are police checkpoints in Phuket today?
Check locally for current information. Police use checkpoints across Phuket, including roving checks, so do not rely on an older online map to show where officers will be today.
Is a car licence enough to ride a scooter in Phuket?
A car-only licence does not cover motorcycle riding. Check that your home licence and, where required, your IDP cover motorcycles before renting a scooter.
What should I do when paying a traffic fine?
Stay calm and be polite. Ask which offence applies. Fines can be paid at a police station, and you should ask for an official receipt for any fine paid.