Southeast Asia Information Harbor (www.dnyxxg.com) reports that Thailand will officially implement a new "Automobile Excise Tax" policy starting January 1, 2026. The core logic of this tax adjustment is to shift the focus from solely considering engine displacement to placing greater emphasis on carbon dioxide emissions and the driving range of electric vehicles, clearly indicating a policy direction aimed at supporting the development of clean energy vehicles.
According to the new regulations, the market price of internal combustion engine or gasoline vehicles purchased after January 1, 2026, will increase to varying degrees, with particularly significant increases for large-displacement, high-polluting models. Specifically, for vehicles with engine displacement of no more than 3.0 liters and CO2 emissions of no more than 100 grams per kilometer, the tax rate has increased from 12% to 13%, resulting in a price increase of 5,000-6,000 baht. For high-polluting vehicles like luxury supercars with engine displacements exceeding 3,000cc, the tax rate has increased significantly from approximately 40% to 50%, ultimately leading to a price increase of hundreds of thousands or even 2-3 million baht.
In stark contrast to the tax increase on gasoline-powered vehicles, clean energy vehicles are benefiting from tax breaks. The tax rate for hybrid eco-cars has decreased from 12% to 6%, resulting in a price reduction; the tax rate for pure electric vehicles has decreased significantly from 8% to 2%, further highlighting their cost advantage; only the tax rate for electric pickup trucks has been adjusted, increasing from 0% to 2%.
It's worth noting that owners of existing vehicles or those registered before January 1, 2026, will not need to pay additional taxes and will continue to be subject to the original registration standards. However, the new tax rate will have a ripple effect on the used car market: as market consumption shifts towards clean energy vehicles that comply with the new tax system, the phasing out of high-polluting fuel vehicles may accelerate, potentially putting downward pressure on their used car prices.
For information on the specific tax rates under the new tax system, or to renew tax online, the public can use the Land Transport Department's official online service platform (e-Service) or download the DLT Vehicle Tax app.
