Parking in Phuket: What Does Each Kerb Colour Mean?
Parking in Phuket is set by the kerb colour: at red-and-white you may neither stop nor park, at yellow-and-white you may only stop briefly, and at a kerb without coloured markings you may park unless a sign says otherwise. A violation costs 500–1,000 baht, and in tourist zones the car may be towed.
In short
- Red-and-white kerb: no stopping and no parking. Yellow-and-white: a brief stop only.
- At a kerb without coloured markings you may park unless a sign says otherwise.
- A parking fine is 500–1,000 baht; towing plus the fine comes to up to 5,000 baht.
- Parking is tight in Patong and central Phuket Town; elsewhere it is almost always free and easy.
Why do you read the kerb rather than the sign in Phuket?
Parking signs in Phuket are often in Thai only, so the main guide is the paint on the kerb. The colour works as a sign: it tells you whether you may stop and whether you may leave the car.
Locals follow the rules more loosely than in Europe and sometimes stop briefly on yellow markings. As a tourist, follow the rules to the letter: tourist zones have more patrols, and a rental car with a company sticker catches an inspector's eye more often.
More: Thailand's Traffic Rules. Next on this topic: Petrol Prices in Thailand in 2026: Cost per Litre. Short version in the driver guide: Thai road rules.
Speed limits, fines and what to do after an accident, for tourists, are collected in one section.
Thailand's Traffic RulesWhat does each kerb colour mean?
A red-and-white kerb bans both stopping and parking, even for a minute. Yellow-and-white allows a brief stop to drop off a passenger or unload shopping, but you may not leave the car. At a grey, white or unpainted kerb parking is allowed unless there is a separate no-parking sign.
| Kerb | Stopping | Parking | If you break the rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-and-white | Not allowed | Not allowed | Fine of 500–1,000 baht, towing in busy spots |
| Yellow-and-white | Allowed, to drop off or pick up | Not allowed | Fine of 500–1,000 baht |
| Grey, white or unpainted | Allowed | Allowed unless signed | No violation |
Where is parking tight in Phuket, and where is it easy?
Patong is the hardest: narrow streets, heavy traffic, and in high season a free spot takes some finding. Use the municipal car parks along Beach Road and the covered Jungceylon garage. Central Phuket Town is also busy in working hours, especially near the markets and in Old Town; there people park along Thalang, Dibuk and Yaowarat roads and in the municipal car parks.
In Rawai, Chalong, Kata, Karon and the north near the airport, parking is almost always free and easy: beaches, hypermarkets and venues have their own car parks. In high season the covered car parks at shopping centres are convenient. Do not leave belongings in view: windows are rarely broken, but a bag on the seat invites it.
- Patong: municipal car parks on Beach Road, the Jungceylon garage
- Phuket Town: Thalang, Dibuk, Yaowarat and municipal car parks
- Everywhere else: free and easy almost everywhere
How much is a fine, and when do cars get towed?
A fine for parking where it is banned is 500–1,000 baht; if the driver is not there, the ticket is left under the wiper. Cars are towed in tourist zones for clear violations: blocking the road or standing on red-and-white markings in a busy spot. This happens most in Old Town, on Bangla Road, and around Central Festival and Jungceylon. Towing plus the fine comes to up to 5,000 baht, and the car goes to the impound lot in Kathu.
- Fine: 500–1,000 baht, ticket under the wiper
- Towing plus fine: up to 5,000 baht and time to find the car
- Impound lot: in Kathu
Who pays a parking fine in a rental car?
Fines during the rental are paid by the renter, and so are towing and impound costs when the violation is the driver's. If you find a ticket under the wiper, message MonkeyCar support on Telegram or WhatsApp: they will tell you where and how to pay and translate the Thai text. If a fine arrives after you return the car but relates to your rental period, you will be contacted via the details in the contract.
If the car has been towed, message or call the manager on the number in your contract straight away: they will find out where it was taken and explain how to get it back. Other fines for tourists are listed in the traffic fines section.
- Fines and towing caused by the driver are paid by the renter
- Ticket under the wiper: support tells you how to pay
- Car towed: the manager finds out where it was taken
Frequently asked questions
Can I park on the beach?
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Are foreigners fined more strictly than locals?
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What if a scooter is parked across the marked spot?
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Are there paid car parks in Phuket?
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Can I leave my documents in the parked car?
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More on this topic: Driving in Phuket
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