How do traffic fines work in Nepal and how do I pay one?

ट्राफिक जरिवाना कति लाग्छ र कसरी तिर्ने?

Most traffic offences cost Rs 500 the first time, Rs 1,000 the second and up to Rs 1,500 after. In the valley you pay the e-Challan in the Nagarik App.

Short answer

Most everyday offences, such as running a red light, speeding, riding without a helmet or parking where it's not allowed, carry a fine of Rs 500 for the first offence, Rs 1,000 for the second and up to Rs 1,500 from the third. Driving without a licence costs up to Rs 2,000 and driving an unregistered vehicle up to Rs 5,000. In the Kathmandu Valley police scan the QR code on your licence in the Nagarik App and record an e-Challan (digital chit), which you pay in the app with a wallet such as eSewa. Drink driving, red lights, lane violations and speeding also need an awareness class. A draft law would raise fines to as much as Rs 1 lakh, but it hadn't become law by October 2026.

The details

Fines under the current law

These are the amounts in the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act as listed by the traffic police.

Offence	Fine
Red light, speeding, wrong side, one-way, no helmet or seatbelt, drink driving, careless driving, illegal parking, no number plate, overloading, not carrying your licence	Rs 500 first time, Rs 1,000 second, up to Rs 1,500 after that
Smoking in a public vehicle, letting someone without a licence drive, not stopping when signalled, not showing the bluebook or route permit	Up to Rs 1,000
Driving without a licence, overloading a public vehicle, using a vehicle for another purpose	Up to Rs 2,000
Unregistered vehicle, foreign vehicle without a permit, charging above the fare inside the valley	Up to Rs 5,000

Offences that also need an awareness class

Drink or drug driving, running a red light, lane violations and speeding.

Common problems

How do I pay an e-Challan?

Add your driving licence in the Nagarik App. The fine shows under your violation records. Tap pay and choose a wallet such as eSewa. The traffic police say payment is instant and you don't need to visit a bank.

I was told to attend an awareness class.

Drink or drug driving, running a red light, lane violations and speeding need a class on top of the fine. Valley classes are held at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office (Ramshahpath), the Traffic Police Office in Satdobato and the District Traffic Police Office in Chunedevi, Bhaktapur. The valley police have also run the class online in the Nagarik App, after you pay the fine.

Is the fine really going up to Rs 1 lakh?

Not yet. In mid-2026 a draft Motor Vehicles and Transport bill proposed fines from Rs 500 to Rs 1 lakh, including Rs 3,000 for no helmet or seatbelt and Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for drink driving. It was still being reviewed by ministries, and we found no sign of it reaching Parliament by October 2026. The current amounts apply until a new law takes effect.

I don't carry my licence card.

Not carrying your licence is itself an offence on the Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 scale. A licence stored in the Nagarik App can be scanned instead of the card.

My vehicle's number plate was changed or the vehicle modified.

Fines for fake number plates and changes to a vehicle's colour, seats, engine or chassis without approval are set by the transport department, not by the roadside scale.

Sources

Verified

Checked against the official source on 10 Oct 2026.

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