Nepal Government Services Guide

Nepal Traffic Fine List 2083: Updated Traffic Rules, Penalties & e-Challan Payment Guide

Current fines by legal section, the repeat-offence rules that catch most drivers off guard, what the proposed new law would actually change, and how to check and pay an e-Challan.

27 min read Last verified: August 21, 2026 Merokalam Team

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Search "traffic fine Nepal" and you will land on three or four different numbers for the same violation. That is not because anyone is lying to you. It is because Nepal's traffic penalty system is not one flat fine, it is a set of legal sections, each with its own ceiling, plus a repeat-offence structure that most competing pages flatten into a single figure, plus a proposed new law that keeps getting reported as if it were already in effect. This guide sorts all three apart, using the current published schedule from Nepal Police's Traffic Directorate as the primary source, so the numbers below are what is actually enforceable right now, not what a draft bill might eventually become.

Quick Answer

Nepal does not have one traffic fine, it has several. Most common roadside violations, signal violations, speeding, wrong-side driving, no helmet or seatbelt, and drink driving, fall under Section 164(1) of the current Motor Vehicle and Transport Management framework, which uses a repeat-offence structure: Rs 500 for a first offence, Rs 1,000 for a second, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. Other violations, handled under Section 160, carry fixed ceilings of up to Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, or Rs 5,000 depending on the specific clause. A separate draft bill proposing fines as high as Rs 100,000 is still under review and is not current law.

Quick Traffic Fine Summary 2083

ViolationCurrent FineRepeat Offence?Awareness Class?
Traffic signal / red light violationRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesYes
SpeedingRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesYes
Drink driving (Ma Pa Se)Rs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesYes
Wrong-side / one-way violationRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesYes
No helmet or no seatbeltRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesNo
Not carrying your licenseRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesNo
Driving without ever obtaining a licenseUp to Rs 2,000No (fixed ceiling)No
Unregistered vehicleUp to Rs 5,000No (fixed ceiling)No
No parking / prohibited stoppingRs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500YesNo

Source: Nepal Police Traffic Directorate's published "Violation and Fine" schedule. Figures reflect the currently enforceable Motor Vehicle and Transport Management framework, not the proposed 2083 bill discussed later in this guide.

Last verified: August 21, 2026 (BS: 5 Bhadra 2083)

Fine amounts and enforcement procedures can change. Official Nepal Police and Department of Transport Management (DOTM) information always takes precedence over this guide. If a specific chit or citation shows a different amount than what is listed here, the amount on your citation is the one that is legally due.

Nepal Traffic Fine List 2083 at a Glance

If you have ever compared two articles about Nepal traffic fines and found different numbers for what looks like the same violation, you are not imagining it. There are four real reasons this happens, and once you know them, the confusion mostly disappears.

Different legal sections cover different situations

"Driving without a license" and "not carrying your license" sound similar but sit under completely different clauses with different fines, one fixed, one a repeat-offence scale. A page that merges the two will quote the wrong number for at least one of them.

First offence vs repeat offence

Many violations do not have a single fine at all, they have three: first time, second time, third time or more. A first-time rider paying Rs 500 and a repeat offender paying Rs 1,500 were fined under the exact same clause.

Roadside fines vs DOTM-assessed fines

Some offences are fined on the spot by traffic police at a checkpoint. Others, mostly involving vehicle registration or unauthorized modification, are assessed through the Department of Transport Management or Transport Management Office rather than a fixed roadside figure.

Proposed law being mistaken for current law

News coverage of a draft bill proposing fines up to Rs 100,000 has circulated widely since mid-2026. That bill has not passed. Several blogs and social posts now repeat its proposed figures as if they were already enforceable, which they are not.

The rest of this guide separates these four sources of confusion into a single, section-by-section reference, so you can check your own situation against the correct clause rather than a rounded-off number from somewhere else.

Complete Nepal Traffic Fine List 2083

This is the centerpiece of the guide, built directly from Nepal Police Traffic Directorate's published violation and fine schedule, organized by the legal section each offence actually falls under rather than one flattened table. Group A carries the familiar repeat-offence structure. Groups B through D are Section 160 offences with fixed ceilings that do not increase with repetition. Group E is assessed by the transport office rather than fined on the spot.

Group A: Section 164(1), Repeat-Offence Structure

First offence Rs 500, second offence Rs 1,000, third or later offence up to Rs 1,500. This is the largest group and covers most of what a typical driver actually gets stopped for.

Violation1st / 2nd / 3rd+Awareness Class
Disobeying a traffic signal or hand signalRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Stopping in a prohibited place or timeRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Illegal turn or horn use in a prohibited zoneRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Wrong-side drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Driving against a one-way streetRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Driving an unfit vehicleRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Speeding above the determined limitRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Driving at night without lightsRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Drink driving / driving under intoxicationRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Obstructing others by parking in a public placeRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Driving in a restricted place or timeRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
No number plateRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Excess weight beyond a fixed limitRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
No seatbelt or no helmetRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Passenger or cargo overload beyond the fixed limitRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Public vehicle driver refusing passengersRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Charging fare above the fixed rate (outside Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office)Rs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Reckless or negligent drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No
Driving without carrying your license (license exists)Rs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500No

Source: Nepal Police Traffic Directorate, "उल्लङ्घन र जरिवाना" (Violation and Fine) notice, traffic.nepalpolice.gov.np.

Group B: Section 160(3), Up to Rs 1,000

Mostly operational offences involving public vehicles and drivers, fixed at a single ceiling rather than a repeat-offence scale.

ViolationFine Ceiling
Letting an unlicensed person driveUp to Rs 1,000
Driving without a required trip/route permitUp to Rs 1,000
Long-route public vehicle not rotating between two drivers as requiredUp to Rs 1,000
Seats not kept secureUp to Rs 1,000
Smoking inside a public vehicleUp to Rs 1,000
Carrying people in unsafe parts of the vehicle (roof, footboard)Up to Rs 1,000
Hazardous-goods carrier not displaying required warning signageUp to Rs 1,000
Not stopping when signaled or ordered to stopUp to Rs 1,000
Not issuing tickets in the prescribed format (Kathmandu Valley office only)Up to Rs 1,000
Not showing registration certificate or route permit when askedUp to Rs 1,000
Driving under the influence of other narcotic substancesUp to Rs 1,000

Group C: Section 160(2)(a), Up to Rs 2,000

ViolationFine Ceiling
Using a vehicle for a purpose other than its registered purposeUp to Rs 2,000
Driving without ever obtaining a driving licenseUp to Rs 2,000
Public vehicle exceeding its determined passenger or cargo limitUp to Rs 2,000

Group D: Section 160(2)(b), Up to Rs 5,000

ViolationFine Ceiling
Driving or letting someone drive an unregistered vehicleUp to Rs 5,000
Driving a foreign-registered vehicle without permissionUp to Rs 5,000
Operating public transport without a route permitUp to Rs 5,000
Charging fare above the fixed rate (Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office)Up to Rs 5,000
Obstructing movement of people or vehicles in a public placeUp to Rs 5,000
Causing damage or loss to vehicle and passengers in an accidentUp to Rs 5,000

Group E: Assessed Through DOTM / Transport Management Office

These two offences are not published with a fixed roadside figure, they are assessed case by case through the Department of Transport Management or the relevant Transport Management Office.

ViolationHow It's Handled
Driving with a fake or mismatched number plateAssessed by DOTM / Transport Management Office
Unauthorized modification of a vehicle's color, seat count, shape, engine or chassisAssessed by DOTM / Transport Management Office

Because these two do not carry a published fixed amount in the current schedule, this guide does not quote a specific figure for them. Confirm the applicable assessment with your local Transport Management Office.

How Much Is a Traffic Fine in Nepal?

Nepal does not fine every traffic violation the same way. Most everyday violations, signal violations, speeding, wrong-side driving, no helmet, and drink driving, follow a repeat-offence structure of Rs 500, then Rs 1,000, then up to Rs 1,500. Separately, offences under Section 160 carry fixed ceilings of up to Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, or Rs 5,000 depending on the specific clause, and a small number of offences are assessed individually through the transport office rather than fined at a fixed rate.

Offence CategoryFine Range / Ceiling
Section 164(1) common roadside offencesRs 500 to Rs 1,500 (repeat-offence progression)
Section 160(3) offencesUp to Rs 1,000
Section 160(2)(a) offencesUp to Rs 2,000
Section 160(2)(b) offencesUp to Rs 5,000

How Repeat Traffic Fines Increase in Nepal

Rs 500
First
Offence
Rs 1,000
Second
Offence
Rs 1,500
Third or Later
Offence

This progression applies specifically to Section 164(1) offences, signal violations, speeding, wrong-side driving, no helmet or seatbelt, drink driving, and similar roadside offences. It should not be read as the fine structure for every traffic offence in Nepal. Section 160 offences use fixed ceilings instead, shown in the chart below. Source: Nepal Police Traffic Directorate.

Current Fine Categories by Maximum Penalty

Rs 1,000
Section 160(3)
Rs 2,000
Section 160(2)(a)
Rs 5,000
Section 160(2)(b)

These are the fixed statutory ceilings for the three Section 160 categories in the current schedule, separate from the Section 164(1) repeat-offence structure above. Source: Nepal Police Traffic Directorate.

Helmet Fine in Nepal

Riding or driving a two-wheeler without a helmet is covered under Section 164(1), grouped in the same clause as not wearing a seatbelt in a four-wheeler. It follows the standard repeat-offence structure: Rs 500 for a first offence, Rs 1,000 for a second, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. This applies to the rider. The current published schedule does not separately specify a distinct passenger-helmet clause beyond the general offence, so if you are unsure whether a pillion passenger without a helmet is treated the same way at your local checkpoint, that is worth confirming with the issuing office directly rather than assuming. A common misconception is that a helmet fine is a one-time flat amount regardless of history, when in fact the amount you actually pay depends on whether it is your first, second, or a later citation for the same offence.

Seat Belt Fine in Nepal

Not wearing a seatbelt sits under the same Section 164(1) clause as the no-helmet offence, so the fine follows the identical repeat-offence structure, Rs 500, then Rs 1,000, then up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. The current schedule does not carry a separately published requirement specifically for rear-seat passengers, so treat front-seat seatbelt use as the clearly established requirement and confirm anything beyond that with your local traffic office rather than relying on a general assumption.

Drink and Drive (मादक पदार्थ सेवन / Ma Pa Se) Fine in Nepal

Driving after consuming alcohol or another intoxicating substance falls under Section 164(1), using the same repeat-offence structure as most common roadside violations, Rs 500 for a first offence, Rs 1,000 for a second, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. What sets this violation apart is that it is one of only four offences requiring a mandatory awareness class in addition to the fine, alongside signal violations, wrong-side driving, and speeding.

There is a separate, narrower clause worth knowing about: driving under the influence of other narcotic substances, distinct from alcohol, falls under Section 160(3) instead, with its own fixed ceiling of up to Rs 1,000 rather than the repeat-offence scale. After receiving a citation, the awareness class for drink driving in Kathmandu Valley is held at one of three specific traffic police compounds, covered in the awareness class section further down this guide.

Speeding Fine in Nepal

Driving above the determined speed limit is a Section 164(1) offence, following the standard repeat-offence structure, Rs 500 first offence, Rs 1,000 second, up to Rs 1,500 third or later. Like drink driving, wrong-side driving, and signal violations, speeding requires a mandatory awareness class alongside the fine. The current published schedule does not itemize specific speed limits by road type inside this violation-and-fine notice, so this guide does not publish a speed-limit table here since doing so without a verified, current, road-specific source would risk stating unconfirmed figures. If you need the exact posted limit for a specific stretch of road, the signage on that road, or your local traffic office, is the authoritative source.

Red Light and Traffic Signal Violation Fine

Disobeying a traffic light, another traffic signal, or an officer's hand signal is the first item listed under Section 164(1) in the official schedule, and it follows the same repeat-offence structure as the rest of the group, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, up to Rs 1,500. It is also one of the four violations requiring a mandatory awareness class. This applies whether the signal is an automated light or a traffic officer directing movement manually at a busy junction, since the clause covers both.

Lane Violation and Wrong-Side Driving Fine

"Lane discipline," "wrong side," and "one-way violation" get used loosely online, but the official schedule treats wrong-side driving and one-way violations as two separate line items within Section 164(1), both following the same Rs 500, Rs 1,000, up to Rs 1,500 structure. Wrong-side driving specifically is the clause that requires the mandatory awareness class alongside the fine; the one-way violation clause, listed separately, does not carry that same class requirement in the published notice. If your citation cites a lane-related offence, checking exactly which clause it falls under matters if you are trying to confirm whether an awareness class applies to your specific case.

Driving Without a License vs Not Carrying Your License

This is one of the most commonly confused distinctions in Nepal traffic law, and it matters because the two situations are fined completely differently.

SituationMeaningLegal BasisFine
Never obtained a valid licenseUnlicensed drivingSection 45 / Section 160(2)(a)Up to Rs 2,000 (fixed ceiling)
Valid license exists but was not carriedSeparate, more lenient offenceSection 164(1), item 19Rs 500 / Rs 1,000 / up to Rs 1,500 (repeat-offence)
Digital license stored in the Nagarik AppCounts as carrying a valid licenseNepal Police's own e-Challan guidanceNot a violation if the app shows a valid digital license

In practice, this means a genuinely licensed driver who simply left their card at home is treated far more leniently than someone who has never passed a license exam at all. Traffic police scan your license QR code directly from the Nagarik App during a stop, which is why storing your digital license there satisfies the carrying requirement without needing the physical card on you.

Did Nepal Increase Traffic Fines in 2083?

Current answer, as of August 21, 2026: no. The fines published earlier in this guide remain the currently enforceable ones. A separate bill, the Vehicles and Transport Management Bill, 2082, has been drafted by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and sent to the Ministry of Law for legal review. It has not been registered in Parliament, has not been debated by lawmakers as formal legislation, and has not been passed into law.

Confusion is understandable, since national coverage of the bill's proposed figures, some running as high as Rs 100,000, has been widely shared since late June 2026, often without making clear that these numbers describe a draft, not an enacted law.

PROPOSED, NOT CURRENT LAW
ViolationCurrent FineProposed Fine (Draft Bill)Status
Drink drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 (Section 164(1))Rs 25,000 (2/3-wheeler), Rs 35,000 (light vehicle), Rs 50,000 (medium/heavy)Proposed
SpeedingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 (Section 164(1))Rs 25,000 (2/3-wheeler), Rs 35,000 (light vehicle), Rs 50,000 (medium/heavy)Proposed
Traffic signal violationRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 (Section 164(1))Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000Proposed
Wrong-way, footpath, or mobile phone use while drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 (wrong-side only, under Section 164(1))Rs 10,000Proposed
Fare overcharging / not displaying fare rateUp to Rs 5,000 (Kathmandu Valley) or Rs 500 to 1,500 elsewhereRs 2,000 (three-wheeler), Rs 5,000 (light), Rs 10,000 (medium/heavy)Proposed
Damaging or unauthorized removal of a traffic signNot separately specified in current scheduleRs 5,000Proposed
Tinted or opaque vehicle windowsNot separately specified in current scheduleRs 100,000 (largest proposed fine)Proposed
Pedestrians crossing outside a designated zoneNot covered under this vehicle-focused scheduleRs 500Proposed

Proposed figures per Nepal News' reporting on the draft "Vehicles and Transport Management Bill, 2082," published Asar 15, 2083 (June 29, 2026), corroborated by Kathmandu Post and other national outlets. As of this guide's last verification, the bill remained under review at the Ministry of Law, had not been presented to the Council of Ministers, and had not been registered in the Federal Parliament.

The bill has already drawn public pushback, including from lawmakers who argued in Parliament that the state should also be held accountable for road infrastructure failures before citizens face steep fines, and from within the ruling coalition, where some leaders have called for the fine amounts to be weighed against average citizen income rather than set as a flat deterrent. Whether, and in what form, this bill eventually passes remains genuinely uncertain. Before assuming any of these proposed figures apply to you, confirm the bill's current status through Nepal Police or a current national news source, since this is exactly the kind of legislation that can change materially between drafting and passage.

What Is an e-Challan in Nepal?

An e-Challan, also called a Digital Chit, is a digital record of a traffic violation and the fine attached to it, issued directly by a traffic officer through a mobile device rather than handwritten on paper. Nepal Police introduced the system partly to reduce opportunities for on-the-spot bribery, since the violation and fine amount are logged centrally the moment they are issued rather than left to a handwritten slip.

The system works through your driving license's QR code. Once your license is stored digitally in the government's Nagarik App, an officer scans that QR code during a stop, and if a violation is recorded, it appears immediately under your Violation Records inside the app, along with the fine amount and a Voucher number you will need to pay it.

How to Check and Pay an e-Challan in Nepal

The Nagarik App is the most direct route for both checking and paying, and it connects to eSewa and Khalti for the payment step itself.

1
Open the Nagarik AppAvailable for Android and iOS. If your license is not already linked, add it under the Driver License section by entering your license number.
2
Go to Driving License, then Violation RecordsAny issued e-Challan appears here with the violation type, fine amount, and Voucher number.
3
Tap Pay NowYou can copy the Voucher number shown if you'd rather pay through a separate wallet app instead of paying inside Nagarik directly.
4
Choose eSewa or KhaltiIf you don't personally have a linked wallet, someone else can pay on your behalf using the same Voucher number.
5
Log in and review the fine detailsConfirm the violation and amount shown match what you expect before confirming payment.
6
Pay and save the confirmationYou'll receive an in-app confirmation immediately. Screenshot or save it as proof of payment.

Pay a Nepal Traffic Fine Through eSewa or Khalti Directly

If you'd rather skip the Nagarik App entirely, open eSewa or Khalti and search for "Traffic Fine Payment (Digital Chit)." This is important: both apps list two similarly named options, an older "Traffic Police Fine Payment" service and the newer "Traffic Fine Payment (Digital Chit)" option. For an e-Challan issued digitally, you want the one labeled with Digital Chit specifically. Enter the EBP number, which is the same as the Voucher number from your Nagarik App violation record, along with the fine amount, then proceed with payment. Someone other than the license holder can complete this payment, since the system only requires the Voucher number and amount, not proof of identity matching the violation.

How to Pay a Nepal Traffic Fine Offline

For fines that are not showing up correctly online, or for older, non-digital citations, you can pay in person at a nearby Rastriya Banijya Bank branch. Keep the bank voucher with you when you visit the traffic police station, since you may need to present it there to confirm the payment against your citation. For a more detailed walkthrough of checking a specific chit number, verifying payment went through, and what to do about used-vehicle fine checks before a purchase, see our dedicated Nepal Traffic Fine Check and Online Payment guide, which covers that side of the process step by step with screenshots-level detail.

What If the Traffic e-Challan Is Wrong?

Do not pay a fine you believe was issued in error just to make it go away. Nepal Police's own e-Challan guidance is direct about this process.

Contact the traffic police directly and explain the specific mistake, whether it's the wrong vehicle, wrong violation type, or a citation you believe wasn't issued to you at all.
Follow up with an email describing the situation in writing so the office can verify your claim against their own records.
There is no fee to cancel an incorrect challan according to Nepal Police's own published guidance, so be wary of anyone suggesting otherwise.
Keep supporting evidence such as photos, timestamps, or anything else relevant, since Nepal doesn't currently run a single centralized online dispute form for this.

What Happens If You Don't Pay a Traffic Fine in Nepal?

Per Nepal Police's own e-Challan guidance, failing to pay an e-Challan leads to your digital driving license QR code being disabled, meaning it stops functioning as valid proof of license through the Nagarik App until the fine is cleared. Separately, unpaid traffic fines have increasingly been checked before Blue Book renewal and vehicle ownership transfer at Transport Management Offices, alongside outstanding vehicle tax. An unresolved fine, even a small one, can hold up either process.

This guide does not state that unpaid fines lead to arrest, court proceedings, or permanent license cancellation, since no verified official source supports those specific consequences for an ordinary unpaid e-Challan. The confirmed consequences are the QR code disablement and the practical friction it can cause at renewal or transfer, and those alone are reason enough to clear a fine rather than let it sit.

Which Traffic Violations Require an Awareness Class?

Four specific Section 164(1) violations require a mandatory awareness class (सचेतना कक्षा) in addition to the fine: drink driving, red light or traffic signal violation, wrong-side driving, and speeding. This requirement is explicitly stated in Nepal Police's own published notice, alongside the specific venues used for Kathmandu Valley.

ViolationFineAwareness Class?
Drink drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Traffic signal / red light violationRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
Wrong-side drivingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required
SpeedingRs 500 / 1,000 / 1,500Required

In Kathmandu Valley, these classes are held at the District Traffic Police Compound in Chundevi, Bhaktapur, the Traffic Police Compound at Satdobato, Lalitpur, and the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office at Ramshahpath. This venue list is specific to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office's own published notice; drivers outside the Valley should confirm the equivalent venue with their local district traffic police office, since the class requirement itself stems from the national legal clause but the physical venues are set locally.

Traffic Rules Every New Driver in Nepal Should Know

This is not a full driving-theory lesson, just the practical rules tied directly to the violations covered above, worth internalizing before your first solo drive.

Obey traffic lights and an officer's hand signals over your own judgment when the two conflict.
Wear a helmet on two-wheelers and a seatbelt in four-wheelers, every trip, not just when you expect a checkpoint.
Stay on your side of the road and respect one-way street restrictions, both are separately fined offences.
Never drive after drinking, this is one of the four offences with a mandatory awareness class attached.
Carry a valid license, physical or stored digitally in the Nagarik App, every time you drive.
Keep your number plate clean, visible, and correctly matched to your vehicle's actual registration.
Don't overload passengers or cargo beyond your vehicle's registered limit.
Respect posted parking and no-stopping zones, especially in dense city areas.
Keep required vehicle documents, registration certificate, route permit where applicable, accessible for a roadside check.
Use headlights after dark, driving without lights at night is its own separately fined offence.
Drive within the posted speed limit for the specific road you're on, it varies by road type and location.
Keep your vehicle roadworthy, an unfit vehicle is its own listed violation regardless of what else you're doing right.

For a full breakdown of Nepal's road signage, in both English and Nepali names, see our Traffic Signs in Nepal guide, useful both for everyday driving and for likhit exam preparation if you're still working toward your license.

Before You Drive: A Quick Checklist

Before DrivingWhy It Matters
License, physical or digital (Nagarik App)Avoids the not-carrying-license fine
Blue Book / required documentsNeeded for a roadside verification
Helmet (two-wheeler) or seatbelt (four-wheeler)Legal requirement and basic safety
Number plate clean and correctly matchedAvoids a separately fined offence
Headlights functioningRequired for night driving
No alcohol or intoxicants consumedHighest-scrutiny offence, awareness class attached
Vehicle in roadworthy conditionLegal requirement under the unfit-vehicle clause

Traffic Enforcement and Road Safety in Nepal: What the Numbers Show

The reason all of this matters beyond avoiding a fine is straightforward, Nepal's roads carry a real and consistent safety cost. According to a Nepal Police report on the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January), covered by the Kathmandu Post, the country recorded 2,276 road accidents in that single month, killing 197 people, injuring 3,417 others, with 646 classified as seriously injured. That works out to roughly 75 accidents and about seven deaths on an average day nationally during that period.

Metric (Poush, national)Figure
Accidents recorded2,276
Deaths197
Total injured3,417 (646 seriously)
Vehicles involved3,374 (70% motorcycles)
Fines collected from violators that monthRs 94.6 million from 118,168 violators

Source: Nepal Police report, as covered by the Kathmandu Post (published January 26, 2025), reporting on the month of Poush. Figures represent that specific month nationally, not an annual or Kathmandu Valley-only total. According to the same report, over-speeding was the leading recorded cause of accidents that month, followed by drink driving, jaywalking, and general traffic rule violations, and 2,369 people died in road accidents across the full previous fiscal year.

Motorcycles accounted for around 70 percent of vehicles involved in that month's accidents, far ahead of cars at roughly 13 percent and buses at close to six percent, a pattern that lines up with how heavily two-wheelers dominate Nepal's vehicle fleet. This is part of why helmet enforcement, speed enforcement, and the mandatory awareness classes for the riskiest violations exist in the first place, not simply as revenue collection.

After Paying a Fine: Keep Your Driving License Information Updated

Paying a traffic fine and checking whether your physical smart-card driving license has actually been printed are two completely different processes, and it's easy to assume one means the other is also handled. Clearing an e-Challan through the Nagarik App only settles that specific citation; it has no bearing on whether a newly issued or renewed license card is ready for collection at your transport office.

Drivers who are also waiting on a physical smart-card license, whether from a new application or a renewal, can separately check print status through LicensePrintCheck.com, an independent tool that cross-references your license number against DOTM's own published printed-license lists. It's worth remembering these are genuinely separate services: traffic fine records live with Nepal Police's e-Challan system, while smart-card printing status lives with DOTM. For anything that needs to be legally binding, collecting your card, resolving a renewal issue, or disputing a fine, the relevant official DOTM or Nepal Police office is always the final authority, not any third-party lookup tool.

Quick Takeaway: Nepal Traffic Fines in 2083

Different offences use different fine structures

Section 164(1) uses a repeat-offence scale, Section 160 uses fixed ceilings. Check which clause your citation actually falls under before assuming a number.

Repeat offences cost more, a lot more by the third citation

Rs 500 becomes Rs 1,500 for the same violation committed a third time, treat a first citation as a real warning, not a rounding error.

Four violations require an awareness class, not just a fine

Drink driving, signal violations, wrong-side driving and speeding all carry this extra requirement in Kathmandu Valley's published notice.

e-Challans can be checked and paid entirely digitally

The Nagarik App, plus eSewa or Khalti, covers most current citations without a trip to a physical office.

Always save your payment confirmation

Status updates aren't always instant, and your receipt is what resolves any dispute if a status check still shows unpaid.

Proposed fines are not current fines

The draft bill discussing fines up to Rs 100,000 has not passed Parliament as of this guide's last update. Don't pay, or worry about, a fine that isn't yet law.

Verify against official sources when rules change

Nepal Police's Traffic Directorate and DOTM take precedence over this guide, or any other, if the two ever disagree.

Sources

traffic.nepalpolice.gov.np

Nepal Police Traffic Directorate

Official "Violation and Fine" schedule used for the current fine tables in this guide.

Official

Nagarik App / e-Challan Notice

Nepal Police Traffic Directorate

Official guidance on e-Challan, Voucher numbers, payment, and wrong-challan procedure.

Official

Nepal News, Asar 15, 2083

Reporting on draft Vehicles and Transport Management Bill, 2082

Status and proposed fine amounts of the not-yet-enacted 2083 draft bill.

News

The Kathmandu Post, Jan 26, 2025

Reporting on Nepal Police accident data

Source for the road safety statistics used in this guide.

News

Published: August 2026. Last verified: August 21, 2026. Fine schedule verified against Nepal Police Traffic Directorate's published notice. e-Challan process verified against the same directorate's Nagarik App guidance. This guide will be revisited whenever Parliament acts on the proposed transport bill, whenever Nepal Police announces a change to the current schedule, or at the start of 2084 BS, whichever comes first.

This guide summarizes publicly available traffic rules and payment procedures for general information. It is not legal advice. Official Nepal Police, DOTM, and applicable law take precedence if any information here changes or if your specific citation shows a different figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a traffic fine in Nepal?
There is no single flat traffic fine in Nepal. Most common roadside violations, such as signal violations, speeding, wrong-side driving, no helmet or seatbelt, and drink driving, fall under Section 164(1) with a repeat-offence structure of Rs 500 for a first offence, Rs 1,000 for a second, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. Other offences under Section 160 carry fixed ceilings of up to Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, or Rs 5,000 depending on the specific clause.
What is the helmet fine in Nepal?
Riding or being a driver without a helmet falls under Section 164(1), which uses a repeat-offence structure: Rs 500 for a first offence, Rs 1,000 for a second, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. The same clause also covers not wearing a seatbelt in a four-wheeler.
What is the seatbelt fine in Nepal?
Not wearing a seatbelt is grouped with the no-helmet violation under Section 164(1) of the current schedule, so it follows the same repeat-offence fine: Rs 500 first offence, Rs 1,000 second offence, and up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence.
What is the drink-driving fine in Nepal?
Driving after consuming alcohol or other intoxicants currently falls under Section 164(1)'s repeat-offence structure, Rs 500, then Rs 1,000, then up to Rs 1,500, and it is one of four violations that also require a mandatory awareness class. A draft bill under review proposes raising this substantially, to Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 depending on vehicle type, but that change is not yet law.
How much is the fine for driving without a license?
Driving without ever having obtained a valid driving license falls under Section 45 and Section 160(2)(a), with a fine of up to Rs 2,000. This is a different, more serious offence than simply forgetting to carry a license you already hold.
What is the fine for not carrying your license?
If you hold a valid license but did not have it on you when checked, that falls under Section 164(1) instead, using the repeat-offence structure of Rs 500, Rs 1,000, then up to Rs 1,500. It is treated far more leniently than driving without ever having obtained a license at all.
What is the traffic-light or signal violation fine in Nepal?
Disobeying a traffic light, signal, or an officer's hand signal falls under Section 164(1)'s repeat-offence structure: Rs 500 first offence, Rs 1,000 second, up to Rs 1,500 for a third or later offence. It is also one of the four violations requiring a mandatory awareness class alongside speeding, wrong-side driving and drink driving.
What is the fine for wrong-side or lane violation driving?
Driving on the wrong side of the road or against a one-way street falls under Section 164(1), following the same Rs 500, Rs 1,000, up to Rs 1,500 repeat-offence structure as most common roadside violations, and it requires a mandatory awareness class as well.
What is the fine for an unregistered vehicle in Nepal?
Driving, or allowing someone to drive, a vehicle that has not been registered falls under Section 14 and Section 160(2)(b), carrying a fine of up to Rs 5,000, one of the higher fixed penalties in the current schedule.
Can I pay a Nepal traffic fine online?
Yes. Once a violation is issued as a digital e-Challan, you can view and pay it directly through the Nagarik App, or through eSewa or Khalti using the Voucher or EBP number shown in the app. Some older, non-digital citations still need to be paid in person or at Rastriya Banijya Bank.
How do I check my e-Challan in Nepal?
Open the Nagarik App, go to the Driving License section, then Violation Records, where any issued e-Challan appears with the violation type, fine amount and Voucher number. You can also ask someone with the same details to check it on your behalf, since no personal login is required beyond the app itself.
What is the EBP or Voucher number in an e-Challan?
The EBP number referenced inside eSewa's Traffic Fine Payment (Digital Chit) search is the same as the Voucher number shown in your Nagarik App violation record. You enter this number along with the fine amount to complete payment through a mobile wallet.
Can I pay an e-Challan through eSewa or Khalti?
Yes. Inside the Nagarik App you can tap through to eSewa or Khalti directly, or open either wallet app yourself, search for Traffic Fine Payment (Digital Chit), specifically the option labeled with Digital Chit rather than the older Traffic Police Fine Payment option, and enter the Voucher/EBP number and amount.
What happens if I don't pay an e-Challan in Nepal?
According to Nepal Police's own guidance, failing to pay an e-Challan leads to your digital driving license QR code being disabled, meaning it can no longer be scanned as valid proof of license. Unpaid fines have also increasingly been checked before Blue Book renewal and vehicle ownership transfer.
What should I do if my e-Challan is wrong?
Contact the traffic police directly and explain the mistake, and follow up with an email describing the situation so they can verify your claim. Nepal Police's own guidance states there is no fee to cancel an incorrectly issued challan, so do not pay it before the issue is resolved unless you have confirmed it is genuinely yours.
Are the proposed Rs 100,000 traffic fines already in effect?
No. As of this guide's last verification, the bill proposing fines up to Rs 100,000 is still a draft under review at the Ministry of Law and has not been registered in Parliament, let alone passed or enacted. Current enforceable fines remain those published under the existing Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act.
Which traffic violations require a mandatory awareness class in Nepal?
Four specific violations under Section 164(1) require a mandatory awareness class alongside the fine: drink driving, red light or traffic signal violation, wrong-side driving, and speeding. In Kathmandu Valley, these classes are held at specific traffic police compounds in Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu.
Are traffic fines different for motorcycles, cars and buses in Nepal?
Under the current published schedule, most common roadside violations carry the same fine regardless of vehicle type. The proposed draft bill, however, would introduce vehicle-type tiers for offences like drink driving and speeding, with higher fines for larger vehicles, but this distinction does not yet exist in current law.
Is the fine for overloading a vehicle the same as overloading passengers?
Not exactly. A public vehicle carrying more passengers or cargo weight than its registered limit under Section 117 can be fined up to Rs 2,000 through the Transport Management Office, while carrying excess weight in a way that falls under Section 164(1) follows the standard Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 repeat-offence structure instead.

Fine amounts, awareness class venues, and the proposed 2083 bill's status can all shift with the next official notice or parliamentary session. This guide is checked against Nepal Police's own published schedule and will be updated whenever that schedule, or the draft bill's status, actually changes, not whenever a new number starts circulating online.

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