Motorcycle in your Name in Thailand

[TotallyOz]

I think one of the best investments you can buy in Thailand is a motorcycle. They are the easiest for getting around and make life so much easier. If you live a distance from where you go on a daily basis, they also will save money over the long run. It is very easy to buy a motorcycle in Thailand and to have it in your own name. Here a few suggestions.

 

Motorcycles start around 30,000 baht and go up from there. If you buy at a dealer, the prices are negotiable. Be sure to get them to give you 2 helmets (they do with all Thais) and a wrench tool set for fixing minor issues. You can take out a loan for it but the rates are crazy and I suggest paying cash. If you want to put on a CC they will charge you 2.5 percent. They may ask for 3 but tell them NO.

 

Once you purchase, you need to get permission from Immigration. To do this, be sure your Visa is 60 days or longer. Otherwise there may be problems. Coming in on a Visa On Entry is 50/50 whether they will be able to do the paperwork or not. I always get a 60 day extend-able Visa so I know I am covered. You will then go to Immigration.

 

Once at Immigration, you need a copy of the purchase, 2 photo ID's, Copy of your passport, Copy of Home Papers or Rental Agreement and copy of your Visa pages. You can get all the copies at your home or there is usually a place next to Immigration offices that will make for you. If you do yourself, be sure to get a copy of your Visa as well as the stamped page with the entry document.

 

They will take all this and you pay them 200 baht. They will tell you when to pick up the document. You go back and pick it up and take it to the place you purchased the vehicle. Once you give to them, they will tell you to come back in 60 days or so. I usually go early and it is normally done.

 

Be sure to get the insurance and pay for tags at purchase. In case you lose the bike or it is stolen, you will get a partial refund. Also, be sure they give you a temporary tag when you purchase. Make all the arrangements before you pay for the cycle.

 

Once you go back and get your tags, there is a sticker they give you to put on the cycle. Have them put it on for you and you are good to go. Be sure to go back and get services at the suggested dates.

 

I hope this helps.

[Gaybutton]

You seem to have covered everything. So, just one more question. Do you have a particular shop from which you recommend buying?

[Guest]

They all have basically the same prices. Some of the shops have the written price on the bikes. ALL of them negotiate and I always get them lower by several thousand baht. But, I have bought about 20 from the same dealership and the manager knows when I walk in that I will buy that day if he gives me a good deal.

 

I use the Mitiyon across from Friendship Market and Tuk Com in Pattaya. They are part of a larger company and all of their dealerships have the same price. I have found the most of my Thai boys I date like this one and like to get serviced there so this is where I always go. It is also convenient if you have to have repairs as you can talk to Tuk Com for a bit while they fix things for you. In case you don't want to pay the 2.5 percent fee for Credit Cards, you can walk across the street to K bank. They also have the market that is open several days a week.

[Guest gorcum]

They will take all this and you pay them 200 baht. They will tell you when to pick up the document. You go back and pick it up and take it to the place you purchased the vehicle. Once you give to them, they will tell you to come back in 60 days or so. I usually go early and it is normally done.

 

Be sure to get the insurance and pay for tags at purchase. In case you lose the bike or it is stolen, you will get a partial refund. Also, be sure they give you a temporary tag when you purchase. Make all the arrangements before you pay for the cycle.

I was wondering what takes 60 days? it it the paperwork?

 

do you have to wait for 60 days until you get the vehicle?

[mahjongguy]

That's a very accurate and useful posting, to which I'd add the following:

- Consider buying a "real" DOT-standard helmet for yourself.

- Carry a photocopy of the bike's blue book. Bike theft in Pattaya is so widespread that the police often ask for proof of ownership, and riding around with a red temporary plate is sufficient excuse for being pulled over for a check.

- Of course, obtain and carry a Thai motorcycle drivers license.

- If you are older than 55, consider carefully if you should be driving a motorbike. I am 61 now and I know that my reaction time and peripheral vision are not sufficient for driving in a country where the #1 cause of death (all deaths) is from motorbike accidents. Just last week a 64yo Belgian acquaintance of mine went home in an urn because he misjudged an oncoming car. A secondhand Toyota Corolla costs more but it's just as simple to purchase and a lot more likely to get you where you're going in one piece.

[Gaybutton]

A secondhand Toyota Corolla costs more but it's just as simple to purchase and a lot more likely to get you where you're going in one piece.

Since this thread is about what it takes to purchase a motorcycle, if there is to be a debate about whether it is better to have a car or motorcycle, I would like to suggest starting a new thread so that this thread doesn't end up going off on a tangent.

[Up2u]

"...But, I have bought about 20 from the same dealership and the manager knows when I walk in that I will buy that day if he gives me a good deal."

 

Excuse me GT but surely that is a typo, didn't you mean two?

[Guest]

I was wondering what takes 60 days? it it the paperwork?

 

do you have to wait for 60 days until you get the vehicle?

You get the motorcycle the day you pay the money. It has a red license plate (temporary).

 

It takes 60 days for the book and the plate to come in. In the meantime, do NOT loose your paperwork as you may get asked for it.

 

And, yes, you are more likely to get stopped in the first 60 days but that rarely happens just for the red tag unless the boys in brown are having a very bad day.

 

 

That's a very accurate and useful posting, to which I'd add the following:

- Consider buying a "real" DOT-standard helmet for yourself.

- Carry a photocopy of the bike's blue book. Bike theft in Pattaya is so widespread that the police often ask for proof of ownership, and riding around with a red temporary plate is sufficient excuse for being pulled over for a check.

- Of course, obtain and carry a Thai motorcycle drivers license.

 

I totally agree with you on all points.

 

"...But, I have bought about 20 from the same dealership and the manager knows when I walk in that I will buy that day if he gives me a good deal."

 

Excuse me GT but surely that is a typo, didn't you mean two?

 

Unfortunately, I got the number right. I use to treat the guys that took good care of me to a motorcycle after they finished several terms of AUA school for English. My numbers have dwindled over the last year or two with the bad economy.

[Guest Taschizzie]

I was out with my closest Thai friend when buying my last motorcycle, and after striking a deal with the salesman, just as the paperwork was being written up, my friend - let's call him Somchai - called me aside and insisted that my name not be on the sales contract or registration and that he should have the bike in his name.

 

I've known Somchai long enough to listen when he speaks even though my first reaction was "What? Are you kidding?"

 

His reasoning went like this...

 

He's live here for 25 years and has relatives in the police force so it made sense that, if anything happened to or with the bike, his uncle, a nasty piece of work in a brown uniform, could work the system to his advantage.

 

If there was an accident, he, as the owner of the bike, could be sued but that was highly unlikely as Thais do not usually sue Thais. If there was an accident and I was the owner, it might be viewed as a huge payday/windfall for the aggrieved party and it could amount to me sitting in jail until that party was satisfied with the financial settlement.

 

If there was a situation that required friendly police intervention, his Police uncle, senior and particularly well-connected, would have "standing" in the eyes of the other Thais, officialdom or not, that would not exist if I was the owner and a positive resolution was far more likely without a farang on the paperwork.

 

The level of trust here was not the issue; I've known Somchai for years and he has ample opportunity to screw me over for bigger amounts and has not, so I took his advice, paid for the bike but had his name on the bill of sale and the registration.

 

It has worked out well; over the last year or two, I've been stopped by the police a number of times and several of those were obvious tea money situations. Each time I've been stopped, I've first given the registration in Somchai's name to the gangster in uniform and explained that I had borrowed my good friend's motorcycle.

 

Each time, they've looked at the owner's name and quickly returned the paperwork after saying Somchai's last name, which is the same as his uncle's and, on hearing my response "Jing jing", waved me on my way.

 

I've since sold that bike, or rather Somchai sold it and gave me the money, but when I need another one, it will be in his name again.

 

________________________________

 

There was an Email cartoon that went around a while back; here's a (revised to make it flow) translation of the panels shown below...

 

 

There was a competition to find out which country has the ultimate police force in the world. The contest took place in an undisclosed location by a forest.

 

In the final round, there were only 3 competitors left: a policeman from Thailand, an FBI agent from USA, and someone from the Russian KGB.

 

The judge said "For the last round I will release of this rabbit into the forest and you will have to find it within 10 minutes to qualify to win.

 

FBI, start now."

 

The FBI agent tries to use advanced satellite and computer technology to find the rabbit but as the forest was so dense and wide, the most up to date instruments could not find the rabbit.

 

The judge proclaimed: "Time's Up... The representative from FBI does not pass the test. Next up is the representative from KGB."

 

He chooses to try and torch the forest to force the rabbit to bolt out of there but since the forest was dense and too wide for all of it to burn, the rabbit remained hidden and the time ran out.

 

The judge proclaimed: "Time's Up... The representative from KGB does not pass the test. Last up, the representative from the Thai police. Ready? Start!"

 

The Thai policeman rushes into the forest and, in not even 5 minutes, he comes out of the forest with a big grin on his face.

 

In his arms is a goat, bleeding and battered and in serious need of medical attention.

 

The Thai policeman carries his burden to the judge and says "Here's the rabbit so I win" but the judge looks down and says "Not so fast. Rabbit? This isn't a rabbit, this is a goat"

 

The goat looks up at the judge piteously and says " No. judge. I may look like a goat but I must confess. I'm a rabbit. Really, I am a rabbit, just don't beat me up anymore."

 

http://www.2bangkok.com/06/UltimatePolice.jpg

[Guest gorcum]

if you have a 60 day visa, can you get a thai drivers licence? is their also a diference between a motor cycle licence and a car licence?

 

Thank you

[Gaybutton]

if you have a 60 day visa, can you get a thai drivers licence?

I'm afraid not. You can only get a Thai driver's license if you are here on a non-immigrant visa. A 60-day visa is a tourist visa, so you are not eligible. However, you can still drive legally in Thailand. Before coming to Thailand get an International Driving Permit. Despite the fact that it is good for a year, Thailand honors it for a maximum of 90 days upon entry to Thailand. You must also have your home country driving license with you as well. If you intend to drive both a car and a motorcycle, you must have a permit that specifies both.

 

is there also a diference between a motor cycle licence and a car licence?

Yes. Thailand issues separate licenses for each. And as I said above, you must also have International driving permits for each.

[Guest gorcum]

Thank you for the good information.

[Guest]

I wanted to clarify one point that was talked about in a thread about Motorcycle. When you buy a motorcycle and you buy the Insurance you DO GET a paper for this. It is given to you when you pick up your tag and registration card.

[Guest kotter]

'M' (wasnt that 007's boss?

I loved reading the special part of the quote below.... The question is who does the servicing? The pretty Thai ladies there

 

 

 

,Quote: I have found the most of my Thai boys I date like this one and like to get serviced there!! Unquote.

 

 

They all have basically the same prices. Some of the shops have the written price on the bikes. ALL of them negotiate and I always get them lower by several thousand baht. But, I have bought about 20 from the same dealership and the manager knows when I walk in that I will buy that day if he gives me a good deal.

 

I use the Mitiyon across from Friendship Market and Tuk Com in Pattaya. They are part of a larger company and all of their dealerships have the same price. so this is where I always go. It is also convenient if you have to have repairs as you can talk to Tuk Com for a bit while they fix things for you. In case you don't want to pay the 2.5 percent fee for Credit Cards, you can walk across the street to K bank. They also have the market that is open several days a week.

[Guest]

The question is who does the servicing?

 

Well, most Thai boys I know don't really care who does the servicing as long as they don't have to reciprocate.