Thai license plates

[paoa]

I just read an advert for an auto with "red licence" plates.  What is the signficance?  Can anyone describe/explain to me the different licence plates in Thailand?

[Rinrada]

Red is a sort of provisional plate usually on a new car until permanent registration. ???

Then you get the white one unless you happen to be a taxi driver then its yellow.Others are transport ,government etc. :cool:

[Edward B]

After you finally get your new car it takes about another month for the paperwork to be done. The delay comes from the dealer in providing all the correct details and documents to register the car. Apparently in Phuket it can be done in one day. See:

http://phuketgazette.com/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=391

By "usually" do you mean that not all red plates imply the car is new? I wouldn't be surprised if someone put red plates on an old car to boost the sale price!

[Edward B]

paoa,

Red plates can mean a new car or a car that is being repaired (de-registered). In both cases it means it is technically not registered and legally can't be driven at night.

[Thetyim]

Red plates are a temporary plate to use whilst your car is being registered.

But beware, I know of one Benz owner who ran his car for two years on a red plate so that his year 2000 car was registered as a year 2002 car.

Of course this is not technically allowed but Benz owners seem to get away with it.   TIT.

[lopburi3]

As said the red plate is a temp type that is normally only used on new cars (as once registered plates remain the same for next buyer).  Many of these red plates, at least in the past, were false (no raised seal the most obvious sign) so you were subject to police fines during the day as well as at night (when car is not authorized to be driven).  The blue on white plate is registered as commercial vehicle (hotels, vans etc).  The yellow for taxi.  Diplomatic plates with small xx numbers for the country.  Military/police/government plates all in Thai.  Normal black on white and probably others.

[wolf5370]

When I bought a new pick-up Toyota put an old battered red plate on. This they booked out against the car.

The plate 'belonged' to Toyota, and on receiving the new plate, had to be returned. Is this not the normal way? If so, would Benz not be worried on non return of their plate after 2 years - presumeably any offences would be directed at them?

???