Clarity On Registering A 2nd Hand Car And Bike

[flifsh1]

Recently I purchased a second hand motorcycle and car.

Have been trying to get a straight story regarding what the process is for me to register these vehicles in my name. My Thai friends are all giving me different stories about where to go and what to do.

Both vehicles have stickers that expire in 10 months so I am assuming I do not get a new plate or sticker. However I am being told that both vehicles need to be inspected by an engineer at the registration center. This year the car had a steering upgrade to power steering and apparently when I go to register the vehicle I will have to pay 3 or 4,000 baht tax for this upgrade?

As well do any of you have experience with purchasing insurance for a car – my girlfriend tells me there is no such thing as 3^rd party insurance and says even with the best insurance package I would still have to pay to repair the other persons vehicle if it was my fault. Are insurance rates similar for foreigners and Thais or would it be a financial advantage to have the insurance in my girlfriend's name?

[stingray]

I'm sorry, but i don't know where you get allthat crab of information.

1. The ministery of transportation don't care about your powersteering, so they don't charge you any taxes on that. there is anyway no information about power steering in the blue book, so nobody even can tell the car came with or without powersteering from the factory or not.

2. Insurance: you can get a full insurance and they cover you. its depend on the insurance company. Usally 10million maximal coverage per accident. 1 Million per person and 2 million property damage, 100'000 Baht bailbond, etc. Your car and other cars are covered also for teft. But as i say, it's depend on the insurance company, not all are the same.

3rth partie insurance: Usally same coverage, but not your own car (not covers your own car). Aproximatly 3000 - 5000 Baht per year. for any car, doesn't matter the age.

Rates are for Foreigners and Thais the same.

Important: You have to have a International Drive License or a Thai Drive License.

Any more information, i'm willing to help

[samran]

Firstly you need the ownership book (blue book for the car).

You also require documentation from the former owner that they were willing to transfer the car to me, and copies of their ID. This is a standard form which they sign, available from any land transport office, and probably on their website too.

You then go down to the Department of Land Transport office in the district that the former owner had their car registered. This actually depends on where they lived (their tabieen baan) and the car will be registered in the DOLT office that covers the same area.

Once there, it is pretty methodical. Go to the front desk, get a form for transfer of ownership. Get back into the car, line up for a very rudimentary vehicle inspection. The guy there signs the form for his part, you then take that to another desk (which will be pointed out) and you give the form, blue book, and all other ID (yours included). You wait for a bit, as they'll pull out a paper file that they have stored there on the vehicle in question, and they will process the transfer.

Once done, you'll have to pay some sort of tax based on the capacity of the engine, 3-4K depending on the type of car, and then the blue book will be updated.

If you live in a different area to the (now former) owner of the car, then the cars file will be transfered to the DOLT office which covers your area.

As for insurance, you need to have at least a third party type of insurance to have your car re-registed every year. If your car is older than 5 years, you'll need to have a simple vehicle and emissions inspection every year before the registration is extended for another year.