Buying, Driving, And Insuring A Motorcycle In Bangkok

[alohatiger]

Okay, okay, so I did some research. I can walk over to a dealership, purchase a nice, second-hand motorcycle (because it has the least chance of being stolen, and I believe the older sports bikes have more power since there was no limiting legislation in place at that time) and then register it.

REGISTERING

I think I don't need much to register it: I'll have a tourist visa (right now I'm on the 30-day exemption, but I should get the tourist visa) and I also have a letter of residence from the embassy. So I'll be set as far as registration goes. Then only I can sell the vehicle. Then again, if it comes down to liability, I as the owner am responsible for any damages caused by the motorcycle, am I not?

That kind of balances the idea of having a Thai friend have the vehicle in their name. Yes, they can re-possess the bike at any time and have the law on their side. But if you get in an accident and disappear, I believe the insurance companies and law will go after the legal owner, am I right?

I need to get around. I have a fair amount of experience on motorbikes in Bangkok. Driving is no longer a shock to me. Yes, roads ARE very confusing, but riding the route on a taxi or a motorcycle taxi first is very illuminating. Those guys know all the shortcuts! And riding inches from another vehicle is not so bad anymore. So I've gotten over it. And it's true: traffic in Bangkok is quite slow, so any motorcycle accidents are likely to be low-speed accidents (and I'm sure small accidents can and probably will happen.) But at least I'll be able to get around.

INSURANCE

Okay, insurance. Since I won't have a non-immigrant visa yet, and therefore no driver's license, then I'm screwed. But then again, how much damage can I do with a motorcycle? I suppose not more than a few thousand USD.

Yes, I probably will get screwed if I get in an accident. I will probably pay thousands of dollars in hospital bills alone if I get injured seriously. But I can handle that part. Hopefully, if anything at all does happen, it will be minor and only cost a few hundred USD.

DRIVING

Okay, so a driver's license from Thailand is fairly optional. I say that because of the de facto situation here: if you have a Thai ID (it's that 100 baht note with a picture of the King on it) then you can get along okay. Alright, so that's 200 baht per stop. Hmm, that's not TOO bad. Just must avoid the major traps. I am sure I will get nailed a few times, unless I do right and take a motorcycle taxi there first. Then I'll be able to spot all the COP TRAPS and find a way around them. Not too hard to do, and I still get my freedom on the bike until I get my non-immigrant visa (gotta go home or to Australia for that one!)

Without a driver's license, you'll get screwed and harassed by the cops and if you get in an accident, you may be detained or whatever by the cops, I'm sure. Then you have to buy your way out.

And if you get into an injurious accident, and hurt someone, and the cops get involved, then not only do you pay their hospital bills but the cops 'generosity' for not throwing you in the slammer. Hmm, could get expensive, or I could drive the 3-4 months without major incident until I get back to the States and get a real visa.

So whatcha think, too risky, unthought out, what did I miss? I'll only be driving around for 3-4 months. I can buy and re-sell the bike later. Just need to cover the aspects of legality, driveability, and insurance.

Thanks for the help!

Alohatiger

[bobdotorg]

Assuming you're a farang, you'll minimize your chances of getting pulled over by wearing a full face helmet, long sleeves, and long pants.

The only time I was ever pulled over was when I had a farang passenger wearing shorts, a short sleeve shirt, and no helmet. He and his bag were thoroughly searched, and they didn't ask me anything, or for any registration or license. Nor did they search me.

My guess is that they were looking for a big payday by finding drugs on him.

As it turns out, my passenger (a brother of a flatmate of mine) had just arrived in BKK and was going to a friend's apartment to buy a big bag of pot. I cannot even imagine what might have happened if we were pulled over on the way back home.

[seagull]

I have not been long in thailand. Therefore I need advises on the subject of a motorcycle riding license. In sofar, none ot the posting relates to a legal riding license for a foreigner on a tourist visa. Is there none? Please advise.

I have a tgf here in thailand. I have enquire with her about this, and she is pretty much evasive. I suspect that she doesn't want me to have a motor cycle license, so that I would not be straying off by my own without her company. Right now, she brings me to any place that i did like to go to. But I would rather that she stays put at home, while i goes out on my routine.

So again, my question here is can a foreigner on a tourist visa, get a motor cycle riding license legally?

[seagull]

Ok Ok, I got it. Found out from another source that tourist visa holder cannot get a bike riding option. Of course registering it is out of the question too.

so I grab my tgf bike and goes off. The cops stops me and check for license. Don't have one. So it is bht 200 per ticket. And this can go on umpteen times? There will not be any blacklisting? As a foreigner, the next time I re-enter thailand, will there be problems at immigration? Thanks quys.