Helping out a friend buying a second hand scooter and finding that there are lots of bikes without papers. Some of them have just a copy of the green book, whilst others have nothing at all.

Just curious to know why that is.

Thanks!

If copy of, possibly lost green book, or worse, doesn't match the bike.

 

Others, simply never registered, dodgy imports (larger bikes). Cheaper to pay the fines whenever, than register, or risk confiscated if attempt to register.

 

Huge stolen bike market.  Without enforcement, easy to have with no repercussions.  Get stopped, pay fine, then on your way.

 

TRUST NOBODY ... do it all legally with both parties at proper office.  

The simple explanation could be that the bike is still under finance. The book is only handed over when fully paid.

28 minutes ago, canerandagio said:

Helping out a friend buying a second hand scooter and finding that there are lots of bikes without papers. Some of them have just a copy of the green book, whilst others have nothing at all.

Just curious to know why that is.

Thanks!

Most of them are stolen

Stolen, still outstanding fianance, book given to loan sharks, etc

 

On big bikes it was also a hallmark of the grey import era and not having paid all the import and registration taxes.. A huge topic with many grades and standard of legality.. 

On 11/17/2022 at 10:56 AM, KhunLA said:

Others, simply never registered,

Neighbor bought his basic Honda Wave to ride out to the fields.

Never bothered to register.

No book, no buy.

Don't pay in full before your name is in the book updated by the DLT office.

If the seller does not agree walk on.

Entropy.

There is always a way.

My first HD - I found out years later - was stolen in Japan and shipped here by air.

It had a totally legit green book, and I never had any trouble paying the road tax and compulsory insurance.

When I sold it the new owner had zero problems also.

17 minutes ago, seedy said:

There is always a way.

My first HD - I found out years later - was stolen in Japan and shipped here by air.

It had a totally legit green book, and I never had any trouble paying the road tax and compulsory insurance.

When I sold it the new owner had zero problems also.

Those days are long gone,not possible to get a green book for an

imported(parts)bike any more.

On 11/17/2022 at 10:48 AM, canerandagio said:

Helping out a friend buying a second hand scooter and finding that there are lots of bikes without papers. Some of them have just a copy of the green book, whilst others have nothing at all.

Just curious to know why that is.

Any bike without a green book with the actual owners name as proved by the Thai ID is one you should never buy, as the person selling it is doggy. And the owner must be willing to go with you to the DLT office to transfer ownership.

On 11/17/2022 at 11:07 AM, PPGuy said:

The simple explanation could be that the bike is still under finance. The book is only handed over when fully paid.

Seller can have the book in his possession, but with name of lender inside.

Check that the engine and frame numbers on the bike match the green book before buying too...

3 hours ago, jvs said:

Those days are long gone,not possible to get a green book for an

imported(parts)bike any more.

 

3 hours ago, seedy said:

There is always a way.

 

12 hours ago, papa al said:

Entropy.

In one, excellent example of simplicity in delineation.......

for cheap Thai market bikes - could be from the owner doing a runner from the finance company, the bike was 'refinanced' or used as collateral by dodgy loan shark despite still not fully paid up with the finance company or just plain stolen

 

As long as you know what you're buying and are not paying full legit price for it and can afford to have the be  taken away at any point, could be good for village run around far away from the original owner's location, if you can supply a legit looking new plate for it, most police aren't gonna look too closely at cheap bikes, or even better just use it as parts bike if you have an identical bike with legit plate