I'm being charged 40,000 baht for a supposedly required full repaint of my older car in order to renew its road tax. Strange, I thought the tax was connected with exhaust emissions and have never had this issue on 15 years' past tax renewals. Mechanically, the car is fine and regularly serviced by an affordable and very competent local guy, but the roof has been sun-bleached, there are two very small rust areas, two small scratches and some very minor fade on the front o f the bonnet and the bumpers need repainting.

 

When I inquired several years ago, I was quoted 10,000 for a complete respray as I wanted to change the color - apparently not allowed - now it's 40,000 for just the above. I live in Sannameng - Sansai, and the local car tax guy has never made the above an issue before. Don't know where to go from here - first time a local has attempted an obvious overcharge......now I'm scared to use the car, even for essential journeys into town. 

Try a different land transport office.... they vary greatly. You can use any office for road tax. I have in the past changed ownership and road taxed a car with a colour change.

Just to get it registered probably any paintjob will do - as long as it is the registered color.

 

DIY!

 

 

15 minutes ago, elena edwards said:

the local car tax guy

do you mean the local independent test centre with the blue & yellow cog sign, where they test cars, then go and do the paperwork for you, or the govt transport office.  If the former, try another test centre.

You mean to say you need to respray your vehicle ,before they will tax it for you ?

I find that hard to believe seeing the state of some older vehicle's you see on the

roads ,  plus you you go for the test before taxing the vehicle, the testing of the brakes

,body condition , etc ,etc , are very basic compared to the West ,looking nice a new requirement ...????

 

regards worgeordie

Much confusing.

"tax man" seems to refer to a test station for the annual inspection (yellow cogwheel).

 

1 hour ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Try a different land transport office....

 

"local tax man" would mean DLT office which does not inspect a car for annual tax payment.

Sounds to me like the test station (private workshop, yellow cogwheel)?

 

Color change (respray) not allowed??
You urgently need a translator.
You can change the color but then have the car inspected at the DLT(!) for the color change (only) and have it changed in the blue book (car registration).

That does not cost xxxxx Baht.

 

As others suggest: look for another test station (many around/close by every DLT.
A person with basic knowledge of English(?)/Thai would be helpful.

Sounds like a con job,    and/or    Ya, "You urgently need a translator".

5 hours ago, elena edwards said:

I'm being charged 40,000 baht for a supposedly required full repaint of my older car in order to renew its road tax.

never heard of any painting requirements for renewal of road tax

 

it just does not sound right

5 hours ago, elena edwards said:

the local car tax guy

exactly who is that, where does he work, like what office or company

6 hours ago, elena edwards said:

I live in Sannameng - Sansai, and the local car tax guy has never made the above an issue before. Don't know where to go from here - first time a local has attempted an obvious overcharge......now I'm scared to use the car, even for essential journeys into town. 

Take it to a different testing place. 

I use this one in SanSai ........... and my pickup is a total rusty junk heap.

https://goo.gl/maps/SN9qAhLhPfXr6DyAA

You're being ripped off by your local cog shop. The only thing my local one tests is brakes. 

https://goo.gl/maps/DWhfFKq2Kp2UezSD7

Might  be of no use to you but there is a small business painting cars here https://goo.gl/maps/N1uKbs9XyG2nD48b6. I can't imagine they'd charge much

All of the above makes sense,they are trying to rip the Op a new one.

 

Perhaps Lana Care or similar could assist the OP.  I think some kind of assistance beyond these posts is indicated.

Pay the tax online:

 

https://eservice.dlt.go.th/esvapp/login.jsf

 

You will need to register before you can pay, and since the website is only in Thai, you may need somebody to help you.

 

The car must pass the technical inspection beforehand, and that can be done in many places. If the car is technically OK (brakes, suspension, lights, emissions), but the inspectors in the first place will not pass it unless you repaint it, try somewhere else.

 

Alternatively ask the person, who services the car for you, to take it through the inspection.

I proudly tool around Pat's in a very sun faded, dinged, scraped, paint peeled, rusty 1998 Honda City.   (Ratty interior, low milage, runs great)

No problem renewing.

Take it to another they are dime a dozen!  A buddy years back took his vehicle they said his tires stuck out a bit too much that prior will need to get a whole new set of rims and tires. I went outside took a look said I'll be back in half hour have my coffee and breakfast ready ordered off the menu.

Half hour later back pick up tomorrow after 4:00pm.

I have customised many vehicles in Thailand    never had this problem some one is trying to rip u off , go elsewhere

My daily ride is an old Nissan 4x4 truck, beaten and faded with noisy engine / exhaust, which occasionally blows black smoke, mainly when just starting. Never had a problem at the test!

 

Just try a different test station

As said by many, I also have an old car, with very faded cracking heat damaged color, rust everywhere, never a problem. Note if you change the color then you have 7 days, to register that in the book. Also one time at the transport office which I now NEVER use, took the old NV but I'd taken off, the carboy type cover off the back, they insisted even that had to be changed in the book before they would pass it, that is so crazy as I tried to point out to them, sometimes I want it on. . so in theory every time I'd want to use i, then I'd have to change it again! That ain't going to happen ever. Hoping the cops will never pick up on it.  

Last Year I Took my 2001 4x4 to the Test Station 7 The Mechanic ( Sic ) Said No Can Pass You have a String of Coloured lights on the front grill & That is NOT Allowed now ( He Actually said " The Army are in Control of the Country Now 555 " So went to my friends Car Wash & had them disconnected took vehicle back the next day & Hey Presto It Passed with flying COLOURS ( No Pun Intended )....

OP A friend had a white truck (New) Ranger had it raised, black look like mud wrap. The next tax registration he was denied because more than 50% of truck was black. Didn’t here how it worked

out he (his wife) took took it to province in south where he bought it. 
 

China has the same restrictions and you have to get color change approved first. China takes it one 

step further … the car registration book has registration and picture of your car.

 

Probably can get a shop to help you for a couple 1,000 baht… try where you buy insurance you’ve already got a relationship. 
 

please post for everyone to see how it turned out Incase they face the same dilemma…

I was told by one test centre they could not test the car as it had dim blue LEDs in the front skirt, they had been there since new and they had tested the car every required  year in its 14 year life.  I went down the road to another test centre, passed without problem.

On 2/26/2023 at 6:06 PM, DJ54 said:

OP A friend had a white truck (New) Ranger had it raised, black look like mud wrap. The next tax registration he was denied because more than 50% of truck was black. Didn’t here how it worked

out he (his wife) took took it to province in south where he bought it. 
 

China has the same restrictions and you have to get color change approved first. China takes it one 

step further … the car registration book has registration and picture of your car.

 

Probably can get a shop to help you for a couple 1,000 baht… try where you buy insurance you’ve already got a relationship. 
 

please post for everyone to see how it turned out Incase they face the same dilemma…

I had a pickup with the bonnet and roof wrapped.

Renewal denied, missus had a few words with the inspectors and they mumbled something about only a certain percentage of the vehicle can be a different colour.

Removed the roof wrap...... renewal ok.

 

12 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

something about only a certain percentage of the vehicle can be a different colour.

never heard of this but it is not unreasonable

On 2/27/2023 at 6:38 PM, Dellboy218 said:

I was told by one test centre they could not test the car as it had dim blue LEDs in the front skirt, they had been there since new and they had tested the car every required  year in its 14 year life.  I went down the road to another test centre, passed without problem.

Much the SAME as me M8,( See My Post Above ) Mine had PASSED For The Previous 17 / 18 Years Too....

Eight years living in Thailand and THIS is the biggest power play I've ever heard of for a simple thing really. 

 

Boggles the mind TIT

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies - the entire car, except for the faded roof - is as on manufacture - the same original colour and with two small rust areas and two recently acquired four-inch long scratches on the drivers' door. Decided it's a scam, especially since my vet's car is same make, model and age and seriously needs a TOTAL respray but has no issues at all with renewing its road tax.

I've been here for 16 years now - but seriously considering a move to another SE Asia destination.....