Unpaid Motorcycle Tax

[dddave]

A friend recently bought a used RE Himalayan, private sale.  He just realized it hasn't been registered since 2020.  That means there will be back taxes due when he tries to register it.  

What is the procedure with unpaid motor vehicle taxes?  I seem to remember something about 3 year maximum.  Will the unpaid taxes need to be paid when getting the inspection sticker at DLT?   

For a 6 year old Himalayan 400cc, roughly how much might the back taxes be? 

[roo860]

12 minutes ago, dddave said:

A friend recently bought a used RE Himalayan, private sale.  He just realized it hasn't been registered since 2020.  That means there will be back taxes due when he tries to register it.  

What is the procedure with unpaid motor vehicle taxes?  I seem to remember something about 3 year maximum.  Will the unpaid taxes need to be paid when getting the inspection sticker at DLT?   

For a 6 year old Himalayan 400cc, roughly how much might the back taxes be? 

I believe after 3 yrs it will have to be re registered?

[henryford1958]

Do you mean it hasn't been taxed for 5 years or wasn't registered when new. Bikes are not registered every year. Did your friend not register it when he bought it?

[dddave]

1 minute ago, henryford1958 said:

Do you mean it hasn't been taxed for 5 years or wasn't registered when new. Bikes are not registered every year. Did your friend not register it when he bought it?

No, he did not register it at time of purchase.  He has had a problem obtaining residency Cert related to a TM30 issue.  The bike was registered at one time but not since 2020.  

[UWEB]

7 hours ago, dddave said:

No, he did not register it at time of purchase.  He has had a problem obtaining residency Cert related to a TM30 issue.  The bike was registered at one time but not since 2020.  

To pay Taxes he needs to have the compulsory Insurance (Por Ror Bor). But as the Bike is older then 5 years he need to get the Inspection first, they can arrange the Insurance too at the same time.

[Agusts]

Back taxes are the least of the problem , if I remember they always charge/fine me 1 baht for every month that I'm late paying taxes, plus 100 baht a year for the actual tax. So for 5 years maybe 500 + 60 baht..., I stand be corrected if not right. 

 

Plus compulsory insurance and safety inspection as mentioned above... 

 

But the green book and maybe number plate is expired after 3 years of not paying tax. So that has to be renewed, this is the more complex process. DLT needs to inspect the bike for identification (different from safety inspection) and renew green book etc., not sure about cost, depends on bike size, nothing astronomical I don't think, under 1000 baht I would say..., needs the owner on green book to go to DLT to sort it out..., some forms and ID copies etc. needed... 

 

I'm sure guys who have done this will respond with more accurate info... 

[SAFETY FIRST]

17 hours ago, dddave said:

He just realized it hasn't been registered since 2020.

When buying a used vehicle, exchange should be completed at the DLT or very least authorised inspection station. 

This issue would have been highlighted. 

 

Take the green book and bike to the DLT, it's got to be re registered. 

 

[HappyExpat57]

This is one of the main reasons I will never buy nor sell a used bike in LOS. When it's time for me to upgrade, I donate the old one to someone who lives out in the sticks, green book and all.

[ricklev]

Sounds like you are saying the green book ownershop was never transferred from the older owner to the previous owner.  If you don't have the older owner's power of attorney form and  a signed copy of their unexpired Thai ID or a signed copy of their foreign passport with a current visa stamp you are going to face some problems.  I may be wrong though... 

[ricklev]

1 minute ago, ricklev said:

Sounds like you are saying the green book ownershop was never transferred from the older owner to the previous owner.  If you don't have the older owner's power of attorney form and unexpired Thai ID or foreign passport with a current visa stamp you are going to face some problems.  I may be wrong though... 

 

[Agusts]

5 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

This is one of the main reasons I will never buy nor sell a used bike in LOS. When it's time for me to upgrade, I donate the old one to someone who lives out in the sticks, green book and all.

 

Just mention that always make sure the name on Green Book is changed to another person, or you have a contract of sale with two reliable witnesses signed too. If the other rider have an accident or run over someone, they don't care who was riding the bike (or driving the car), they come after the owner of the vehicle who as a farang is always a billionaire....!!! 

 

Not police matter but they can sue in civil courts. You have to run around in courts for a long time to get out of that one, normally people just give up and pay up to end it...

 

[Formaleins]

On 7/11/2025 at 11:41 AM, dddave said:

A friend recently bought a used RE Himalayan, private sale.  He just realized it hasn't been registered since 2020.  That means there will be back taxes due when he tries to register it.  

What is the procedure with unpaid motor vehicle taxes?  I seem to remember something about 3 year maximum.  Will the unpaid taxes need to be paid when getting the inspection sticker at DLT?   

For a 6 year old Himalayan 400cc, roughly how much might the back taxes be? 

Take it to the nearest TRO office, get the bike inspected, pay the money and in two days, you will be up to date with your tax and they will issue you new insurance, the tax is something like 1 baht or similar per day , not expensive and no fines. The TRO will get your tax disc for you, just collect it in a couple of days. Also, there is no need to wait until your car or bike is a certain age (I believe 7 years for a car) you do NOT need to go to the transport offices, just your handiest TRO.

[Andycoops]

When I bought a Click from my wife's friend we re registered it in my wife's name, it had not been taxed for 5 or 6 years.

 

If I recall correctly those untaxed years had to be paid before the new 1 year tax was issued.

 

It was 12 or 13 years ago.