1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

What stands out as a red-flag with this sale (the Op) is that the seller recently joined Facebook - thats a 'scammer red flag' that would cause me to steer clear.

Not necessarily, but possibly yes, i know facebook scammers that have thousands of friends, one reason i don't accept friend requests unless i know the person

Facebook marketplace is full of scammers but if you proceed cautiously, it's easy to avoid them.

I sold a car on facebook at Christmas. He did things correctly. He brought cash, and only paid when the car was inspected at the DLT who check VIN numbers of car, motor etc.

Many people hide the registration plate, I don't know why, it lowers credibility and can be a red flag.

The biggest red flag is usually the deal is too good to be true, or they ask for a deposit to hold it before you go and view.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Question Op:

Why are you looking at a Car two hours away ?

Is it a great deal ? too good to be true maybe ??

The car is of average price with low milage.

The local market is predominantly "tents" and ask top money for less than perfect vehicles. Also, many are not intersted in cash sales and try to add a processing fee of 10k.

Tents have to pay 7% VAT on their sales.

Sometimes they charge it on top of the sale price, sometimes they absorb it, especially if they are getting commission because you financed it.

2 hours ago, stubuzz said:

The car is of average price with low milage.

The local market is predominantly "tents" and ask top money for less than perfect vehicles. Also, many are not intersted in cash sales and try to add a processing fee of 10k.

That makes sense - I can see why 'shopping' further afield might suit you.

Obviously proceed with caution - ensure that the seller has the Blue Book and ensure he has clear video of the Front Cover and first two pages.

Take a recording of the video if you can - so you can zoom in later and double check the finer details.

- Ensuring the Sellers Name (on Facebook) Matches that in the Blue Book (people might use slightly different names on Facebook - but something completely different is a flag, unless selling for his Wife etc).

- Ask the seller to show the ID Card (if Thai) Passport (if Foreign) to match the BlueBook / ID names (again - this is where video comes in, especially IF the seller is Thai).

- Ensure you note down the Chassis Number / Engine Number - then you can check these off again when you see the car.

- Do not give any deposits (at all).

On 2/22/2026 at 7:33 PM, stubuzz said:

Does it seem suspicious?

KISS

Keep it simple, complete transaction at DLT, pay for car once you have keys and blue book in your name.

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

What stands out as a red-flag with this sale (the Op) is that the seller recently joined Facebook - thats a 'scammer red flag' that would cause me to steer clear.

I agree with that 100%, would give it a miss straight away.

Anyway, what withholds the OP to visit the seller view the car, and only pay once the car has been transferred at the local DLT.

I wouldn't even pay for a 100 baht item on FB, before i received it.

A few years ago I was looking for a second hand PC monitor, and experienced more scammers than genuine sellers on FB marketplace. None of them received 1 baht from me of course. Reporting them to FB was a waste of time as well

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

I agree with that 100%, would give it a miss straight away.

Anyway, what withholds the OP to visit the seller view the car, and only pay once the car has been transferred at the local DLT.

I wouldn't even pay for a 100 baht item on FB, before i received it.

A few years ago I was looking for a second hand PC monitor, and experienced more scammers than genuine sellers on FB marketplace. None of them received 1 baht from me of course. Reporting them to FB was a waste of time as well

Indeed - FB is rife with scammers... The clear tell is... to request to 'meet-up' and purchase the item directly - scammers will not meet in person.

FB should be doing a lot more to deter and ban such scammers, which gives their platform a terrible reputation and enables crime - the company itself seems not to care - meanwhile someone expressing a politically controversial comment can easily get a ban !!!...

The 'recently joined' red-flag could have a genuine excuse - i.e. the seller doesn't do FaceBook but decided its a good way to sell his car so joined - but it's still a strong red flag IMO and combined with the hidden number-plate on the photo's raises that alert level further.

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The 'recently joined' red-flag could have a genuine excuse - i.e. the seller doesn't do FaceBook but decided its a good way to sell his car so joined - but it's still a strong red flag IMO and combined with the hidden number-plate on the photo's raises that alert level further.

How would someone not doing FB be aware of marketplace?

I have a FB account for ages, though I use very seldom, and it wasn't aware of marketplace until a few years ago.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Keep it simple, complete transaction at DLT, pay for car once you have keys and blue book in your name.

Actually i have never done this. I have bough about 7 cars in my time here and they have always been a "floating transfer". That is, the seller gives signed documents and i take them all to my local DLT and transfer there.

6 minutes ago, stubuzz said:

Actually i have never done this. I have bough about 7 cars in my time here and they have always been a "floating transfer". That is, the seller gives signed documents and i take them all to my local DLT and transfer there.

Dirty Harry...... You feeling lucky punk 😊

Keepwearing your Amulet.

You are playing Russian roulette, it's not going to go well for you one day.

7 minutes ago, stubuzz said:

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

How would someone not doing FB be aware of marketplace?

I have a FB account for ages, though I use very seldom, and it wasn't aware of marketplace until a few years ago.

In exactly the same way people are aware of Instagram and TikTok sales - despite not spending their lives doing choreographed dances in their kitchen - it is entirely possible to know things without actively participating in them.

For buying and selling, Facebook Marketplace has been mentioned on this forum approximately one billion times. That’s one method.

Another radical approach is something called “listening” - where other humans speak and you absorb information without needing a user account.

So the real question becomes: how large would the rock need to be - structurally, geologically, almost tectonically significant - for someone to have crawled under it and still not heard of such measures?

And then there are these mysterious inventions called search engines.

For example, you could type into Google:
..... “how best to sell my Doc Johnson Merci Power Banger ?"

..... You know. Hypothetically. Purely academic research, obviously....

1 hour ago, stubuzz said:

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Keep it simple, complete transaction at DLT, pay for car once you have keys and blue book in your name.

Actually i have never done this. I have bough about 7 cars in my time here and they have always been a "floating transfer". That is, the seller gives signed documents and i take them all to my local DLT and transfer there.

I have sold a motorcycle that way - i.e. A guy in Pattaya wanted it... He paid a deposit.

I arranged transport - live called (video) when the bike was loaded - he transfered the remainder (full sum) and I released the transport.

I then sent the Green Book and tax documents, second key, power of attorney for transfer documents etc, via EMS (post) directly to him.

He took all the risk - this is not something I'd do when making a purchase - but the other guy (another foreigner) felt comfortable dealing with me this way rather than having to travel to Bangkok and ride back.

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

In exactly the same way people are aware of Instagram and TikTok sales - despite not spending their lives doing choreographed dances in their kitchen - it is entirely possible to know things without actively participating in them.

Strange then that I never knew that you could sell on Instagram or Tiktok, because I don't have accounts on those social media.

But I let you win, because otherwise you never stop, since you ALWAYS want to have the last word in every topic you bite in.

BYE

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

Strange then that I never knew that you could sell on Instagram or Tiktok, because I don't have accounts on those social media.

But you know now - because you've just read it.... and thats the point - we are not isolated from information.

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

But I let you win, because otherwise you never stop, since you ALWAYS want to have the last word in every topic you bite in.

Nothing to do with the last word or letting me win etc - that’s just juvenile. It’s simply about information and conversation. If you want to make it childish and have a boorish jibe, fill your boots - but at least be witty in any retort, just to keep it entertaining.

Now, if you were actually interested in something beyond your sphere - selling and buying things online, etc - there’s also affiliate marketing. People can sell things on TikTok, Instagram and similar platforms. Pretty much anywhere they have an approved account, they can promote products - and in most cases sell their own private items too.

I trust you've heard of eBay - while that works well in the UK, it doesn't really work at all here.

It’s interesting how much exists beyond our immediate sphere of knowledge.

i would go to the office for transfer of vehicle and driving license and have them validate vehicle & papers before i spend anything

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I have sold a motorcycle that way - i.e. A guy in Pattaya wanted it... He paid a deposit.

I arranged transport - live called (video) when the bike was loaded - he transfered the remainder (full sum) and I released the transport.

I then sent the Green Book and tax documents, second key, power of attorney for transfer documents etc, via EMS (post) directly to him.

He took all the risk - this is not something I'd do when making a purchase - but the other guy (another foreigner) felt comfortable dealing with me this way rather than having to travel to Bangkok and ride back.

The topic and discussion is BUYING.

Yes, selling, no need to bother with KISS

On 2/24/2026 at 10:51 AM, Scouse123 said:

Anybody who has been in Thailand for a reasonable length of time would use better sources than Facebook, such Baht sold etc.

But, as stated in a post further up this thread, buyer beware.

I have bought 3 cars and several motorbikes off facebook market place, whats the issue ?

The DLT do the important checks with the VIN matching the paperwork.

I would never pay for a vehicle with the owner signing Powers of Attorney etc, I would only pay after the DLT inspection, and the blue book was transferred into my name.

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I have bought 3 cars and several motorbikes off facebook market place, whats the issue ?

Still talking about that subject?

I never trusted Facebook, and most scams I have been approached with have come via Facebook, but horses for courses, if it works for you…fine!

16 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Still talking about that subject?

You brought it up.

16 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I never trusted Facebook, and most scams I have been approached with have come via Facebook, but horses for courses, if it works for you…fine!

Cars and bikes... I send the seller a message... ask a few details and if I'm keen I arrange a time to go and see the car/bike.... if it is ok and the paperwork checks out proceed to the purchase stage.

Is this not how other people do it ?

24 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

You brought it up.

Cars and bikes... I send the seller a message... ask a few details and if I'm keen I arrange a time to go and see the car/bike.... if it is ok and the paperwork checks out proceed to the purchase stage.

Is this not how other people do it ?

Define "paperwork checks out" ?

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

Define "paperwork checks out" ?

The book matches the vin number and number plates.

Transfer documents matches the book and the sellers ID.

If seller is a farnag... check they have any additional documents required to compete the transfer.

Etc etc.

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

The book matches the vin number and number plates.

Transfer documents matches the book and the sellers ID.

If seller is a farnag... check they have any additional documents required to compete the transfer.

Etc etc.

You missed checking the engine number.

Are you sufficiently experienced to tell if the VIN has been altered or transplanted?

Do you know all the places on the car the VIN is present?

It's far safer to let the DLT do it. I know I can't do it safely and I was a motor trader for a few years in my 20's.

28 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You missed checking the engine number.

Ohh my bad, thanks for asking a question you knew the answer to and then nit picking my reply.

I will search out a gold star for you.

13 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

21 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I have sold a motorcycle that way - i.e. A guy in Pattaya wanted it... He paid a deposit.

I arranged transport - live called (video) when the bike was loaded - he transfered the remainder (full sum) and I released the transport.

I then sent the Green Book and tax documents, second key, power of attorney for transfer documents etc, via EMS (post) directly to him.

He took all the risk - this is not something I'd do when making a purchase - but the other guy (another foreigner) felt comfortable dealing with me this way rather than having to travel to Bangkok and ride back.

The topic and discussion is BUYING.

Yes, selling, no need to bother with KISS

Thank-you wannabe mod - outstanding insight.

Though, in your haste to be a smart-arse you failed to comprehend the 'information overlap' between buying and selling...

Having sold on FB market place numerous times, its works well - which means is 'also' worked out well for the buy, though, as I commented, I'd carry far greater caution into making a purchase on FB Market Place and not consider a remote purchase.

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

smart-arse

Thank you.

I often referred to as a smart-are. 😉

16 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Ohh my bad, thanks for asking a question you knew the answer to and then nit picking my reply.

I will search out a gold star for you.

The point I was making is that the safest course of action is to let the DLT do the inspection and only pay for the car when the blue book is in your name.

Even this is risky with a grey-market imported car privately or otherwise.

7 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

The point I was making is that the safest course of action is to let the DLT do the inspection and only pay for the car when the blue book is in your name.

Even this is risky with a grey-market imported car privately or otherwise.

Would you let someone transfer your car into their name before they gave you the money?

6 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

The point I was making is that the safest course of action is to let the DLT do the inspection and only pay for the car when the blue book is in your name.

Even this is risky with a grey-market imported car privately or otherwise.

When I have 'sold' cars (yes SF - sold not bought - the information is the same)... There was no inspection at the DLT.

The sale was processed one of two ways.

a) Provide a power of attorney document approving transfer (no need for the seller to go to the DLT) - the new buy does the transfer at the DLT themself.

b) Both Parties attend the DLT and the transfer takes place there and then.

Whenever I was present for the sale of a vehicle at the DLT there was no inspection of the vehicle by the DLT staff (no checks on Chassis / Engine number against the Blue Registration Book).

Another facet of 'handing the money over' at the DLT - An mBanking Transfer has limits.

Cash needs to be counted.

On a couple of occasions I received cash and went to the bank to with the purchaser to have the cash-counted and checked, then paid into my account before either a) handing over documents or b) travelling to DLT with the new buy to assist with the transfer.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Would you let someone transfer your car into their name before they gave you the money?

No - and thats why I carried out the process as above (received money before allowing any transfer of documentation to take place).

When buying a second hand car here - there always seems to be an 'element' of risk taken by the purchaser who hands over or transfers the money first.