Green Book/registration Plates

[KohKarrang]

I've been looking for a bike for a while now, I've found one I like a lot but it doesn't have any plates, I've asked around and I'm a bit confused about what I'll need to get this bike on he road...

Do I need a green book for this bike? I spoke with a friend of mine yesterday and she said her Farang boss bought a few bikes and got them registered for B800 whereas I've heard I'll need to spend B20,000 to register a bike, can someone please clear this up for me?

Could I just buy his bike in a Thai friends name and get a cheap price? Is that what all the high pricing is about - Farang ownership?

Any responses would be appreciated

[HDRIDER]

Hi

You will need a green book, what bike? a book could set you back 80.000

[KohKarrang]

Hi

You will need a green book, what bike? a book could set you back 80.000

It's a yamaha 400

What was my friend talking about B800?

Somebody mentioned a 'recylced' green book for B20,000...

[HDRIDER]

Hi

400, yes maybe 20.000, maybe 30.000, you have to shop around if you want a recylced book, if you want a new book, could be 50-60.000

800 no idea.

[KohKarrang]

Hi

400, yes maybe 20.000, maybe 30.000, you have to shop around if you want a recylced book, if you want a new book, could be 50-60.000

800 no idea.

What are the advantages or disadvantages of having a recycled book to a new book?

And are they a bit naughty?

[LivinLOS]

A 'recycled' book is a book of a similar / same bike thats died / been crashed / whatever.. They then change engine numbers / color etc and rub off your legit frame numbers and restamp them to the same as the book.. if alls done properly, and if no one at the DMV notices the sudden change of lots of components, and no one catches you.. You now have a booked bike. of course lots can go wrong and the issue can come back many years down the line too.

A 20k recycled book is cheap for where I am.. It also depends on the bike, a CB400 is common and theres more books out there.. A exotic can be impossible to find. 25 is a more normal min and up.. Of course BKK is cheap and I hear that Patts / Chon Buri has ways where legit books (not recycling old ones) are 'bought' and the bike put into the system for under 30k. I have no direct experience on this just rumor.

I am told the 100% legit registration of a 400 can be done for 55k.. Thats including getting it through the emissions test. Thats in BKK.. For some reason the same job on Phuket was quoted as being 80k because the customs house (??) guy wants an extra 20k ?!?!? I have heard prices ranging from 60 - 100 for various larger engine sizes, however legal registration hinges on the bike having some import tax paid papers on the frame and engine, so if you have these it can be at the low end and if you dont it can be at the high end. It also doesnt happen overnight so can take some months.

Bikes 250 and under should be able to be registered for the super cheap 800 baht fee. This is a new rule change and I would be very curious as to if this is only for new bikes or can be done privately with pre owned bikes. I would love to hear more on this issue if anyones trying it.

[KohKarrang]

Excellent and very informative response LivinLOS, thank you very much!

So this Yamaha I'm looking at, it's a flat tracker bike and I've only ever seen one in BKK, I can see this bike being a problem, however, I only want it for use on Koh Chang so maybe a plate isn't so important at the moment, the CB400's I've been looking at and the other dirt/trials bikes shouldn't be a problem as like you said the CB400's are many and the dirt/trials bikes are mostly 250 or under, thanks again for the info LivinLOS