I am potentially going to see a car tomorrow and if it turns to be what I want, out I will buy it, but as it is a private owner selling his vehicle are there any things (apart from mechanical) that I need to be wary of. What is the registration transfer process etc. Anyone could help it would be apprecated.

Cheers

Oz

I want to know the same thing, buying from a Thai guy privately.. you find out anything Oz?

There are a few hurdles and trust involved so best to take thai partner or somebody who understands and reads thai ie is the name&address in registration blue book the person you are buying from ?if ok pay deposit and go to land transport office where car is registered to complete deal. Or the vendor may only be able to show a photocopy as car is on finance very common, if so he or you will have to pay of the debt to obtain the book this is where the trust comes in it may be the same day if a small amount with a local company or 3/4 days large company that keeps books at a different location. Always be joined at the hip with the vendor to see the handover if you've parted with any money, your thai partner will have asked when, so it's not "picked "up the day before. Then proceed directly with car to land transport office where it is registered fill in forms, both partys for buying and selling have the details of vehcle checked and pay fees including one for their assessment of market value, not what you are paying (i only buy old cars so a few hundred baht). Then when book with new name in is issued you pay balance to vendor (trust on his part) and drive car home. This is for thai name inbook, falang name more paperwork. Sorry reply is long winded but so is process, i suggest if on finance arrange book pickup early am then straight to L/Transport for possibly rest of day taking in to account dinner breaks etc, or it could be told come back tomorrow ! but not with a sweet smile !! I have bought a number of vehicles some from private owners also car tents and side of road dealers procedure basically same you just can't rush it, if they won't go to L/transport with you saying here's all paperwork/receipt for your money just walk away genuine vendors will go.

I bought a four year old car privately in Bangkok two weeks ago and I brough a good Thai friend with me from Khon Kaen who knew all details and he had also prepared some paperwork beforehand. Still the transfer took nearly a whole day and I didn't had the added problem with a finance company since the previous owner had bought the car cash when new. One of my preconditions for buying a second hand car in the first place was that it had to be fully paid for.

Kartman's descriptions sums it all up very well I would think.

Göran

I read here and in the press about a car theft ring operating out of Bangkok and Pattaya (linked with rented cars being sold on), one problem was that the cars are being sold with faked blue books - so check the paperwork with the transport office directly. One thing I learnt when looking for my truck was check the engine and bodywork serial numbers with the paperwork. Exchange engines are common place - if the paperwork does not match real life and the transport office records, getting the 'mistake' corrected can be difficult. The same is true for cars that have been resprayed without the book updated.