New Scooter - Registration, License, Etc ?

[rjk]

Hi Guys and Gals.

I am about to buy a new Honda Click Scooter.

The guy at the shop says it could take a month for registration to be completed but can put a temporary plate on it ? I don't understand how this works. How much grief am I likely to suffer with an effectively unregistered new bike ?

My Personal Assistant is taking me to get my Thai drivers license, however I have been told that in the short term my local Australian license and IDP will get me by ... is this correct as of now ? I have read on this forum so many conflicting reports I am just confused.

Any advice, warnings, advice on 'amounts of tea money' required to get by etc appreciated.

cheers

(btw I posted this is the motor forum originally maybe an admin can remove from there)

[monty]

Hi Guys and Gals.

I am about to buy a new Honda Click Scooter.

The guy at the shop says it could take a month for registration to be completed but can put a temporary plate on it ? I don't understand how this works. How much grief am I likely to suffer with an effectively unregistered new bike ?

Correct, the registration can take anywhere between 3 weeks and up to 3 months to process. You will get a temporary red plate, which basically allows you to drive in your own province, and only during daylight hours. It is very unlikely you'll get fined over this, apart from maybe by highway police, who in any case would fine you regardless your paperwork is OK or not!

My Personal Assistant is taking me to get my Thai drivers license, however I have been told that in the short term my local Australian license and IDP will get me by ... is this correct as of now ? I have read on this forum so many conflicting reports I am just confused.

Correct. You will have no problems with police at all, and normally all insurance companies will cover you when holding a valid IDP along with your home drivers license.

Any advice, warnings, advice on 'amounts of tea money' required to get by etc appreciated.

Keep your sales contract of the bike on you for the period you'll be driving with the red plates. Get at least a proper 3th party insurance, the minimum compulsory one is worthless. You normally can get proper insurance once you have the sales contract AND when it clearly states the frame and engine serial numbers!.

I don't know where you live, but within Pattaya city limits you will only get fined when you actually do something wrong, and you'll pay at he police station where you'll get a proper receipt. On the highways though the Highway police reigns, and when they pull you over you'll almost certain of getting fined "on the spot", without receipt. Normally 200 Baht. Regardless of whether you did anything wrong or not! You can get away without paying only if you are a pretty good negotiator! Apparently Bangkok police work a bit on the highway principle, although mostly they only fine you for actual infractions! They will however position themselves at locations where it is nigh impossible to get through without breaking some rule!!!

cheers

(btw I posted this is the motor forum originally maybe an admin can remove from there)

[rjk]

Hi Guys and Gals.

I am about to buy a new Honda Click Scooter.

The guy at the shop says it could take a month for registration to be completed but can put a temporary plate on it ? I don't understand how this works. How much grief am I likely to suffer with an effectively unregistered new bike ?

Correct, the registration can take anywhere between 3 weeks and up to 3 months to process. You will get a temporary red plate, which basically allows you to drive in your own province, and only during daylight hours. It is very unlikely you'll get fined over this, apart from maybe by highway police, who in any case would fine you regardless your paperwork is OK or not!

My Personal Assistant is taking me to get my Thai drivers license, however I have been told that in the short term my local Australian license and IDP will get me by ... is this correct as of now ? I have read on this forum so many conflicting reports I am just confused.

Correct. You will have no problems with police at all, and normally all insurance companies will cover you when holding a valid IDP along with your home drivers license.

Any advice, warnings, advice on 'amounts of tea money' required to get by etc appreciated.

Keep your sales contract of the bike on you for the period you'll be driving with the red plates. Get at least a proper 3th party insurance, the minimum compulsory one is worthless. You normally can get proper insurance once you have the sales contract AND when it clearly states the frame and engine serial numbers!.

I don't know where you live, but within Pattaya city limits you will only get fined when you actually do something wrong, and you'll pay at he police station where you'll get a proper receipt. On the highways though the Highway police reigns, and when they pull you over you'll almost certain of getting fined "on the spot", without receipt. Normally 200 Baht. Regardless of whether you did anything wrong or not! You can get away without paying only if you are a pretty good negotiator! Apparently Bangkok police work a bit on the highway principle, although mostly they only fine you for actual infractions! They will however position themselves at locations where it is nigh impossible to get through without breaking some rule!!!

cheers

(btw I posted this is the motor forum originally maybe an admin can remove from there)

Thanks for the advice. I ended up with a Honda Click Forward from a proper Honda dealer for 50500 including insurance, registration, free servicing and standard helmets. I'm off to buy a REAL helmet tomorrow as I wouldn't like to trust the cheapies.

As for red plates, I didn't get one of those, just a blank, but so many people have re-assured me that as long as I have my receipt with me until issued a plate I should be fine, even if it costs 100 baht.

I am in Bangkok. The idea of Bangkok roads scares the hel_l out of me, but for soi hopping I can't really find a better alternative.