What is the proper way to handle a car transfer in Thailand as far as when to pay the seller? Do you generally meet at the car registration place with cash in hand? Just wondering what the safest way is and what the "proper" way to do it is. Thanks!

I went to the bank with the salesman and they issued him a bankers draft.

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

I went to the bank with the salesman and they issued him a bankers draft.

For cars I always took the invoice from the dealer to the bank and had a 'cashiers check' issued in the name of the dealer, takes about 15 minutes on the bank. Back to the dealer and get a receipt and the car (with red number plates). Motorbikes I usually buy paying cash.

If you are buying from an individual owner, do as you say, hand over the cash at the registration office, at the time of registration.

OK, I used the search function and found this thread

I was told by the salesman handling the sale of a new car from the Toyota dealer, Thaiyont Chonburi ( Pattaya Branch) that I am to bring my Certificate of Residence as well as 636,546 THB cash on the day my car is to be picked up

Anyone know what will happen if I show up with a Cashiers check for that amount since I am not thrilled about carrying that much cash on a Baht Bus ?

Cashier check (cheque) from my bank to the (in my case) Isuzu dealership

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

This has also been my experience during several buy/sell of new and used cars. Remember to get a signed copy of the sellers (the person listed as owner in the blue book) ID card as well, that's needed at the registration office.

Going together to the registration office is normally only done for property. Perhaps if the car is a Ferrari or a Rolls things are different?

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

This has also been my experience during several buy/sell of new and used cars. Remember to get a signed copy of the sellers (the person listed as owner in the blue book) ID card as well, that's needed at the registration office.

Going together to the registration office is normally only done for property. Perhaps if the car is a Ferrari or a Rolls things are different?

The blue book is not available to purchase the car if it is financed by a leasing company second hand. Just get the payoff amount and go to the leasing company together with the seller and pay off the balance just like any where else in the world, then the Blue book is handed over by the leasing company to the new purchaser just notify the leasing company in advance to be sure everything is properly prepared before you show up to cut your wait time down and any unexpected delays.... .

OK, I used the search function and found this thread

I was told by the salesman handling the sale of a new car from the Toyota dealer, Thaiyont Chonburi ( Pattaya Branch) that I am to bring my Certificate of Residence as well as 636,546 THB cash on the day my car is to be picked up

Anyone know what will happen if I show up with a Cashiers check for that amount since I am not thrilled about carrying that much cash on a Baht Bus ?

If you are buying from a dealer, I'd expect that they would be OK with a cashier's check. Keeping in mind though, that a cashier's check has to clear like any other check, you'd probably be better off to call and ask them first.

OK, I used the search function and found this thread

I was told by the salesman handling the sale of a new car from the Toyota dealer, Thaiyont Chonburi ( Pattaya Branch) that I am to bring my Certificate of Residence as well as 636,546 THB cash on the day my car is to be picked up

Anyone know what will happen if I show up with a Cashiers check for that amount since I am not thrilled about carrying that much cash on a Baht Bus ?

I just bought a new Toyota at K Motors on Sukhumvit.

When I ordered the car I had the residency affidavit and a 10,000 baht deposit.

When the car was ready to be picked up I brought a certain amount in cash (carry-able amount) plus a cashiers check from my bank.

Upon paying for the car I was given the red book for the red license plates, and off I went.

BTW, don't expect a full tank of gas as you depart the dealer. They're more apt to give you 1 liter.

When I bough a Toyota in Chiangmai the lady salesperso came to the bank ith me. I gaveher a small deposit in cash (Round % I think ) and she gae me a copy of the contract. We also got a cashier cheque for the balance which she told me to bring the next day when I picked up the vehicle. After that she and her girlf friend bought me lunch as a thank you. a totally painless experience.

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

I would never pay for a used car before Land Transport Department has confirmed its identity. I can read the VIN code myself, but only LTD can compare it with the original to see if its fake or genuine. Then pay when all docs are signed before transfer.

Cashier check is proof of payment, properties and cars

OK, I used the search function and found this thread

I was told by the salesman handling the sale of a new car from the Toyota dealer, Thaiyont Chonburi ( Pattaya Branch) that I am to bring my Certificate of Residence as well as 636,546 THB cash on the day my car is to be picked up

Anyone know what will happen if I show up with a Cashiers check for that amount since I am not thrilled about carrying that much cash on a Baht Bus ?

I just bought a new Toyota at K Motors on Sukhumvit.

When I ordered the car I had the residency affidavit and a 10,000 baht deposit.

When the car was ready to be picked up I brought a certain amount in cash (carry-able amount) plus a cashiers check from my bank.

Upon paying for the car I was given the red book for the red license plates, and off I went.

BTW, don't expect a full tank of gas as you depart the dealer. They're more apt to give you 1 liter.

Cashier check works fine within province. issued in one province and used in another province, bank draft works fine. Both are excellent proof of payment.

usually dealer wants cash for insurance and other stuff, but car should not be payed with cash

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

This has also been my experience during several buy/sell of new and used cars. Remember to get a signed copy of the sellers (the person listed as owner in the blue book) ID card as well, that's needed at the registration office.

Going together to the registration office is normally only done for property. Perhaps if the car is a Ferrari or a Rolls things are different?

The blue book is not available to purchase the car if it is financed by a leasing company second hand. Just get the payoff amount and go to the leasing company together with the seller and pay off the balance just like any where else in the world, then the Blue book is handed over by the leasing company to the new purchaser just notify the leasing company in advance to be sure everything is properly prepared before you show up to cut your wait time down and any unexpected delays.... .

There is a big risk of doing this. The owner can have a personal loan, with the same finance company and noone inform you about this. So finance takes outstanding balance, but not need to hand over blue book until the personal loan is paid as well. This is a important factor and many peaple lost money in that matter during last 6 monts. So make sure there is no personal loan to clear with the finance from the previouws owner.

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

I would never pay for a used car before Land Transport Department has confirmed its identity. I can read the VIN code myself, but only LTD can compare it with the original to see if its fake or genuine. Then pay when all docs are signed before transfer.

Cashier check is proof of payment, properties and cars

This is correct way if it's a multi million baht car, but there is no need for a 150'k used car to do this way, as most of those cars are not registered in the correct province anyway. For example many Bankok plated cars driving around in Pattaya, as they not go the hassles to register them in Chonburi. So the doc,s have to bi signed off and sent per EMS to Bangkok for changing ownership, comes back 10 days later. Most of cardealers do this way, unless they hand you the paers out and you do the tranfers in bangkok by your self, wich is time consuming and not easy.

It's very easy:

Used Cars: You buy the car, pay for it the full amount in cash and the seller gives you at the same time the blue book and the transfer documents. After that you can go to the ministery of transportation to change ownership. If the seller not have the bluebook, DON'T buy the car.

New cars, is different' as they not have any blue book issued yet, because the car is new. If you pay only a down payment, you anyway not get the blue book. The finance company will get it. If you pay in cash, you have to wait until the new blue book is issued from the ministery of transportation, wich takes usually several weeks.

This has also been my experience during several buy/sell of new and used cars. Remember to get a signed copy of the sellers (the person listed as owner in the blue book) ID card as well, that's needed at the registration office.

Going together to the registration office is normally only done for property. Perhaps if the car is a Ferrari or a Rolls things are different?

The blue book is not available to purchase the car if it is financed by a leasing company second hand. Just get the payoff amount and go to the leasing company together with the seller and pay off the balance just like any where else in the world, then the Blue book is handed over by the leasing company to the new purchaser just notify the leasing company in advance to be sure everything is properly prepared before you show up to cut your wait time down and any unexpected delays.... .

There is a big risk of doing this. The owner can have a personal loan, with the same finance company and noone inform you about this. So finance takes outstanding balance, but not need to hand over blue book until the personal loan is paid as well. This is a important factor and many peaple lost money in that matter during last 6 monts. So make sure there is no personal loan to clear with the finance from the previouws owner.

The 2 largest financecompanies in LOS, Tanachart and Tisco, insist on transfer the car to the person registered in book as co owner/user . When this is completed one or two weeks after all payments recieved, book can be handed to new owner, but if registered owner picks up book and transfer to someone else.................... deep sh-t.

^ Not true, I sold my car in 2005 and did exactly this, went to the finance company (City, which is also one of the largest) with one days advanced notice with payoff amount and the new owner in tow and paid it off and then all was handled through them. I then went down with the new owner as a courtesy since he had not purchased a car here before and helped him register it and get his drivers license at the same time..