Hi all,

As soon as our house is sold here in the UK we will (Thai wife and daughter) be moving to Thailand. One of the first things we need to do is buy a car or SUV, not sure which yet.

Given we will initially be staying short term in a hotel/apartment until we find a house, we'll obviously not have a permanent address at this point.

Will this be a problem in terms of documentation I need to buy the car. Also, what other documents am I likely to need. I'll not be needing finance.

Advice appreciated.

Dave.

You have two ways to do this. Buy the car in your wifes name. She will just have to show her Thai ID card and driver license. If its in your name you will need Thai driver license which will require you to have at least an O visa to obtain and a certificate of residency which you can get at immigration or the embassy. Using a temporary address is no problem, you still have to obtain a letter from where you are staying with the owners ID and signature to apply for the certificate of residency.

You have two ways to do this. Buy the car in your wifes name. She will just have to show her Thai ID card and driver license. If its in your name you will need Thai driver license which will require you to have at least an O visa to obtain and a certificate of residency which you can get at immigration or the embassy. Using a temporary address is no problem, you still have to obtain a letter from where you are staying with the owners ID and signature to apply for the certificate of residency.

Many thanks for the quick response.

I don't mind it being in my wife's name at all. However, my wife has a driving licence but it is a UK one. Would that pose a problem?

You have two ways to do this. Buy the car in your wifes name. She will just have to show her Thai ID card and driver license. If its in your name you will need Thai driver license which will require you to have at least an O visa to obtain and a certificate of residency which you can get at immigration or the embassy. Using a temporary address is no problem, you still have to obtain a letter from where you are staying with the owners ID and signature to apply for the certificate of residency.

Many thanks for the quick response.

I don't mind it being in my wife's name at all. However, my wife has a driving licence but it is a UK one. Would that pose a problem?

No drivers licence needed at all.

Just thai id card, Thats it.

You have two ways to do this. Buy the car in your wifes name. She will just have to show her Thai ID card and driver license. If its in your name you will need Thai driver license which will require you to have at least an O visa to obtain and a certificate of residency which you can get at immigration or the embassy. Using a temporary address is no problem, you still have to obtain a letter from where you are staying with the owners ID and signature to apply for the certificate of residency.

When I got a certificate of residency from the American embassy a couple of months ago (albeit for a different purpose), they didn't ask to see any papers at all (although I had taken my lease with me). The only thing they wanted was their form filled out, my signature and passport, and the fee. I had the certificate of residency within minutes.