I am going to by a car i Thailand. Can anyone tell me about the proper rules regarding red versus white number plates? Can I have a white plate directly? What about insurance? Any limitations for red versus white plates?

Don't worry about it, no rules as such the insurance comes with the motor free or not..

You get a red plate with the new motor if you want to travel around Thailand, you pay for for that but get your money back, if you stay in your province you don't need any plate.

Don't know about crazy Bangkok though.

When your proper number plate arrives it's comes along with the book for the motor and you get your road tax stuff etc..

When you buy the new car, the dealer puts on red plates. The dealer then submits the paperwork to get the vehicle registered and when the white plates come in, they will notify you. You should be covered on insurance at the time of purchase as it is either part of the purchase price or an add on.

What about insurance. can I get the car fully insured with red plates or do i have to wait until I have got the white ones?

You can be fully insured with or without red plates. Without them you are, apparently, only supposed to stay in the same province that you bought the car. I see no reason to not have red plates anyway. For my new car Nissan gave me red plates on the car for a 3,500 Baht deposit - and yes it is a deposit I checked this very clearly. So, in a month or so when the real plates come they call me, I go in and have them swap the plates and get my money back. Why not get them?

Anyone buying a new car wants it insured. I discussed the with and without plates and how it relates to insurance before buying mine too. No problem at all; insured ewither way, but just getting the red plates seems to me to be the way to go - for free! Nissan told me that they didn't even used to charge a deposit, but they had people not returning them...

What about insurance. can I get the car fully insured with red plates or do i have to wait until I have got the white ones?

a car is insured on VIN (chassinumber) and it doesnt matter if it has plates at all

You can be fully insured with or without red plates. Without them you are, apparently, only supposed to stay in the same province that you bought the car. I see no reason to not have red plates anyway. For my new car Nissan gave me red plates on the car for a 3,500 Baht deposit - and yes it is a deposit I checked this very clearly. So, in a month or so when the real plates come they call me, I go in and have them swap the plates and get my money back. Why not get them?

Anyone buying a new car wants it insured. I discussed the with and without plates and how it relates to insurance before buying mine too. No problem at all; insured ewither way, but just getting the red plates seems to me to be the way to go - for free! Nissan told me that they didn't even used to charge a deposit, but they had people not returning them...

red plates without deposits are usually fake. proper red plates come with a brown A5 size reg book, and each trip is supposed to be logged in the book

a change in the law for redplates took place couple of months ago, it is presently illegal to use redplates more than 30 days from car is delivered/insured first time, and fines are up to 10.000 baht

You can be fully insured with or without red plates. Without them you are, apparently, only supposed to stay in the same province that you bought the car. I see no reason to not have red plates anyway. For my new car Nissan gave me red plates on the car for a 3,500 Baht deposit - and yes it is a deposit I checked this very clearly. So, in a month or so when the real plates come they call me, I go in and have them swap the plates and get my money back. Why not get them?

Anyone buying a new car wants it insured. I discussed the with and without plates and how it relates to insurance before buying mine too. No problem at all; insured ewither way, but just getting the red plates seems to me to be the way to go - for free! Nissan told me that they didn't even used to charge a deposit, but they had people not returning them...

red plates without deposits are usually fake. proper red plates come with a brown A5 size reg book, and each trip is supposed to be logged in the book

a change in the law for redplates took place couple of months ago, it is presently illegal to use redplates more than 30 days from car is delivered/insured first time, and fines are up to 10.000 baht

Yes spot on Kata about the brown book, a neighbour up here (Petchabun) was stopped in a Police check point driving his new Isuzu on red plates and was about to be fined 2000 Baht for not recording his journeys.

His wife had to come to his rescue and he was let off!

Mr K-saki is wrong in suggesting that you get your blue reg book straight away, only if you pay cash!.

Our book has just arrived, - after our 3 year Siam leasing loan was paid off.

Finally is that guy serious about testing his 4 wheel drive on car park ramps??,