Invoice Vs. Green Book

[Hauptjager]

Hi All,

I want to buy a 400 cc or bigger bike. My budget is limited, and many of the bikes I see only have an Invoice. what is the difference between and invoice and a green book? What is the process to get a green book for a bike that only has an invoice? BTW any leads on something in the CB / Suzuki Bandit or sportier bike would be a great help!

Many thanks,

Steve

[H2oDunc]

A bike with an invoice cannot be legally ridden on the roads as it does not have a registration. People do though.

There are plenty of bikes out there with a green book so my advice would be to get one of those. Getting a book for a bike with an invoice can be done but it can cost up to 100,000 baht.

[Hauptjager]

Getting a book for a bike with an invoice can be done but it can cost up to 100,000 baht.

dam_n! I had no idea it would cost so much to get a green book. I guess the search will continue..... thank you.

[bbradsby]

In TV forum threads, big [grey] bike greenbook pricing has been quoted everywhere from 30k to now 100k. Huge difference!!!... so I have to ask: what facts & experience are your comment based on, and do you actually know the criteria for pricing the greenbook for a given bike?

[Hauptjager]

In TV forum threads, big [grey] bike greenbook pricing has been quoted everywhere from 30k to now 100k. Huge difference!!!... so I have to ask: what facts & experience are your comment based on, and do you actually know the criteria for pricing the greenbook for a given bike?

bbradsby,

This is a very good question, and it seems that no one I talk to knows the answer... I'm also told that in some cities, the police do not stop frangs on big bikes, because "its a victimless crime." not sure I believe that either. My thinking is that if there is some crazy price to get a green book say 30 or even 100K, who payed that for all the "legit" bikes that I see on the road? to be very honest its all very aggravating...

[Disting]

For a 400cc bike the green book will cost 50 to 60 thousand to get it done legally. My 1300 cost 85k and has a legitimate Bangkok book and plate. You can get recycled books where the book is from an old bike with the newer bikes details are put in its place. These are dodgy and you can get issues when doing a name change unless it is at one of the known places, Prachinburi, Sisaket etc where they will re register these books. These books are good enough for police checks etc and are cheaper to get done.

All fun and games.

[H2oDunc]

In TV forum threads, big [grey] bike greenbook pricing has been quoted everywhere from 30k to now 100k. Huge difference!!!... so I have to ask: what facts & experience are your comment based on, and do you actually know the criteria for pricing the greenbook for a given bike?

The price of 100,000 baht for a book was a QUOTE from a dealer for a book for a bike I enquired about.

having talked to many Thais it goes from said 30,000 up depending on the " Quality " of the invoice.

I have since found that there are plenty of bikes around with GOOD green books and recommend people get one of them rather than risk losing their bikes or their money trying to get a book. Try a search about paying for a book and not getting one

[ESB7]

I always wanted a SR400 and they never ..or rarely come with a book.....last year, I thought I had actually got something, there was one for sale with a plate and the guy told my wife although it wasnt the 'book' it allowed the rider to ride the bike legally and to apply for a book.......befor parting with 50K I wanted confirmation, our neighbour happens to be a policeman and my wife asked him...yes there is such a paper but it wont get you a book and also if you are stopped, its at the discretion of the police whether to impound the bike or not...basically no book and it aint legal...simples...cant remember what the name of the paper is but something from the local registration office...

[Kwarium]

...cant remember what the name of the paper is but something from the local registration office...

The first of many steps to get a grey bike legalized is to pay the 3% excise tax on the newly assembled bike. Many invoice bike ads list that as a selling point. It sounds like that is the paper you're talking about.

FWIW, I went to DLT and checked my green book, which has the excise stamped on page 18. While there, I was able to check the legality of two other bikes I was considering. I gave the plate number (a cell phone picture would work) and they pulled up the record on the computer. She was careful to not give me personal information, but confirmed the name and address I had for the sellers was correct.

They also recommended against buying an invoice bike as there might be pages or signatures missing. Buying invoice bikes from the actual person (importer) listed on the invoice papers and having them handle the process would be the only way to consider a non-green book bike, IMHO. Some of the importers won't even offer the service.

My understanding is that 'recycled' books cost around 30,000 and are done in the provinces as mentioned above. The 80,000 Baht books are 'real', but TIT.

K