Buying Second Hand Vehicle

[alesypalsy]

I am looking at getting either a new pick up or buying second hand, Now i have read so much but am a little confused as to what are you to do, in the UK you buy the car and fill out the log book and it is changed to your name, simple,, but Is it as simple in los? If for instance i brought a car from buri ram and I was living in bangkok what is the process, i read else where you must goto the driving tax etc office and change the log book with the old owner present and you have to register the vehicle in your province??? I am well confused and it all sounds a bit to complicated,,, surley it is not as hard as all that?

And what about when i sell it on??

Cheers

[Brew]

go to the registration office in your province with all required documents, and signed copies of the documents. Of course you have to take your car with you, it will be checked.

They will request the file in the province where the car has been registered before. But it takes time. When I did it, it took nearly 3 months. And they didn't inform me like they promised. So I went there again when it took to long. Of course they insisted they sent me a letter, and I had to pay a fine of some 100 baht.

Try to let it be done by your insurance company!

And sice about 1.5 years the expiry date of insurance and tax have to be the same!

[COBBER]

Best to go to the office in the province where the vehicle is registered and do the transfer there. Its not compulsary to take the previous owner along but take him if you can, just in case there is something he hasnt done on the paperwork. The staff at these offices can be a bit perdantic and it might save you another trip back there.

To comply with the law you should change it over to the province that you live in but many people dont and it doesnt seem to be a big drama. However its not that difficult to do. Its just 2 trips to your local Dept. of Transport office . One to do the paperwork and another trip to pick up the new plates.

If your buying new or second hand from a yard they should do all of this for you, and there are also many agents that will do it all for you.

Its not that difficult to do everything youself. You just need someone who can read and write thai to fill out the paperwork.

[astral]

You don't need to go in person to change the ownership, or the province.

The local garage, or dealer will have a guy who will handle it for you.

One of the forms you sign is Power of Attorney to let the guy handle it on your behalf.

All you need to do is sign the forms, get a copy of you passport

and a letter from immigration confirming where you live.

Strangely you need a Non Immigrant visa to get a driving licence,

but not to own a vehicle.

If you are on a tourist visa make sure it lasts for long enough get the paperwork

through. As another poster mentioned, this can be weeks, especiall if buying a new

vehicle or changing province.

Edited October 19, 2005 by astral

[Dah fahrang]

Before buying used, check new prices. Often not a lot of difference.

Also, be extremely careful about outstanding credit on used vehicles.

Lots of people buy on the never never, and trade in when the price of fuel rises exponentially as it has recently. They take the cash payment from the dealer, but don't always clear the debt (unless it's borrowed from a bank against their chanote, in which case its heads I lose the car/ money, or tails I lose the house).

Another thing to watch is the engine number, chassis number etc all matching up with the tabien rote. Otherwise, problems loom if in an accident, claiming against insurance, and, in extreme cases, at registration transfer of ownership. Trick is to change engine from vehicle which has had a serious 'knock' and tart up the write-off. (seen it done right here to my own neighbour - and he is Thai!Personally, I would never, ever entertain buying second hand anything in Thailand. There are no consumer protection laws, too many vehicles are doctored up - if it looks good, it must be OK {Thai Consumer Rule 1} nor is it easy to run outstanding credit checks on vehicles, so you could lose your vehicle through a previous owners non-payment.

Still, TiT. Good luck.

[Steve2UK]

On a slightly different tack, in the UK I would never buy a second-hand vehicle without getting a good mechanic to check it over first (either through one of the professional outfits that provide this service or arranged privately).

Question - is this do-able in Thailand? I'm wondering whether it would just go against Thai culture so much (loss of "face" etc) that you'd never get a Thai mechanic to do the checks for you?

[terdsak_12]

On a slightly different tack, in the UK I would never buy a second-hand vehicle without getting a good mechanic to check it over first (either through one of the professional outfits that provide this service or arranged privately).

Question - is this do-able in Thailand? I'm wondering whether it would just go against Thai culture so much (loss of "face" etc) that you'd never get a Thai mechanic to do the checks for you?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most Thais have a brother in law who are mechanical experts, and perform the checks themselves. This usually entails tapping on the body panels with their knuckles, and revving the engine really loudly.

[olaus]

[quote=terdsakMost Thais have a brother in law who are mechanical experts, and perform the checks themselves. This usually entails tapping on the body panels with their knuckles, and revving the engine really loudly.

I am an amateur about cars. But for 40 years I used to have one in my homeland. I used to check at least motoroil, cooling water, battery water, air pressure and such elementary things before start a journey.

Being here in Thailand for two years now, I still not have seen a thai make any checks on his car. They only start and drive. But they wash their cars very often.

[alesypalsy]

Thanks for the help all, I think I will look into purchasing new as there seems to be a lot of red tape to go through along with risks.. Would any one know the name of the pick up witch in the UK would be a mitsubishi L200, warrior type 4x4. I would like to search on the net for rough prices but dont know what they call them in los.

thanks again all

[terdsak_12]

It's a Mitsu Grandis. Mostly 2.8L non turbo, and most are pre 2002. Best to stick with Toyota or Isuzu in this town with a 3.0L turbo so lots of Umph. Toyota is best in my book.

[INTJ]

"be extremely careful about outstanding credit on used vehicles"

If there is outstanding credit, the finance company will have the blue book, not the owner, so it is not possible to transfer the title of ownership.

There is no need to check for outstanding credit. Simple rule : no book, no sale.

INTJ.

.

[mijan24]

Try this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear

Then open - motoring

Look for buying a car - (used car) they provide a general checklist which is printer friendly.

( Thanks to loong - i borrowd this link from another thread)

Edited October 23, 2005 by mijan24

[michael233]

yes thats is correct and you get 1 month to register it with papaer in your province and pay costs to transfer in your name.

[michael233]

Watch thats it has geniune mileage/km with service book,if no book then dont bother.Thai clock all the time esp 2nd hand mkt,i bought bx19gti and had repairs over 3 years of owner ship,make sure you get it fixed by authorised dealer Toyota or ford and its not clocked!!!!!!!!!!!!