Fee for selling a vehicle

Having lived here for over 13 yrs, bought and sold a modest
amount of vehicles in that time, and never happened across this before, does
anybody have any information they could share regarding a ‘fee’ for selling a
vehicle [in Thailand].

Two weeks ago I sold my bike (250cc). Being someone who
likes to cross-the-Ts, I took the new owner to DLT (Bangkok) to get all the
transfer stuff done n dusted (don’t want to have my name associated with a
vehicle, when I’m no longer the owner); fairly painless process (relatively
speaking).

For the first time [in my history], I was asked “how much
did the bike sell for?” After quoting ‘a’ figure, I was then told I have to pay
a percentage to DLT, as a ‘fee for selling’. This was not an admin’ fee, nor a
tax, nor anything else that makes any sense to me (other than a dubious “let’s
buy a round of drinks” charge). I paid it (a few hundred baht) because I didn’t
want to spook the buyer, and wished to conclude the sale.

Now I’m looking to sell the car, the GF (who has generally improved
on thinking outside the ‘local culture’ box, over the years) contacted DLT to
find out what this was all about. Sadly, she has slipped back into the old ways
and accepted some quote on it having been mandatory since 1979, and the funds
go to the government to help develop the country…strange how I had to drive
super-carefully down Rama 2 (en-route home) to avoid all the pot-holes, drains
and undulations, especially since my road-tax money should have helped pay for
that to be in satisfactory order.

I know how this place runs, as well as the next person, just reaching out for any

info and/or experiences, reasons, excuses others have encountered.

FYI: I’m no tight-wad, just I’ve paid all the dues associated with vehicle ownership,

and really can’t see what gives the DLT/government any right to slip their hand in

my wallet for one last time.

Sounds like stamp duty. Normally the buyer pays, or the buyer and seller use it as a point of negotiation.

Either way, someone has to pay.

Edited May 14, 201313 yr by IMHO