Keeping Paperwork Under The Seat?

[WingNut]

I made a decision recently not to carry any of my paperwork under the seat of my motorcycle anymore. I used to keep everything in there, but I decided if one day my bike gets stolen, I don't want the thieves to have all the paperwork needed for my bike in case they get pulled over. I rather the idea that if they are driving a stolen bike, and they get pulled over, then they got no paperwork to show for it.

So I put all my stuff in a waterproof Ziploc bag. This includes a photocopy of the pages from my green book, a photocopy of my first class insurance documents, my tax disc, and my mandatory insurance document. Then, when I go out riding, the bag with all my paperwork goes in the breast pocket of my riding jacket. Then, if I get pulled over, it also makes it easier for me to show these items to the police without me having to go under the seat of the bike and remove the seat and put it back. Just all easier for me.

I don't even have a copy of the owners manual under the seat because my owners manuals, which is in Thai is useless to me. So I have a copy of the owners manual in English downloaded into my smart phone and I can access it as a PDF from my smart phone anytime I need it. So no need for me to carry a copy of the manual under the seat either.

I'm just curious what other people do?

[Crowleys]

I only keep copies with me. Never taking the greenbook out.

[cornishcarlos]

Fortunately, the bike I stole had all the paperwork under the seat

[WingNut]

I only keep copies with me. Never taking the greenbook out.

Yes, what I'm carrying is copies of the greenbook pages too. The original never leaves the house.

The question though was do people lock their paperwork under the seat or carry it on their person?

If it's locked inside the bike, and the bike gets stolen, then the thieves have copies of all your paperwork. Bad policy I think. My paperwork is always on my body when riding and never locked up inside the bike when I'm not riding.

[WingNut]

Fortunately, the bike I stole had all the paperwork under the seat

Nice grab! Wasn't my bike though obviously

[Shurup]

I'm sure I would forget the docs if they're not on a bike, I often forget something...

[Shurup]

But I only carry photocopies, no originals.

[WingNut]

I'm sure I would forget the docs if they're not on a bike, I often forget something...

Put all the papers in a ziplock bag and leave them in your riding jacket. Or if you have a riding pack or backpack you always take with you when you ride then put it in the riding bag. Or keep the paperwork next to your keys in the house. Easy enough not to forget the paperwork that way when you go out. I think the benefits of not locking it in the bike outweigh the negatives. Just my 2 satang. Edited February 25, 2015 by WingNut

[draftvader]

I just have a terrible bike. I stop at the lights and people offer me pity. Nobody's nicking my baby. Thieves offer me cut price parts and use of their tools.

[WingNut]

I just have a terrible bike. I stop at the lights and people offer me pity. Nobody's nicking my baby. Thieves offer me cut price parts and use of their tools.

I'm jealous. I hope to achieve that level of pity from people one day. You are a lucky man and I'm sure you worked hard to attain that status. You are blessed.

[guzzi850m2]

We own 1 bike, 2 scooters and 1 truck in the household.

I use a small belt bag and carry all documents (copy only) for said vehicles on me from the time I put my trousers on (normally after a shower in the morning) and can take off on any anytime I want and don't have to worry about the right paper work.

My driver licenses and copy of pass port, ATM cards, it's all there.

[WingNut]

We own 1 bike, 2 scooters and 1 truck in the household.

I use a small belt bag and carry all documents (copy only) for said vehicles on me from the time I put my trousers on (normally after a shower in the morning) and can take off on any anytime I want and don't have to worry about the right paper work.

My driver licenses and copy of pass port, ATM cards, it's all there.

Sounds like a great system!

[papa al]

I just keep the paperwork under the seat.

If my ride is stolen, I never expect to see it again, so....

[bramds]

Of all the times I got stopped at checkpoints, police have never asked me for my papers, neither on my bike or in my car, they are only interested in my driver's licence.

[jacko45k]

I think it is too hot to wear a jacket.

Copies under the sea except for the 'tax disc', which you are obliged to carry.

Police seem happy with copies.

Originals (book, insurances) in the safe.

Driving licence in pocket of course, but I do have a copy of that under the seat too.

Edited February 26, 2015 by jacko45k

[ToddinChonburi]

Copies of bike papers under my seat and Lic. in my wallet. Never had a problem at check points. They only ask for Lic.

[Shurup]

So it seems useless to keep the paperwork away from the bike, it's never checked but there a chance to forget or loose it if it's not stored on the bike.

[biggles45]

I have had a bike here for 12 years and have always kept the green book under the seat. Had two bikes in that time and never had one stolen, tho there is always a first time. Asked to show green book twice, both on sukhumvit south of jomtien.

[thefactoryoutlet]

<3 GENIUS <3

[how241]

I only keep copies with me. Never taking the greenbook out.

+1...Same here. Only carry copies.

[draftvader]

On a serious note I only carry copies of my paperwork in the seat (even though stealing it would be pointless). My licence is in my wallet anyway.

[jdinasia]

To be honest, I tend to have my documents in the bike. Everything is also on my phone and saved in my cloud.

I know that there's a bit of risk in that, but my bikes are unusual, I live in the countryside, and the stickers on the bikes stand out.

When I ride to BKK I put the docs in a bag.

(so that they are not in the bike overnight even though we have security at our BKK place, it just doesn't feel as safe as my housing in Nakhon Nayok)

Edited February 26, 2015 by jdinasia

[Shurup]

On a serious note I only carry copies of my paperwork in the seat (even though stealing it would be pointless). My licence is in my wallet anyway.

Dude, if it's true and Thai people donate spare parts to keep your bike running, nobody wants it!

[BradinAsia]

I have had a bike here for 12 years and have always kept the green book under the seat. Had two bikes in that time and never had one stolen, tho there is always a first time. Asked to show green book twice, both on sukhumvit south of jomtien.

Obviously, you've been very lucky for 12 years, but the question is -- why would you want

to set yourself up for the possibility of making a thief very happy. Doesn't seem logical.

That's like all the folks who carry their cash in their wallet. When I was 14 yrs old i had $5

stolen from my wallet in a school locker room. Last time I ever put cash in my wallet.

I always keep my cash in the front pocket of my trousers. As long as I'm still alive a thief

will never steal my cash. And if I'm dead i won't give a damn anyway...

[joesanunu]

Soon, all the necessary documents will be in your smartphone or iWatch.

[williet98248]

Of all the times I got stopped at checkpoints, police have never asked me for my papers, neither on my bike or in my car, they are only interested in my driver's licence.

Me too. Never asked for any of the paperwork other than the tax sticker on the window and my DL. I don't carry any docs not even PP. Never been asked in twelve years.

[Rhys]

55555 There are some of us, the cannot even find our keys in the morning, and then cannot find where we put our wallet, and then then there are some of us who put everything in one place, then forget to take it... 55555

[billphillips]

I have photos of everything on my smartphone. Iv never had a problem with using this method yet.

I can't really see a problem with having copies under the seat. If the bike is stolen / stopped, the cops won't check to see if it's stolen anyway. They will get used for clearing rainwater off the seat though.