So, how much is the fine for riding a bike with red plates after the white plates have been issued? 300 baht? 500 baht? No, 2,000 baht!

An American guest rented a bike yesterday and got stopped by Cherngtalay police. The Thai bike owner could not negotiate the price down by phone but I'd guess if it were a Thai owner/rider the price might have been different or the infringement ignored.

Seemed a bit steep to me but the police insisted that riding a bike with illegal plates is a more serious offence than riding without a helmet or without a licence.

The owner of course paid the fine but that's ten day's rental income down the pan; quite a lot during this low season.

Do you mean that the owner had not collected the white plate ? The red plates are handed back when white issued. Lot's of folks keep the red plates for months. I did not know there was a time limit. Interesting dilemma...

Do you mean that the owner had not collected the white plate ? The red plates are handed back when white issued. Lot's of folks keep the red plates for months. I did not know there was a time limit. Interesting dilemma...

The owner had collected the white plates but hadn't put them on. The dealer hadn't asked for the red ones back for some reason. A bit of laziness cost her.

Basically my post is a warning to those who do keep the red plates for too long that you are breaking the law and you may well be stopped and fined. How long is too long, I don't know, but change your plates as soon as you get the white ones.

Do you mean that the owner had not collected the white plate ? The red plates are handed back when white issued. Lot's of folks keep the red plates for months. I did not know there was a time limit. Interesting dilemma...

The owner had collected the white plates but hadn't put them on. The dealer hadn't asked for the red ones back for some reason. A bit of laziness cost her.

Basically my post is a warning to those who do keep the red plates for too long that you are breaking the law and you may well be stopped and fined. How long is too long, I don't know, but change your plates as soon as you get the white ones.

1 month.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Was it a receipted fine

How did the police know the white plates had already been issued?

Sounds a bit strange to me. More like the renter was driving it in the night or outside the province. Or even more likely he couldn't produce the purchase papers that you need to carry around when having the red plate.

Renting out a red plate bike is not very smart because of multiple reasons including that it would be much cheaper to get a second hand bike for rental purposes.

Was it a receipted fine

Yes, complete with the reason for the fine

How did the police know the white plates had already been issued?

Sounds a bit strange to me. More like the renter was driving it in the night or outside the province. Or even more likely he couldn't produce the purchase papers that you need to carry around when having the red plate.

Renting out a red plate bike is not very smart because of multiple reasons including that it would be much cheaper to get a second hand bike for rental purposes.

Stopped at a regular roadblock in the daytime. My guess is they would look at the tax disc and if it's been issued some time ago then the red plates are not legal. You see many red-plated bikes ridden by tourists; the owners aren't going to miss out on a month or two's rental while awaiting the white plates.

Stopped at a regular roadblock in the daytime. My guess is they would look at the tax disc and if it's been issued some time ago then the red plates are not legal. You see many red-plated bikes ridden by tourists; the owners aren't going to miss out on a month or two's rental while awaiting the white plates.

But there would be no tax disc if on red plates. And if plates and tax disc had be issed why would the owner be so stupid to affix the tax disc and not fit the white plates. This whole topic sounds very fishy to me.

< deleted post >

Dämn! Missed a post that answered my questions.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

Don't have to pay tax if you drive on the red plates.

"Red plates can now only be fitted to a car or bike for 3,000km or 1 Month (whichever comes first). Exceeding this, or any attempt to obscure the plate number and/or use of damaged plates that cannot be clearly read will attract a fine not exceding 2,000 Baht."

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

For cars on red plates there are many driving without the compulsory brown book, but I have never encountered or heard of anybody having a brown (is it brown for bikes?) book for a motorbike. I would be very surprised if it is not compulsory though

You learn something new every day. Up here in Isaan dealers never give you red plates for new bikes (I've bougt many over the years) you simply drive without any plates for a couple of weeks until you learn from the dealer that the white plates have arrived. Trip to the dealer who affixes the new plates and tax disc.

This doesn't apply to new cars, red plates are always issued.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

Don't have to pay tax if you drive on the red plates.

"Red plates can now only be fitted to a car or bike for 3,000km or 1 Month (whichever comes first). Exceeding this, or any attempt to obscure the plate number and/or use of damaged plates that cannot be clearly read will attract a fine not exceding 2,000 Baht."

It is not the Blue book but a Brown book where you are required to register all driving while using red plates.

But i don't think anybody is doing this.

You're also not meant to drive any vehicle with red plates between dusk to dawn.

Or outside your province.

Many keep their red plates after the white one are issued so they can show off having a "new car / bike"

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

Don't have to pay tax if you drive on the red plates.

"Red plates can now only be fitted to a car or bike for 3,000km or 1 Month (whichever comes first). Exceeding this, or any attempt to obscure the plate number and/or use of damaged plates that cannot be clearly read will attract a fine not exceding 2,000 Baht."

It took 6 or 7 months for the dealer to get the white plates despite several inquiries.

New rules red plates max 1 month or 3,000 km max, You get fined 10,000 Bath if you not follow the new rules.

Good, I am waiting now already over 2 months for my white plates from Ducati. I'll send them the bill if I get fined, let's see what they say to that.

I wont accept buying a bike and then not being allowed to ride it because the dealer can't get their asses up.

Or without the issuing book for registering the driving history.

Don't have to pay tax if you drive on the red plates.

"Red plates can now only be fitted to a car or bike for 3,000km or 1 Month (whichever comes first). Exceeding this, or any attempt to obscure the plate number and/or use of damaged plates that cannot be clearly read will attract a fine not exceding 2,000 Baht."

It took 6 or 7 months for the dealer to get the white plates despite several inquiries.

Good, I am waiting now already over 2 months for my white plates from Ducati. I'll send them the bill if I get fined, let's see what they say to that.

I wont accept buying a bike and then not being allowed to ride it because the dealer can't get their asses up.

To get the white plates the dealer has to go to the DLT and pay the taxes. And they don't like to do that. That is the only reason for any delay, there is no shortage of plates.

Don't have to pay tax if you drive on the red plates.

"Red plates can now only be fitted to a car or bike for 3,000km or 1 Month (whichever comes first). Exceeding this, or any attempt to obscure the plate number and/or use of damaged plates that cannot be clearly read will attract a fine not exceding 2,000 Baht."

It took 6 or 7 months for the dealer to get the white plates despite several inquiries.

Good, I am waiting now already over 2 months for my white plates from Ducati. I'll send them the bill if I get fined, let's see what they say to that.

I wont accept buying a bike and then not being allowed to ride it because the dealer can't get their asses up.

To get the white plates the dealer has to go to the DLT and pay the taxes. And they don't like to do that. That is the only reason for any delay, there is no shortage of plates.

There is another reason. New bikes and cars are usually not the property of the dealer.The dealer does not have to pay for the bike/car until they report it sold and they can't get a book and plates for it without documents from the factory/distributor. For example, I once had a bike that was permanently on red plates because of a dispute between a dealer and the manufacturer. The dealer was paid in full, but never paid the distributor for the bike, but kept the money to pay for what the dealer believed they were owed by the distributor in repair parts the distributor couldn't or wouldn't supply.