Do you need a certificate of residence to sell a car in Bangkok?

[jadee]

Do you need a certificate of residence to sell a car? I found a website called 'Don's Life In Thailand' and it reads 'for buyer only and necessary only if you do not have a work permit'.

Hoping someone can explain this. Thanks

[oneday]

You need a "certificate of residence" to do any of the following anywhere in Thailand. Anyone who comes on here and says otherwise, was simply lucky because Thailand can't seem to adhere to their own laws and standards given various locations, departments or individual officers. A "work permit" or "house book" may be OK...see statement below.

Vehicle = bike or car

1. Buy a vehicle

2. Sell a vehicle

3. Add a name to the owner's book.

4. Remove a name from the owner's book.

5. Transfer ownership (give as gift).

I have done all of these and each and every time I was required to have a "certificate of residence" in Pattaya where they generally do conform to just about all the standard laws in Thailand.

However, a work permit MAY be good enough and I believe if you have a yellow house book this may suffice. I do not have either of these so I have no experience with them.

Thailand just wants some type of proof that you live here or quasi-live here and these give them that proof. I'm almost certain the "house book" will suffice and maybe even the "work permit", because how can you work here if you don't live here. I will admit there is zero logical reason for them to require it for you to sell a vehicle, with you as the legal owner, or remove your name from the book, nevertheless they do require it.

[jadee]

Thanks for that information. My follow-up question is does it matter where you get the certificate from, embassy, immigration or police?
Thanks

[hkt83100]

Immigration.

[oneday]

Thanks for that information. My follow-up question is does it matter where you get the certificate from, embassy, immigration or police?

Thanks

All I can tell you is what I'm familiar with and as far as I know you can only obtained a..."Residence Certificate" at immigration. The last time I got one, within the year, it cost 250 baht.

I'm not sure you can obtain anything at the police that would fulfill this and I'm not sure what you would get at the Embassy, but anything you do at the Embassy is likely to cost you more than at immigration. That is at the US Embassy where a notarized letter costs a ridiculous $50.

You can get the form here:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=download

It's the fourth one from the bottom called "Application Form for Residence Certificate in Thailand"

You will need the standard copies from your passport, two passport type photographs and some proof as to where you live...either a rental contract or utility bill with your name.

[oneday]

One other thing. If you are indeed selling a car then you should be able to take care of this, once you have your "residence certificate", passport and owner's book, at any of the P.R.B. places around town. They are all over the place. These people can usually do anything with a vehicle that you can do at the vehicle department. I don't know about you, but my local P.R.B. lady is within walking distance whereas our vehicle department is over 12 kilometers away. The P.R.B. places will charge a commission, but it's not bad to save you time.

P.R.B. is pronounced "Paw Raw Baw" or on the Thai signs in front of their shops you will see พ. ร. บ.

P.R.B. is actually the name for the compulsory insurance that cost about 650 baht on both cars and bikes.

[jadee]

I live in Samut Prakarn and went to the Paknam immigration office with the completed form only to be told that they don't do them and I needed to go to my embassy. I'm from the UK so that's going to be a hassle. I might try at Chaeng Wattana. That's for the link to the forms, appreciate it.

[oneday]

I live in Samut Prakarn and went to the Paknam immigration office with the completed form only to be told that they don't do them and I needed to go to my embassy. I'm from the UK so that's going to be a hassle. I might try at Chaeng Wattana. That's for the link to the forms, appreciate it.

I've heard this before and it's certainly a puzzle why they can't do it or refuse to do it. My sole experience is with Pattaya or Jomtien immigration and they do everything.

Sorry about that.

If Chaeng Wattana is BKK immigration then yes, I'd certainly try there. I'm sure they do them, the question is will they help you since you live in a different province. You would think so, but TIT.