I need to get my bike to the inspection center so get a certificate to renew the tax, which lapsed last month. Am I ok to ride without the tax to do this, and if I do get stopped what's the penalty likely to be?

Many thanks.

EDIT: sorry I should've said, bike is over 5 years old, and last time I renewed the tax it needed an inspection.

Yes and what are the odds of you being stopped on the way? Pretty remote.

You'll pay a 1 baht fine so you had better bring your visa card.

Yep, the odds of getting stopped on the way are pretty remote........unless Murphy's Law kicks in.

Much depends where you are.

We got busted in Pattaya on beach road right outside the police station with an expired tax sticker on the scooter and the fine was 800 baht.

My wife was angry and tried to get the fine down but no.

So that was the lunch money and more out of the window

We got busted in Pattaya on beach road right outside the police station with an expired tax sticker on the scooter and the fine was 800 baht.

Is that the official fine for the offence? No way they can seize the bike or anything?

Very unlikely to get stopped, I know, but it's Sukhumvit (Bangkok) and I have had quite a few stops along there.

We got busted in Pattaya on beach road right outside the police station with an expired tax sticker on the scooter and the fine was 800 baht.

Is that the official fine for the offence? No way they can seize the bike or anything?

Very unlikely to get stopped, I know, but it's Sukhumvit (Bangkok) and I have had quite a few stops along there.

No idea whether they could seize the bike.

The official fine seems to go up to 2000 Baht.

So 800 is a bargain.

http://www.trafficpolice.go.th/fine2.php

(first table, items 2 and 3)

I wouldn't worry about it. Stick to the left side of the road, wear a helmet and the police will just wave you through any road block.

I let my tax expire quite often and even when I have been pulled over, in all the years I've been here (Sukhumvit Bangkok), not once have they asked for my tax disc.

No tax AND no insurance?

No tax AND no insurance?

Are you referring to me or the OP?

If me then the answer is yes. I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

No tax AND no insurance?

Are you referring to me or the OP?

If me then the answer is yes. I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

The basic is 50,000 but that's mandatory even for thais , farang in a crash will likely pay more

Even "poor" Thais I know take the hassle to go get this sorted every year and I'm sure if it was a semi optional payment they wouldn't bother

I got stopped several days ago with expired one. Had the new one in pocket but forgot to install. Showed that to copper who was very polite, smiled and waved me off with the word to pit it on reo reo.

I got stopped several days ago with expired one. Had the new one in pocket but forgot to install. Showed that to copper who was very polite, smiled and waved me off with the word to put it on reo reo.

No tax AND no insurance?

Are you referring to me or the OP?

If me then the answer is yes. I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

That's where you are wrong, they actually do pay out, and yes, also to farangs.

I had the joy of using it once already :-)

No tax AND no insurance?

Are you referring to me or the OP?

If me then the answer is yes. I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

That's where you are wrong, they actually do pay out, and yes, also to farangs.

I had the joy of using it once already :-)

Hmm did you read what I said?

The maximum payout is 15,000B for injury to another. It doesn't cover any damage to other vehicles. I can live without that for a month or so until it is a convenient time for me to go to the DLT.

No tax AND no insurance?

Are you referring to me or the OP?

If me then the answer is yes. I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

That's where you are wrong, they actually do pay out, and yes, also to farangs.

I had the joy of using it once already :-)

Hmm did you read what I said?

The maximum payout is 15,000B for injury to another. It doesn't cover any damage to other vehicles. I can live without that for a month or so until it is a convenient time for me to go to the DLT.

But it is 50,000 baht for injury to your own person, that comes in handy too, or you don't mind forking that out too?

Might come in handy if the other party doesn't have any insurance.

They certainly could seize the bike. However it is unlikely and like everything here negotiable.

I go there when i have time, so sometimes that can take a month or two. The basic insurance here is worth nothing. I think the maximum payout is 15,000B. I can cover that and more if I need to.

That's where you are wrong, they actually do pay out, and yes, also to farangs.

I had the joy of using it once already :-)

Hmm did you read what I said?

The maximum payout is 15,000B for injury to another. It doesn't cover any damage to other vehicles. I can live without that for a month or so until it is a convenient time for me to go to the DLT.

But it is 50,000 baht for injury to your own person, that comes in handy too, or you don't mind forking that out too?

Might come in handy if the other party doesn't have any insurance.

As much as that? I thought it was 3rd party only. I'll have to have another look at the small little slip of paper they give us.

They certainly could seize the bike. However it is unlikely and like everything here negotiable.

True but then again there are still plenty of bikes running around the countryside without plates.