Stolen or Lost Number Plate. What to do?

[menzies233]

My lad just came back from school tonight and his bike number plate looks like it has been snapped off. (yes there are some nasty swine at his school - mirrors nicked, helmets gone one of his mates even came out to find his bike minus rear sprocket, chain and rear wheel)

Does anyone know if I need to make a police report before going to the licence office to apply for a new plate? It is in Chiang Mai.

Weird how memory leaves you, I had the exact same problem with my car about 10 years ago, where i lost the front number plate, but i cannot for the life of me remember going to the cops. I am almost sure I just reported it at the transport office and waited almost a year for the new plate.

Cheers

Edited January 22, 2016 by menzies233

[flyDelight]

If it's only one I would place it on the back and keep the front epmty.

Edited January 22, 2016 by flyDelight

[dutchisaan]

Go report it at the police and than apply for a new plate.

Edited January 22, 2016 by dutchisaan

[NanLaew]

If it's only one I would place it on the back and keep the front epmty.

On a bike?

[Hedghog]

Report it to the police.

It may save you money in the long run.

Camera's are now being used to record traffic offences,using the rear number plate for recognition of offender.

Plate theft is becoming more common.

The attached photo,is what arrives in the post,along with a Baht 1000 fine,for this particular offender,my landlady.

[menzies233]

Report it to the police.

It may save you money in the long run.

Camera's are now being used to record traffic offences,using the rear number plate for recognition of offender.

Plate theft is becoming more common.

The attached photo,is what arrives in the post,along with a Baht 1000 fine,for this particular offender,my landlady.

Interesting, however from the damage done to my bike's plate it is probably unusable. The plate has been snapped off probably just where the lettering begins, in that there is about 1-2 inches of metal still attached to the bike. It looks like someone has bent the plate back and forward until the metal gave out - It looks like a stress type fracture not a cut.

I will report it to the police today anyway.

Does anyone know the score as to where to apply for a new plate in Chiang Mai? I know I got my car plate from the big office on the Hang Dong Road, but in past experience with tax and green books for bikes I seem to recall everything goes through the office at Nong Hoy?

I was thinking in the meantime to just put a small homemade plate on the back to try and not get pulled. I remember from the Thai driving test exam that it was not illegal to put home made plates on your vehicle. (from there multiple choice questions - only having no road tax was illegal) Not sure if it will draw attention or deflect it?

Cheers.

Edited January 22, 2016 by menzies233

[Don Mega]

You cannot get a replacement unless you have a police report.

[Throttled]

As stated above, a police report is a requirement, not an option, and you'll need to submit it to the office in Nong Hoi (they'll have a new plate for you in a couple of days- if you show up without the form they'll send you away to get it). Any small police box should have the proper form, and it's not a big deal. The police report will suffice as proof of the theft and you can show it if you get pulled over before receiving your new plate.

[recom273]

I twigged my plate as I reversed my CBR into a parking bay against a fence. It was in one of those plate holders.

I got a police report, then went to DLT - i was told to return after 60 days to collect a replacement, it was stamped across the receipt.

Make sure you copy the police report and carry with you.

After about a month, I shot past a police officer, and he picked me off at the lights and pulled me over for the offense of riding without a plate. I didn't copy the report or carry the receipt and he wouldn't accept the reason.

He started calling for reenforcements, and to tow my bike away !

[DILLIGAD]

I had to wait (an astonishing) 48 days for a replacement plate so make sure you keep a copy of that police report with the bike at all times.

This was a few years ago BTW when it happened to me.

[zyphodb]

Keep a copy of the police report, apply for a new plate at any Thai MOT/Tax station, they will charge you 1200 Bht make sure you take your green book, passport & driving license if you are the owner Thai ID + license & green book if you are not, the form will then go to the provincial capital & after their approval on to Bangkok where it will take 2 months for your new plate to come back from... I know because I had to get one for one of my bikes 3 months ago, typical 3rd world bureaucracy, jobs for the boys...

[recom273]

Keep a copy of the police report, apply for a new plate at any Thai MOT/Tax station, they will charge you 1200 Bht make sure you take your green book, passport & driving license if you are the owner Thai ID + license & green book if you are not, the form will then go to the provincial capital & after their approval on to Bangkok where it will take 2 months for your new plate to come back from... I know because I had to get one for one of my bikes 3 months ago, typical 3rd world bureaucracy, jobs for the boys...

My local DLT is pretty small, they are really helpful, they complete all the forms for me and I just sign. I think I only needed the green book and police report - the cost was around 200b I think and I was out the door within 5 minutes.

[Don Mega]

Keep a copy of the police report, apply for a new plate at any Thai MOT/Tax station, they will charge you 1200 Bht make sure you take your green book, passport & driving license if you are the owner Thai ID + license & green book if you are not, the form will then go to the provincial capital & after their approval on to Bangkok where it will take 2 months for your new plate to come back from... I know because I had to get one for one of my bikes 3 months ago, typical 3rd world bureaucracy, jobs for the boys...

The missus lost her front plate driving in some flooded soi's in September year. Police report and visit to the DLT (Regents Pattaya) within the same week. cost was Bt.640.00 and the plate arrived last week.

She did not bother keeping a copy of the police report and got fined 5 times for no plate.... Bt.500.00 a pop <deleted>.

[DILLIGAD]

Keep a copy of the police report, apply for a new plate at any Thai MOT/Tax station, they will charge you 1200 Bht make sure you take your green book, passport & driving license if you are the owner Thai ID + license & green book if you are not, the form will then go to the provincial capital & after their approval on to Bangkok where it will take 2 months for your new plate to come back from... I know because I had to get one for one of my bikes 3 months ago, typical 3rd world bureaucracy, jobs for the boys...

The missus lost her front plate driving in some flooded soi's in September year. Police report and visit to the DLT (Regents Pattaya) within the same week. cost was Bt.640.00 and the plate arrived last week.

She did not bother keeping a copy of the police report and got fined 5 times for no plate.... Bt.500.00 a pop <deleted>.

Front plate??????

What are you talking about on this motorcycle forum??????? A car, maybe?????

Edited January 24, 2016 by DILLIGAD

[Don Mega]

Keep a copy of the police report, apply for a new plate at any Thai MOT/Tax station, they will charge you 1200 Bht make sure you take your green book, passport & driving license if you are the owner Thai ID + license & green book if you are not, the form will then go to the provincial capital & after their approval on to Bangkok where it will take 2 months for your new plate to come back from... I know because I had to get one for one of my bikes 3 months ago, typical 3rd world bureaucracy, jobs for the boys...

The missus lost her front plate driving in some flooded soi's in September year. Police report and visit to the DLT (Regents Pattaya) within the same week. cost was Bt.640.00 and the plate arrived last week.

She did not bother keeping a copy of the police report and got fined 5 times for no plate.... Bt.500.00 a pop <deleted>.

Front plate??????

What are you talking about on this motorcycle forum??????? A car, maybe?????

Sigh. A numberplate is a numberplate.

Last I looked they are all issued from the same dept regardless of the vehicle it is being fitted to and the process to obtain a replacement is identical.

Don't know why a motorbike plate that is half the size of a car plate is double the price though.... must be motorbike specific thing. Luckily this is the motorbike section.......

Edited January 24, 2016 by Don Mega

[SOTIRIOS]

...shouldn't you report it at the school as well...???

...don't they have any cameras there...???

[sandgroper2]

If you were in your home country and lost your number plate, would you go on social media to ask what to do? I remember a few years back , someone even asked on TV, what temp to set their aircon at. And the number of people that came on and told him what they set theirs at was amazing.

[zaZa9]

Nearby Central in Phuket are sheds looking like they do mechanical work etc , and they have new number plates hung in rows outside , like ads.

Whats up with that then?

[recom273]

Yeah, not too sure about those places .. You can get plates made yourself, but they don't have the embossed mark and the reflective wavy lines that come with the DLT plates.

I had one on an old bike that I bought once, I got stopped and fined for it before I changed the name over ( and got new plates ).

Edited January 25, 2016 by recom273

[rapom]

If it's only one I would place it on the back and keep the front epmty.

On a bike?

Appears there is a lack of reading comprehension, don't you think?

[menzies233]

As stated above, a police report is a requirement, not an option, and you'll need to submit it to the office in Nong Hoi (they'll have a new plate for you in a couple of days- if you show up without the form they'll send you away to get it). Any small police box should have the proper form, and it's not a big deal. The police report will suffice as proof of the theft and you can show it if you get pulled over before receiving your new plate.

Thanks for your reply, I kind of took a hunch and did what you said!

The police told me I had to go to the main licensing office at Hang Dong, but as you mentioned in your post - Nong Hoi deals with bikes.

Another poster said to take it to any of the vehicle testing station - NO WAY! they just laughed. They did however offer to give me the name of some third party agent that could do it for me, but to be honest to try to find the place was a nightmare.

So, it seems the correct procedure is as you said -

1: Get a police report - 20 Baht. (Photocopy it and keep the copy with the bike)

2: Take your Green Book, passport, photocopy your photo page, your last visa stamp - I took copies of yellow book and TM6 (Not needed)

3: Pay the lovely girls at Nong Hoi - who actually are really nice for a government department and very helpful - they filled in all the forms necessary for me -

4: Sign the forms and print your name

5: Pay the lady at the desk 105 Baht.

6: They put a print out in your Green Book to show the cops.

7: Return in one month to collect your replacement plate.

It is way better than when I lost the front plate from my car, we waited almost 1 year for a replacement from the Hang Dong office.

Thanks for your advice.

The most important thing is to know where you are going, take a GPS if you don't as the Highway 106 is not the easiest to find, I found myself doing a lot of U-turns and crossing that "Super" Highway a number of times and passing Promenada as many times too! Just for the info, it is the first turning on the left marked "U-Turn" after turning right off the 108 at the Airport Plaza traffic lights, just after crossing the Ping. I must have done 20KM back and forth until I found it. Coming from the opposite direction, cross the super highway and take the left lane for Lamphun that is marked with the GREEN 106 sign.

Edited January 26, 2016 by menzies233

[menzies233]

Yeah, not too sure about those places .. You can get plates made yourself, but they don't have the embossed mark and the reflective wavy lines that come with the DLT plates.

I had one on an old bike that I bought once, I got stopped and fined for it before I changed the name over ( and got new plates ).

DO NOT DO THAT! I asked about making up a temporary number plate at the cop shop at San Patong and the cop looked at me as if I was crazy!

Despite the rules in the Thai driving test that say it is only an offence to drive a vehicle without road tax (multiple choice - one of the other possible answers is "Driving with handmade number plates" The cop assured me that making up your own plate was even worse than not having them, so stay clear.

It is the serial number and the embossing that tells the fakes from the real Mc Coy

[menzies233]

If you were in your home country and lost your number plate, would you go on social media to ask what to do? I remember a few years back , someone even asked on TV, what temp to set their aircon at. And the number of people that came on and told him what they set theirs at was amazing.

Well there you go then! I am not in my home country, nor am I fluent in Thai or able to read Thai that well. Obviously you are much better equipped than myself at attending to matters that are a bit new to expats out here. I would imagine that all of the Thais living in the UK and the US know everything about their adopted county's laws as never to need to post on social media - Asking about the local laws involving vehicles is hardly the same as asking about setting a fridge temperature!

By the way, did you send the guy instructions for his fridge, or were you just as helpful as you were with this post?

If you bother to read the replies, there are about 3 different suggestions and only one correct -

1: Ask the Thai police - WRONG ANSWER - Hang Dong does not deal with motorbikes.

2: Ask a Local - Go to the office near Chom Thong - WRONG ANSWER.

3: Ask on Social media - GO To the Tor Oh Ror - WRONG ANSWER.

4: Read and digest from Social media - Go To Nong Hoi - CORRECT ANSWER!

Which one would you have picked? Probably number 4 DELETED

Edited January 26, 2016 by seedy
troll / flaming

[pcliff069]

As stated above, a police report is a requirement, not an option, and you'll need to submit it to the office in Nong Hoi (they'll have a new plate for you in a couple of days- if you show up without the form they'll send you away to get it). Any small police box should have the proper form, and it's not a big deal. The police report will suffice as proof of the theft and you can show it if you get pulled over before receiving your new plate.

Thanks for your reply, I kind of took a hunch and did what you said!

The police told me I had to go to the main licensing office at Hang Dong, but as you mentioned in your post - Nong Hoi deals with bikes.

Another poster said to take it to any of the vehicle testing station - NO WAY! they just laughed. They did however offer to give me the name of some third party agent that could do it for me, but to be honest to try to find the place was a nightmare.

So, it seems the correct procedure is as you said -

1: Get a police report - 20 Baht. (Photocopy it and keep the copy with the bike)

2: Take your Green Book, passport, photocopy your photo page, your last visa stamp - I took copies of yellow book and TM6 (Not needed)

3: Pay the lovely girls at Nong Hoi - who actually are really nice for a government department and very helpful - they filled in all the forms necessary for me -

4: Sign the forms and print your name

5: Pay the lady at the desk 105 Baht.

6: They put a print out in your Green Book to show the cops.

7: Return in one month to collect your replacement plate.

It is way better than when I lost the front plate from my car, we waited almost 1 year for a replacement from the Hang Dong office.

Thanks for your advice.

The most important thing is to know where you are going, take a GPS if you don't as the Highway 106 is not the easiest to find, I found myself doing a lot of U-turns and crossing that "Super" Highway a number of times and passing Promenada as many times too! Just for the info, it is the first turning on the left marked "U-Turn" after turning right off the 108 at the Airport Plaza traffic lights, just after crossing the Ping. I must have done 20KM back and forth until I found it. Coming from the opposite direction, cross the super highway and take the left lane for Lamphun that is marked with the GREEN 106 sign.

thanks for this response.

I have the added issue that the bike was originally registered in Phuket and we now live in Hua Hin.

Should be an interesting next week coming up.

I will post how it all went.

[Don Mega]

Will not be an issue the bike is registered in a different province.