Shipping motorbike from Hat Yai to Bangkok

[asimraza]

Hello,

I rode from Bangkok to KualaLampur on my Honda Phantom 200cc but it broke down during return journey (engine seized) and I had to leave it in Hat Yai and took a flight back to Bangkok.

The person who took the responsibility (as a favour) to ship my bike from HY is informing me that the bike can't be shipped through post office without the owner showing original passport first. (Today i also called PO helpline and asked if I can show them my passport here in Bangkok or courier driving license in place of passport to friend but they didn't agree to both options).

Shipping by train is also out of question as they don't take bike without the owner accompanying it.

I'm looking for some options through which I can get my bike shipped to Bangkok (bus, goods forwarding company etc). Flying personally to Hat Yai is something whch I'm keeping as a last resort.

Please help taking me out from this situation.

Edited May 4, 2016 by asimraza

[4evermaat]

If your friend has someone with a pickup truck who is going to bangkok (or would like to go to bangkok) in the near future, you could pay them to do it that way. I think I paid either 2k or 4k to move my scooter + luggage + ex-gf luggage from Phuket to Chumphon....door to door. I negotiated it through one of the tour companies I had a good relationship with and she had a friend that was going that way. A lot of people commented it was a good price when I asked around.

Likewise, ask friends you know in bangkok if they [their friend] do not mind driving down and back.

So a private deal like that might be worth it. How much were you looking to pay to have it shipped?

Ultimately, depending on how much you want to shell out, it might be easiest to take overnight 2nd class sleeper train down to hat yai. Then do the reverse going back up to bangkok (with the motorbike). I think it is around 800 baht or so for the lower sleeper. It will cost you some time. But unless you can find a shipper who will do it no-doc, it is unlikely you have another (faster) choice.

edit: we were stopped at a police checkpoint and they radioed in the motorbike to see if it was stolen. GF had greenbook, etc but my point is that finding someone to do it privately without you riding along might prove more trouble than it is worth. I'm not sure about how power of attorneys work here. But you do have to be prepared for the possibility that a police checkpoint might ask about it.

edit2: can you EMS your passport to your friend in Hat Yaai, your friend shows the post office, and then ship it to bangkok (ems passport back)? You show your passport when it arrives in bangkok. Everyone is happy.

Edited May 5, 2016 by 4evermaat

[asimraza]

If your friend has someone with a pickup truck who is going to bangkok (or would like to go to bangkok) in the near future, you could pay them to do it that way. I think I paid either 2k or 4k to move my scooter + luggage + ex-gf luggage from Phuket to Chumphon....door to door. I negotiated it through one of the tour companies I had a good relationship with and she had a friend that was going that way. A lot of people commented it was a good price when I asked around.

Likewise, ask friends you know in bangkok if they [their friend] do not mind driving down and back.

So a private deal like that might be worth it. How much were you looking to pay to have it shipped?

Ultimately, depending on how much you want to shell out, it might be easiest to take overnight 2nd class sleeper train down to hat yai. Then do the reverse going back up to bangkok (with the motorbike). I think it is around 800 baht or so for the lower sleeper. It will cost you some time. But unless you can find a shipper who will do it no-doc, it is unlikely you have another (faster) choice.

edit: we were stopped at a police checkpoint and they radioed in the motorbike to see if it was stolen. GF had greenbook, etc but my point is that finding someone to do it privately without you riding along might prove more trouble than it is worth. I'm not sure about how power of attorneys work here. But you do have to be prepared for the possibility that a police checkpoint might ask about it.

edit2: can you EMS your passport to your friend in Hat Yaai, your friend shows the post office, and then ship it to bangkok (ems passport back)? You show your passport when it arrives in bangkok. Everyone is happy.

Hi 4evermaat,

Thanks, your message is helpful.

I am reluctant to EMS my passport and would prefer to fly myself if it boils down to it that passport must be present.

The person I have left my bike with is trying to pull some strings to get it shipped through PO so I'm waiting for last words from him.

I only know him in Hat Yai hence had left it best with him till now to organize any other way to ship bike back (through bus, goods forwarders etc) but given the time it has taken already (2.5wks now) I have started to find some other options personally, hence posted this here.

I was quoted 3,200 THB if it gets shipped through PO. I think i'd be happy if I can get it delivered within 5,000 THB now. As I'd end up spending more than it now if I fly there and come back.

As HY to BKK is a busy route, I'm hoping to find a carrier willing to load my bike with their regular shipments (a private carrier only bringing my bike will get too expensive though).

Thanks

[4evermaat]

If you ship via train, how much is it? How far is the closst train station from the repair shop or final destination? I'm assuming hua lamphong.

Otherwise, hopefully some local expats will chime in.

Edited May 6, 2016 by 4evermaat