Is there 2-tier pricing on cars?

[Sleesy]

Looking at buying a 2nd motor for the Mrs and the littlun, haven't bought a new car in Thailand before, just wondered if the pricelist I'll be given by Honda for a Jazz is fixed/Thai price/Falang price etc, etc.

And if anyone's got any special tips on the best way to get the best deal, I'd be intersted in hearing about it.

Might buy cash, might do HP.
Are prices same in Phuket as Bangkok ?

Cheers,
Sleesy.

PS Or if anyones got a low-mileage crash-free less than 12month old Jazz for sale then PM me !

[LivinLOS]

I understand it to be fixed.. But expect better deals (more stuff offered instead of reduced price, v-cool window tints, matts, 1st year insurance, first bunch of service, etc) in BKK..

If you qualify for dealer HP its far cheaper than aftermarket HP.. Be VERY careful about the HP, Thais label HP differently and you pay the % for the entire period of payment, so 3% payments are 3% of the entire amount for the entire period, it doesnt factor in that you have paid off x amount by x months.. Really changes the amount paid.

Lots more detailed experience in the ThaiVisa motors forum.

[Sleesy]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I understand it to be fixed.. But expect better deals (more stuff offered instead of reduced price, v-cool window tints, matts, 1st year insurance, first bunch of service, etc) in BKK..

If you qualify for dealer HP its far cheaper than aftermarket HP.. Be VERY careful about the HP, Thais label HP differently and you pay the % for the entire period of payment, so 3% payments are 3% of the entire amount for the entire period, it doesnt factor in that you have paid off x amount by x months.. Really changes the amount paid.

Lots more detailed experience in the ThaiVisa motors forum.

Thanks, will go take a look...

[greenwood]

Do not know if it is the same on LOS, but in Australia, the best time to buy a new car is when the model range is just about to be upgraded.

Most times here, they will want to clear old model floor stock before the new models arrive.
They will have some large discounts and give aways on the old models, but you still get all the benifits that you get with buying the brand new models.

[Schmeen]

Be aware you cannot easily buy a car in BKK and then register it in HKT.

A friend of mine did that once and it was off the road for 4 months brand new whilst he tried to get the paperwork sorted.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Schmeen

Be aware you cannot easily buy a car in BKK and then register it in HKT.

A friend of mine did that once and it was off the road for 4 months brand new whilst he tried to get the paperwork sorted.

Sure you can..

Red plates can be used in any province if its a BKK plate.. And changing changwat once the real plate has come through is easy..

[Schmeen]

Well...that was not the experience he had, but then again, we all seem to get different experiences with the rules, day to day, week to week, official to official.

[LivinLOS]

Technically if you buy a car outside of BKK its not supposed to leave the province or be driven after dark until real plates arrive.. This rule is widely ignored and being caught seems to be a 500 baht contribution to the the 'T party'..

I think this is changing as now there are so many cars sold that it takes a long time for the plates to come and this rule is from a time when a new car on the road was unusual and people didnt just jump in and drive all over.

So its a 50/50.. For non BKK province cars there is a rule, but no one really sticks to it.. For BKK regged cars it should be fine.. And once a car has a normal plate the movement is really quite easy, I bought mine in Chiang Mai for example.

[MajorTom]

I bought an older bike a while ago and was told that the licence plate was expired and had to be changed when we transfered the green book..
It could take up to 6 months before the new plate was ready.
Can this be correct?
The one i have now is one of those with a red stripe across it on the middle. I must have seen a thousand bikes with those kind of plates though..

[LivinLOS]

Sounds suspect, 'plates' dont need renewing.. Tax and insurance stickers do.

When a bike is sold it has a red plate, later that becomes a real plate, these are tied to changwats (regions) and needs to go back to that region for resale if you dont move it in the first 30 (or something) days.

Do you have the green book ?? And does it have current tax and insurance discs ??

I know someone who can often 'fix' book problems.. So if your having problems getting it in your name hes worth a chat.

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by greenwood

Do not know if it is the same on LOS, but in Australia, the best time to buy a new car is when the model range is just about to be upgraded.

Most times here, they will want to clear old model floor stock before the new models arrive.
They will have some large discounts and give aways on the old models, but you still get all the benifits that you get with buying the brand new models.

Yes, the same in Holland. Also if you buy a car as it stands in the showroom. The delaer will be more than glad to give you extra discount on that one, so he can replace it with a similar models with another colour or something.

Here it can also makes a difference when you buy a new car towards the end of the year, when dealers still have to reach their budget for the year.

[MajorTom]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Sounds suspect, 'plates' dont need renewing.. Tax and insurance stickers do.

When a bike is sold it has a red plate, later that becomes a real plate, these are tied to changwats (regions) and needs to go back to that region for resale if you dont move it in the first 30 (or something) days.

Do you have the green book ?? And does it have current tax and insurance discs ??

I know someone who can often 'fix' book problems.. So if your having problems getting it in your name hes worth a chat.

Everything is in order with the green book, tax, and insurance. Registered in Phuket on my name.

What the previous owner said; was that the license plate was an old expired type that i had to renew after a while.. It's not the red one you get on a new bike, just the old style square white one with the red stripe across it.

[LivinLOS]

Never heard of that being any different.. You sure he didnt mean the tax and insurance stickers (tho now you dont display insurance stickers its tax only this year on)..

If in doubt.. Go to the guys by the temple who do all the bike registrations and issue tax stickers etc.. They will give a 100% answer.

[Geir]

Ive bought 2nd hand cars with number-plates from Bangkok, Chang Mai and even Trang.....If you want, you can change it to Phuket-plates, but I was told from the registration-office in Phuket that I dident have to do it.
Anyway, my advice is to change it. It seems like the police is more into stoping cars from othe provinces. (my Ttrang-registrated car was very inn at the check-points )

About the fixed prices, the weekly big car-magasines from Bangkok that you can buy in any bookshop, normaly have pricelists for new and 2nd hand cars.
As far as I can see its a good business-opertunety to buy 2nd hand cars in Bangkok and sell them in Phuket. Seen 250-300k cars in BK being adverticed in Phuket for 350-400k..............

Geir

[LivinLOS]

Isnt the issue tho that when you want to sell the car it has to go back to its old province (or deal with a VERY slow process which can sour a sale ??).. Also can you tax and insure them from out of province ??

I just moved mine here as a matter of course.. Seemed easier..

Also agree on car prices, seen cars for 200 and under that would be 300 and over down here.. City driving not kind of cars tho.

[Geir]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Isnt the issue tho that when you want to sell the car it has to go back to its old province (or deal with a VERY slow process which can sour a sale ??).. Also can you tax and insure them from out of province ??

I just moved mine here as a matter of course.. Seemed easier..

Also agree on car prices, seen cars for 200 and under that would be 300 and over down here.. City driving not kind of cars tho.

Ive just been calling the insurance-company from the old owner, and they have been more than happy to extend it and transfere it to my name. I guess you are right about the paperwork if you want to sell.....It took me 3 weeks to get my blue book for the Chang Mai car. But it was all taken care of from the registration office in Phuket. They just gave me some temperary papers to show the police if I got stopped.

Geir

[Simbo]

There is a centralised computer system in place now so its easier than before to transfer vehicles. Equally you do not have to tax the vehicle back in the home province if you haven't re-registered. It does take a bit of time for the new book to come through though apparently.

As an aside- from earlier this year they have stopped issuing insurance stickers- the tax sticker is an indicator to the police that the vehicle is insured as well. All that happens is that you take the proof of insurance to the licencing Dept and they will issue the new tax disc. Obviously there will be a bit of overlap while the old system fades away.

[LivinLOS]

Annoying thing is your supposed to carry your receipt for insurance payment with the bike (or car).. Which is awkward to do with rental bikes..

Not sure how lenient the boys in brown will be over this..

[MajorTom]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Never heard of that being any different.. You sure he didnt mean the tax and insurance stickers (tho now you dont display insurance stickers its tax only this year on)..

If in doubt.. Go to the guys by the temple who do all the bike registrations and issue tax stickers etc.. They will give a 100% answer.

He ment the license plate. I asked him twice about this cos i also found this strange.

Will ask in the office by the temple. Need to renew my tax/insurance now anyway... i think... have to get a thai to read me the dates on those stickers

[Dodger]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Annoying thing is your supposed to carry your receipt for insurance payment with the bike (or car).. Which is awkward to do with rental bikes..

Not sure how lenient the boys in brown will be over this..

Doesn't the copy of the rental agreement, detail the insurance payment, or am I being a nincompoop??

[LivinLOS]

No I dont think it does (looking at one)..

Also if you think about it, a pad of 100 rental sheets is a lot cheaper than 100 bikes insurance.. So would be a way to scam he police if true...

I really dont know the legal position currently.. Cos I was told "you must carry this" and then they stapled it into my green book.. Plus its printed on those fax paper style thermal paper reciepts, they fade quite fast too..

Perhaps I should photocopy, laminate and tape under the seats ?? Kinda defeats the purpose of no sticker tho ??

[J.C.]

I have prepared the following information in co-operation with the Phuket Land Transportation Office to aid foreigners in Car and Motorbike registration issues.

I hope you will find this helpful.



Documents needed for vehicle ownership transfer



1. Vehicle Title / Registration Book and Ownership Transfer Form. Owner & Buyer must sign the Transfer Form (Khor Sor Bor 10 Tor -11)

2. Power of Attorney Form is needed if either Owner, Buyer or both cannot come to the Transportation Office. Both must complete & sign the Power of Attorney Form.

3. For a Thai person, a copy of Identity Card or Civil Servant ID Card with original signature of bearer. A foreigner has to show his/her Passport, a copy of the data page and last entry stamp. If the foreigner holds a visa, a copy of it must be submitted too. Every copy needs to be signed. This applies to both Owner and Buyer.

4. If the Buyer is a foreigner, a signed copy of Certificate of Residency or Work Permit is needed.

If the Buyer is Thai, a signed copy of House Title Book is needed.

5. If the Buyer is not registered in Phuket, he/she may bring with him/her signed copies of House Title Book and ID Card or Civil Servant ID card of a Thai person who is registered in Phuket Province. A Power of Attorney form filled in and signed by the Phuket Resident is also needed if the Phuket Resident does not appear in person at the Transportation office at the time of the transfer process. The vehicle will be registered to the Buyer, using only the address of the Phuket Resident.

6. If the vehicle is either owned or bought by a company, company registration papers indicating the shareholders, their share percentage and those with signing rights are needed. In addition the following documents are needed from the person who is authorized to sign in the name of the company.

For a Thai person – Signed copies of House Title Book and ID Card or Civil Servant ID Card.

For a foreigner – Signed copies of Certificate of Registration, Passport data page, last entry stamp and visa if one has been issued.

If the person with signing rights does not appear in person at the Transportation Office, a Power of Attorney form filled in and signed by that person is needed.

7. Present the vehicle at the Transportation Office for inspection.















Documents needed when transferring vehicles from other provinces to Phuket.

1. Vehicle Title / Registration Book

2. For a Thai person, a copy of Identity Card or Civil Servant ID Card with original signature of bearer. A foreigner has to show his/her Passport, a copy of the data page and last entry stamp. If the foreigner holds a visa, a copy of it must be submitted too. Every copy needs to be signed.

3. If the Owner is a foreigner, a signed copy of Certificate of Residency or Work Permit is needed.

If the Owner is Thai, a signed copy of House Title Book is needed

4. If the Buyer is not registered in Phuket, he/she may bring with him/her signed copies of House Title Book and ID Card or Civil Servant ID card of a Thai person who is registered in Phuket Province. A Power of Attorney form filled in and signed by the Phuket Resident is also needed if the Phuket Resident does not appear in person at the Transportation office at the time of the transfer process. The vehicle will be registered to the Buyer, using only the address of the Phuket Resident.

5. Power of Attorney Form is needed if the Owner cannot come to the Transportation Office

6. If the vehicle is owned by a company, company registration papers indicating the shareholders, their share percentage and those with signing rights are needed. In addition the following documents are needed from the person who is authorized to sign in the name of the company

For a Thai person – Signed copies of House Title Book and ID or Civil Servant ID card

For a foreigner – Signed copies of Certificate of Registration, Passport data page, last entry stamp and visa if in possession of one.

If the person with signing rights does not appear in person at the Transportation Office, a Power of Attorney filled in and signed by that person is needed.


7. If ownership is to be transferred at the same time, please refer to instructions for “Documents needed for vehicle ownership transfer “


8. The vehicle must be presented for inspection at the Transportation Office no earlier than 1 week and not later than 15 days after submitting the documents. After 15 days a Bt 200 fine will be collected.








Useful terminology and other information


Vehicle Title / Registration Book

Thai name Tabien Rot ทะเบียนรถ

Green for motorbikes and Light Blue for cars. Often referred to as the “Green Book”


Power of Attorney form

Thai Name Nang Sye Moop Am Naat หนังสือมอบอำนาจ

Power of Attorney forms can be obtained at B2S book stores. Transportation office does not supply them. The nearest B2S shop is located at Central Festival Mall.


Ownership Transfer form

Thai name Baep Kham Khor Oon Lae Rap Oon แบบคำขอโอนและรับโอน

Identification Khor Sor Bor 10 Tor -11

Look at the bottom left corner of the forms to find the corresponding numbers to identify the right form. All forms are written in Thai only.


Certificate of Residency


Issued by the Phuket Immigration. Certificate will be valid until the last day of admitted stay in Thailand as indicated in the last entry stamp.

Documents needed for application

- 1 passport photo
- Signed copies of Passport data page, last entry stamp and possible visa

- Signed copy of House Title Book from the property the foreigner is residing in
- Signed ID card or Civil Servant ID Card copy of a Thai person registered in House Title Book
- Application form signed and filled in by the applicant (Available at Phuket Immigration)

Owner identification

When purchasing a vehicle from a Thai owner, the name in the Vehicle Title / Registration Book will be written in Thai alphabet. If you are unable to read Thai, look at the Thai ID card number in the book and make sure it matches the number on the ID card and the supplied ID card copy.






House Title Book

Thai Name Tabien Ban ทะเบียนบ้าน

Dark Blue in color. Contains details of the house / property and personal data of everyone registered at that address. Generally only Thai citizens can be registered in Tabien Ban.


Work Permit

Thai Name Bai A Nu Yaad Tam Ngan ใบอนุญาตทำงาน

Blue in color. Can be used instead of Certificate of Residency to verify address in Thailand.