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Can you buy a motorbike in Thailand on a tourist visa?

Motorbike PurchaseTourist VisaResidency CertificateThailand ExpatsVisa Regulations
Nov 12, 2022
2 years ago
Pool *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is it easy to buy a motorbike on a touris visa? Still waiting for work permit
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Yes, it is possible to buy a motorbike in Thailand while on a tourist visa. There is no visa requirement specifically for purchasing a vehicle; however, to register the motorbike in your name, you will typically need a residency certificate. Requirements can vary depending on the location in Thailand and the strictness of local immigration offices. Some have reported purchasing without this certificate, while others found it necessary. Having cash can also streamline the process.
Chris ***********
Cash is King
2 years ago
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Giorgio ******
very easy . the key might be the certificate

of residence ! in some places essy yo get , in some places not

easy !!!
2 years ago
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Till ******
You can easly buy it without any document.
2 years ago
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Nick ************
You will need proof of residence obtained from local immigration. Passport, house book, tm 30, house owners id card all signed plus whatever else they think of. Photograph.
2 years ago
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Kent ***********
@Nick ***********
 tm30 to buy a bike, since when
2 years ago
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Kent ***********
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Nikos *********
I’ve bought 3 bikes in Thailand, all in my name, and with a tourist visa. Easy enough to do, compared to neighboring countries, Thailand is the easiest place to get a bike in your name as a foreigner.
2 years ago
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Tao ******
You only need address and more than 2 days visa
2 years ago
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Paulie ********
I bought on on a voe. Jyst need residency certificate
2 years ago
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Pool *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
NExt stupid question from me. How do I know the don’t have a loan for the bike ?
2 years ago
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Carsten ************
Général Ariansen may happen, but in that case they can't take the bike from you.
2 years ago
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Glyn **********
@Pool ******
 it was a very good question, thanks for asking I thought the same thing.
2 years ago
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Carsten ************
@Pool ******
 a bank would have the green book and you can't buy it. If you buy a bike and the green book comes with it, it's yours.
2 years ago
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Carsten ************
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Daniel ************
you can buy anytime -
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
No reason you can’t buy one on a tourist visa, but you’ll need a residency certificate to do so. In Bangkok immigration won’t issue one unless you’re on a long term visa and have done a 90 day report. Other area immigration offices may not be so strict. Your embassy may issue one also.
2 years ago
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Jeh *****
@Stuart ********
 Is another 90 report required if you recently changed your residency to another province where you will file for a new residency certificate?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jeh ****
 No, but you’ll need to have filed a new TM30 to do your next 90 day report in your new province.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Garrett ***********
There's no visa requirement to buy a vehicle. If you want to register it in your name (which I don't recommend) you need a certificate of residency, a work permit, or a yellow book.
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
Phil Jones No one can sell it if you have the greenbook.
2 years ago
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Oriano ******
@Garrett **********
 se non ce il tuo nome , anche se ai il greenbook non e tuo.
2 years ago
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Oriano ******
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Tony *********
@Garrett **********
 it's dead easy to sell a motorbike or car as a foreigner. I've bought and sold many. I once sold a car to a second-hand dealership and had a check in my hand within 20 minutes
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Tony ********
 Glad you've had positive experiences. Some DLT offices (like chiang mai) require forign sellers to be present at the DLT when transferring as well as a certificate of residency (yes, from the seller). I'm not saying you can't, it's just more of a pain than if it's registered to a Thai.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Garrett **********
 it may be more difficult in some cases but I don't want a Thai to steal my 1 million baht car because it's in their name. Isn't that obvious 😀 in fact they wouldn't be stealing it would they because they are the owner but I've paid for it. How many of your possessions do you have in other people's names?
2 years ago
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Tony *********
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Tony *********
@Garrett **********
 I have always owned cars here in my own name and I would recommend it. Why wouldn't you?.
2 years ago
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Pool *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
what makes it harder to sell as a foreign alien 👾
2 years ago
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Pool *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Then I could just get the seller to sign the transfer ,greenbook and id card and leave it in his name..?
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Pool ******
 Yes, personally that's what I do with my bikes. Then when I sell it the next person is the buyer.
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
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Garrett ***********
Robert If you put it in your girlfriends name or buy it 2nd hand, you should have had her sign the greenbook as the seller, sign the transfer document, and sign a copy of her ID card. Keep the documents, they don't expire.

Then when you want to sell the vehicle in the future you don't need to do anything and it's much easier to transfer the vehicle when not registered to a foreigner.
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
Robert Curtis You can't. Your only course of action would be to get proof of payment (bank transfer slip maybe?) And try and find text messages between you and her where she acknowledges it's your vehicle. Then go to the police station.

But if she's in possession of the vehicle, the greenbook, and it's registered to her, probably don't have much chance.
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
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