What do I need to obtain a residence certificate in Thailand for buying a motorbike?

David Broadfoot Can read a bit of Thai so won't get me on that one - he says....

@Gordon ****

the big problem for the buyer that doesn’t read Thai and has never been through the process is getting stuck with a bike that isn’t up to date with tax as this can be a. Nightmare to sort out and one the buyer has their money you are left to pay the outstanding tax plus fines which can add up quite quickly especially if the tax hasn’t been paid for 3 or more years. Standard practice at least for foreigners is to only part with the money once your name is in the book.

* that not thaT...

I will be buying a bike next month and will make a note of the things you have mentioned. As someone alluded to - if it's a genuine sale then the seller will have no problem with thaT

This building.

Just re did my car tax in phangan and asked if they can change name in the green book here, yes it possible so once you have the residence certificate you bring all the docs to the building just to the right of big c, building looks like a weigh station.

David Broadfoot Have my yellow book now so no worries on the certificate for me. CM used to give them (residence certificates) to you after a wait of maybe 15 minutes...

@Martin *******

Supposed to be free but the offices will delay a free one for a month or more - another rip off.

Just walk...less hassle

If you can ride a bike the test is easy. To be fully legal you need a Thai license or international license but to be honest no license at all is ok if you don’t mind being fined 400b if stopped but this is a rare occasion!

The only thing you need to buy the bike is your passport, the residence letter from immigration and the money. You don’t need a license, Thai or otherwise.

To get the residence certificate as I explained in an earlier post is obtained from the immigration office in Samui. You’ll need, your passport, an address,( yours or a friends) and 500b and possibly a passport pic. It takes an hour.

It sounds complicated and daunting but it’s really simple in practice. Just remember the most important rule ; don’t hand over any cash till your name is in the book 🙂

Oh and while you’re in Samui doing the name change, get yourself a Thai license at the same time.. Ching Ching 100% legal.. plus it’s quite a laugh doing the tests and will make a good story when you go home.. 🙂

Yes that’s what you need to do.

The process is ;

1. Find a bike.

2. Agree a price.

3. Go to Samui immigration and get residence certificate with your tourist visa.

4, go to land transport office with the seller, hand in docs and book and pay any outstanding tax plus fines and have bike inspected.

5. When they are happy and have put your name in the book, give the seller the cash.

6. Go celebrate that you now own a bike legally.

A word on taxes and this is IMPORTANT!!! If the taxes haven’t been paid for more than 3 years ( this is stamped in the book every year when they are paid) the bike effectively doesn’t have a green book as the fines and tea money to be paid to bring them up to date will be very high, as in more than the value of the bike. This is why there are so many bikes without a book. If the seller is genuine they will understand that no money changes hands till your name is in the book. Trust me when I say that if you part with your money without your name in the book you may as well throw the book away or just save yourself the hassle and buy a bookless bike. Apparently there are “agents” who can do it all for you but I don’t know where they are but if you’re in phangan you could try the building to the right of big c ( looks like a car weigh station and behind is the cement factory) as I believe they do annual tax for vehicles. But even if an agent does it for you, you don’t hand over cash until your name is in the book.

No problem. 🙂

And once you have the residence certificate, go to the land transport office in Samui with the bike seller, full in the forms, and hand them in. Once they check all the paperwork and check that ALL the taxes are up to date AND your name is in the book, then and ONLY then pay the seller and drive off on your new toy.

Yes, you take your passport with tourist visa to Samui immigration and give them an address and about 500b. Takes an hour. And they will give you a residence certificate valid for one month I think. When I did mine last year for a car I just wrote the address on a piece of paper for them. If you have a house contract all well and good but they didn’t want to see mine. Don’t do it if you only have a week or two left on the visa. Best to do it when you have a fresh. Visa.

Ummm cos he lives in Samui / phangan?? He never mentioned Bangkok in his op??

Why would you take the thread off topic talking about getting a residents certificate in Samui when the OP needs to obtain one in Bangkok?

Why would you want to use it for somewhere else if you live in Samui? As we all know immigration at each office have their own rules and this is The rules in Samui. I can only comment on this as this is where I live, well, phangan actually.

Just to let you know. I went to the DLT at Bangjak (Bangkok) yesterday. They accepted the affidavit of residence that I got from my embassy. I had to push it a little bit, because the legalization (a kind of sticker with a signature and the seal of the embassy) of my affidavit was attached to the backside of the document. They really like to see a signature and an official stamp on the frontside.... My application was refused in spite of me presenting an international driving license and my national driving license, but that is another story I'll do on Thai Visa when the issue is resolved.

The DLT website - has a list of what is required to renew / obtain a local license.

recently renewed a long expired licence,



Building No.4 - the purple one. Go to information on 1st floor, they should sort you out.

ขนส่งจตุจักร

แขวง ลาดยาว เขต จตุจักร 279 Phahonyothin Rd, Khwaeng Chom Phon, แขวง ลาดยาว เขตจตุจักร Krung Thep Maha Nakhon

I've never heard of it but I'm not saying your wrong. Personally I think I would go to the Land Transport office before you bother.

In my case it's for a drivers license. I was told the Land Transport office at Bangjak accepts an affidavit.

The affidavit though, doesn't take the place of a residents certificate in order to purchase a vehicle.

Thanks for your answer. I was considering going to Immigration for a residence certificate, because it is a lot cheaper than an affidavit from my embassy. But then I read that it takes 3 weeks in BKK (apparently they send it to you by EMS?). And now this. Better go to the embassy then...

You won't be able to get one in Bangkok until after you have actually done a report. You would have to get one from your embassy. Reports about getting one at Embassys have been mixed though with some refusing to do it.

What if you never do 90 day reports because you travel a lot?

Ah, I know it should be free but I really doubt you can get a free one in Jomtien...

No. in Isaan but still the same fee’s

In Jomtien?

Ask for a receipt S it should be free. I have had 2 this year free!