Buying at a dealer is simple because they take care of everything.

 

Hoping for a good summary of the process when buying from a private party:

 

-          What they need to provide

-          What I need to have

-          What I need to bring to the motor vehicle department

-          Getting insurance

 

Thanks!!

Buying a motorbike from a private seller is easy once you know the steps. The dealer normally does it for you but doing it yourself isn’t hard.  The steps are a little different if you buy a bigger bike (over 400cc).

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✔️ Step-by-Step Checklist for Buying a Motorbike From a Private Seller (Thailand)

1. Before you buy – confirm these things

• Bike is fully paid off (no finance/lien).

• Green Book shows the same owner you’re buying from.

• Plate and chassis/frame numbers match the Green Book.

• Bike has valid Por Ror Bor (compulsory insurance) — not required, but helpful.

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2. What the seller must provide

• ✔️ Green Book

• ✔️ Copy of their Thai ID or passport

• ✔️ Signed transfer section in the Green Book

• ✔️ Power of Attorney (Tor Dor 21) if they won’t go with you

• ✔️ Receipt of purchase (optional but good)

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3. What YOU need

• ✔️ Passport

• ✔️ Copies of passport photo page + visa page

• ✔️ Proof of address:

  • TM30 or

  • Rental contract or

  • Residence certificate from Immigration

• ✔️ Cash (200–400 baht for transfer)

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4. What to bring to the Department of Land Transport (DLT)

• Green Book

• Signed transfer forms

• Power of Attorney (if seller not with you)

• Copies of IDs (yours + seller’s)

• Proof of address

• A photo of the bike’s frame/chassis number (sometimes required)

• Small cash for the fee

DLT will process it, call your name, and update the Green Book with your name.

Total time: usually 30–90 minutes depending on the queue.

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5. Insurance

You can get it the same day — very easy.

Mandatory:
✔️ Por Ror Bor (300–700 baht)

Optional:
✔️ Full coverage (price varies based on bike)

Just bring:

• Passport

• Green Book (or copy)

• License plate number

Any insurance shop can do it in 5 minutes.

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Done

Certain older bikes from the '90's & early 2000's can't be registered as they were imports & the records department never kept track of them. This means they have no idea of proof of ownership. We were caught out with this when we bought a older Honda chopper for display in Thaiger bar.

Buying a recent model of bike should be straightforward provided you have all the docs mentioned above, do not hand over cash until this process is complete.

I bought Doris a new PCX some years back from the dealer. She loaned her old Yammy Fino to a friend for a while. We decided to take it back to Udon but could not track it as the 'friend' had loaned it to another. We found out where the other friend lived & took the bike. A few days later she turned up looking for the bike as the original friend had sold it to her, thankfully no docs were exchanged.

This is one of the many reasons the BiB hardly ever stop Thai's on bikes, license out of date (or no hab), no tax or insurance nor proof of ownership...until they ever get a grip of this it will continue. 🤨

11 hours ago, LASportsNut said:

Buying a motorbike from a private seller is easy once you know the steps. The dealer normally does it for you but doing it yourself isn’t hard.  The steps are a little different if you buy a bigger bike (over 400cc).

---

✔️ Step-by-Step Checklist for Buying a Motorbike From a Private Seller (Thailand)

1. Before you buy – confirm these things

• Bike is fully paid off (no finance/lien).

• Green Book shows the same owner you’re buying from.

• Plate and chassis/frame numbers match the Green Book.

• Bike has valid Por Ror Bor (compulsory insurance) — not required, but helpful.

---

2. What the seller must provide

• ✔️ Green Book

• ✔️ Copy of their Thai ID or passport

• ✔️ Signed transfer section in the Green Book

• ✔️ Power of Attorney (Tor Dor 21) if they won’t go with you

• ✔️ Receipt of purchase (optional but good)

---

3. What YOU need

• ✔️ Passport

• ✔️ Copies of passport photo page + visa page

• ✔️ Proof of address:

  • TM30 or

  • Rental contract or

  • Residence certificate from Immigration

• ✔️ Cash (200–400 baht for transfer)

---

4. What to bring to the Department of Land Transport (DLT)

• Green Book

• Signed transfer forms

• Power of Attorney (if seller not with you)

• Copies of IDs (yours + seller’s)

• Proof of address

• A photo of the bike’s frame/chassis number (sometimes required)

• Small cash for the fee

DLT will process it, call your name, and update the Green Book with your name.

Total time: usually 30–90 minutes depending on the queue.

---

5. Insurance

You can get it the same day — very easy.

Mandatory:
✔️ Por Ror Bor (300–700 baht)

Optional:
✔️ Full coverage (price varies based on bike)

Just bring:

• Passport

• Green Book (or copy)

• License plate number

Any insurance shop can do it in 5 minutes.

---

Done

THANK YOU!!  I am looking to buy a 900cc or above, so am interested in those different steps you mention.