Red plates for new car - none left this year!?

Here's a question regarding the red temporary registration plates that the dealer sticks on a new car while the government agency takes 2 months to issue the final white plates. Apparently, according to the sales staff at the Honda dealership, they have run out of red plates for this year due to slow issuing of white ones and their allocation of red numbers are all out on new cars still waiting for their white plates.

I picked up a new CR-V in early October and they didn't have any red plates which hasn't been a problem around Udon. I had the 1000km free service a couple of days ago and they still don't have any red plates available. The problem is, I want to drive down to Pattaya and visit some clients in Bangkok. The sales staff mentioned that if I really want, I can get a letter from some other local government entity in town to show to the cops if I get pulled over (I will only be driving in daylight on the way to Pattaya and on business in Bangkok).

Has anyone had any extra hassles from the cops while driving a car without the red plates and the accompanying trip register 'brown book'? I have a feeling that unless they pull me over for speeding, they will probably not notice. I do know from experience that there's more vehicle checkpoints at night and they do check for insurance and other details. I also know that by law, red plated cars are supposed to only operate between 6am and 6pm but this is more strictly enforced in Bangkok. Any clue on who I would get the letter from would be handy as my Thai isn't all that.

Why not buy one of those auspicious number plates? The wife told me at the auction for auspicious numbers in Chonburi, someone recently paid 2.8 million baht for 9999.

Then when the police see your number they'll know not to bother you.

Also, I've been led to believe that the red plates are rented. They aren't free. For some people it's important to advertise their new car. I think the tax sticker and insurance sticker are more important than a license plate.

Tamada, there are some local 'sign' makers on the left side of Phosi Rd. just west of the fountain circle - a series of 5-6 wooden table set up along the sidewalk. I'm sure they will gladly make you any 'plate' you want and truthfully, you could probably drive on it (until you have an accident) and no one would know know the difference.

UdonExpat wrote:Why not buy one of those auspicious number plates? The wife told me at the auction for auspicious numbers in Chonburi, someone recently paid 2.8 million baht for 9999.

Then when the police see your number they'll know not to bother you.

Also, I've been led to believe that the red plates are rented. They aren't free. For some people it's important to advertise their new car. I think the tax sticker and insurance sticker are more important than a license plate.

Yes, there is a fee for the red plates, about 5k baht, refundable on return to the dealership when the white plates are ready. I am willing to pay but the problem appears there aint enough red plates available at the end of the year.

The window stickers are important too but they only appear to come after the white plates have been issued, that's why cars with red plates have NO window stickers. The window stickers match the WHITE rego plates and aren't issued while red-plated.

Saw some junk mail about bidding for some 'lucky' number plate, no thanks. Just give me ANY bloody plates right now would be alright by me!

driving without red plate near bkk or tourist area is asking to be stopped and pay tea money, no matter what papers you have. toyotat had my white plates squared away in less than a month. anything else they tell you is BS. IMO

i am guessing sales are slow, and they have no intension of making a special trip to office, also, honda now has 2 dealers, and do you really think they got more plates, or just sent half to the other dealer.

my reasoning is, when i bought first car, paid cash, but used an old immigration vehicle registration letter, months later i remembered, i don't have tags, stop in, hello................oh, you paper wrong, no tags.............but no call to tell me, so off to immigrations, new letter, i'm pissed, amazing, i have registration and white tags the next day. this when economy was much better and cars waiting for arrival when purchased. hence my theory of BS.

I have to agree with la about BS. The dealer just isn't doing something that needs to be done so you can get the permanent plates.

I own a Honda and have had the misfortune of dealing with the local dealership a number of times. They are mostly incompetent IMO. Enough so, that the next time I buy a car it will not be a Honda, even though they are my favorite brand.

It may be less troublesome to rent a car for the trip.

UdonExpat wrote:I have to agree with la about BS. The dealer just isn't doing something that needs to be done so you can get the permanent plates.

I own a Honda and have had the misfortune of dealing with the local dealership a number of times. They are mostly incompetent IMO. Enough so, that the next time I buy a car it will not be a Honda, even though they are my favorite brand.

It may be less troublesome to rent a car for the trip.

I don't agree, as a former Honda owner I found them to be excelent. The service was always very good, and staff were courteous and efficient. On a trip to Pattaya I encountered a problem with the wheel bearings. The staff there went out of their way to help me get back on the road, and attended to me almost immediately. Needless to say it was free of charge as it was under guarantee, and no quibbles!

I can't remember any dealership of any kind in England that would go to so much trouble. They would tell you to come back next week.

On a trip to Pattaya

i'm guessing the pattatya dealership was the helpful one. my neighbor was a honda fan, bought 3 from udon dealer, loved the vehicles, hated the dealer/sales/service. bumper to bumper warranty on 2 of them, always a discussion as to if covered by warranty. he finally told them to shove it, now is thrilled with mitsubishi. sadly, he never had a good thing to say about honda. he was a car salesman before retiring. 2 outstanding incidents, charged 1000 baht for a wire about 8 inches long, not a honda wire, just a basic wire, then when transporting crv, on double flatbed, it didn't fit and scratched the roof, badly, with paint chips still on the truck, the driver admitting he did it, the manager says, it wasn't done be them and not responsible..................finally, after short conference, admits fault and repairs, sh*t sand job, and brush painted, not even close to a match on the paint. total disgrace. always overcharged, or overpriced for regular maintainence. when comparing notes on my toyota service charges and his, it was astronomical, and sadly comical. it is sad, since honda has nice line of cars. just he had no luck with local dealer.

Yes the Honda dealership in Pattaya was helpful, but we had the car for over three years and it was serviced regularly here in Udon. No problems with the Honda dealer here, very helpful and friendly, always did a good job, and as I say very efficient.

As to the car I will go back to Honda for my next car, as I am just fed up with Ford. Evey time I take the car for a service they take ages, mess up the service schedules, and just don't seem to know what they are doing.

I'm sorry but I have no complaints with Honda either at the old showroom, or the new one.

well, that's good, continued luck to you. funny you mention ford, he had a truck for a very short time with them, another negative experience i won't bore you with. toyota fan here, so far so good, all positive.

When i bought my new Chev 1 year ago, got the red plate and also requested a letter from the dealer in Udon , on their letterhead to show the eng, chassis numbers etc....and everything to back up the red plate.

I was pulled over by the cops in BKK approx 4 weeks leter, new car, red plate, he can afford whatever.

Showed them the letter , my licence etc and after some more excuses he found, he wanted 1000 baht.

Started to dial 1155 on my phone and he then found an excuse to return my licence ond i was on my way.

There are no two Honda dealers, only two outlets from the same dealer.
The red license plates are given away as soon as they come back. Not to waiting customers, but to the ones just buying a car. TIT.
If the local Honda after sales service equals their selling skills and competence, then Mitsubishi is better, much better. I will know in some years...

Thanks for the latest input, I have been down in Pattaya for 2 weeks and now back at work in Indonesia so just catching up. I had some rental credit with Q-cars in Pattaya so burned that off and left the new CRV in Udon.

It seems a combination of bs and bad management, especially with the last comment from Techland that if there's a customer on the floor the day a red plate is returned, that customer gets the red plate. Saves the lazy staff keeping a list of who has been waiting the longest eh? I know also that Thais like the cache of the red plate and will delay going in to get their white plates so the 'new' car looks newer for longer.

The wife is back in Udon and beating up on the Honda staff is high on her agenda. Fingers crossed!

Dont buy a Chev, i have major issues with them, with after sales service and issues with a tyre that blew out at 90 kph and a 2nd tyre with a very suspect swollen area, all at 27000 km. Oh yeah the turbo blew at 1427 km !

Its taken 3 months to get any reply, and its all too hard for them, so just reject it seems easy.

Call Centre refuses to return calls, Chev Udon say its Chev BKK problem etc.

Im sure they would have plenty of Red plates, if this sort of service is provided as not many will buy from them.

Just learned on another forum of another Udonite who bought a Toyota in Nong Bualamphu in October and had the same runaround until he got 'fined' by the local police. Then he went to the dealer and read the riot act and coincidentally got his WHITE plates within 45 minutes.

These dealers are ALL lazy barstewards IMHO.

Note to wife, better bring baseball bat to Honda dealer!