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License plates for big bikes

Posted: December 16, 2007, 8:42 pm
by Paul Taylor
3 days ago i was stopped by the traffic police near Ratchapat university,riding a Honda CX500 turbo,have insurance,papers.....no plate.
I was fined 200baht,told to report to the main police station in Udon,where i was told that if i continued to ride my bike without plates,it would be confiscated.!!!! #-o
I would be interested to know whether anyone else has been fined,and any suggestions other than paying 70000 baht for a plate :shock:

Posted: December 17, 2007, 10:02 pm
by Paul Taylor
one suggestion was to ride at night 8)

Posted: December 17, 2007, 11:23 pm
by Pakawala
Well Paul, this is exactly why I have not purchased one of the many larger bikes for sale in the area. Folks are quick to tell you that, "oh, I've never had a problem" or "I've never been stopped". And there is no reason to believe that they are not telling the truth BUT, this doesn't mean they won't start enforcing the law eventually. Keep in mind, there is nothing a police officer wouldn't do to get his hands on a nice big bike... like confiscating and impounding your bike only to have it available to him at his whim and pleasure.

I've found several larger bikes in the area at very good prices but ALWAYS without a number plate. BTW, you can probably get yours registered with a plate in BKK for around 50K vice 70K locally. :?

Posted: December 18, 2007, 7:59 am
by Paul Taylor
Thanks for the advice,i will follow up your suggestion in Bangkok :D

Posted: December 18, 2007, 8:43 am
by Flashman
What's this "Green Book" every one talks about?

Does it come with the number plate at 50 to 70K baht?

Posted: December 18, 2007, 9:28 am
by Paul Taylor
I think the green book is for registration not ownership....it details the yearly fees paid on the bike.address and previous owners.It usually takes up two months for the book to arrive after the application has been made....i hope that helps.....Paul 8)

Posted: December 18, 2007, 9:32 am
by Paul Taylor
Advice from Pakawala,is to apply for the green book in Bangkok.....price 50000......here in Udon Thani,i was quoted 70000 for my Honda CX500 turbo.....that price was from a bike shop.The plate and the book are included in the price

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 24, 2009, 10:51 pm
by Paul Taylor
Phuket Excise Office closes big bike loophole
Phuket Gazette Sept 21, 2009

PHUKET: The Phuket Excise Office says big bike owners have until September 25 to pay excise on motorcycles assembled from parts – or face hefty fines.

Motorcycles subject to prohibitive tariffs have long been assembled from parts by ‘grey market’ operators in order to avoid paying the tax.

Now excise officials insist the owners of such vehicles – not the builders – must pay anyway.

Surat Saengnet, of the Phuket Provincial Excise Office, announced in a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall that “anyone who owns such vehicles – which are mostly big bikes such as Harley Davidsons – will have to pay an excise of 3.3 percent of the vehicle price.”

Owners who pay up before the deadline will not be fined.

Those who fail to do so and get caught will be “fined from two to ten times the tax amount,” Mr Surat said.

Another official at the Excise Office explained that “owners must provide documents showing their vehicles’ engine and body numbers, as well as invoices and receipts for parts.

“These documents are sent to the Excise Office’s Value Pricing division, where a figure for the value of a vehicle is established. The tax rate is set from that,” she said.

The official said the rate charged is “the same as that for new bikes. Also new motorbikes imported from abroad must pay excise tax.”

“Excise tax has been collected since 1997,” said Surat, “but we concentrated on motorcycles in shops. Now we will be much stricter, checking all of them.”

Normally, spare parts imported from abroad are taxed according to the tariff on spare parts – which is significantly less than the rate for completely assembled vehicles.

Parts assembled into completed four-stroke motorcycles are subject to excise tax of 3 percent; two-strokes pay 5 percent.

Over the last three months, some 400 persons have been caught with motorcycles that evaded the excise.

Nicky’s Handle Bar and big bike shop owner Somneuk ‘Nicky’ Phonkaew told the Gazette, “I have just one such bike and it has already been taxed. If you follow the rules, you don’t have any hassles.”

Wanlop Inthanop of the Phuket Land Transport Office said, “Parts assembled into motorcycles must be examined by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute of the Ministry of Industry in Bangkok. They receive certification only if they meet the institute’s standards.”

After passing that hurdle, owners must pay the excise tax – and only then will the Land Transport Office allow them to register their vehicles.

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Ed note: The 'crackdown' on big bikes isn't peculiar to Phuket - Chiang Mai and other areas all over Thailand are stepping up checks. So heads-up... (and matching book ready!) Idea
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Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 12:00 am
by Pakawala
I have several friends riding this type of motorcycle and they tried to encourage me to get one but I refused because of the reason posted above. We all know that eventually the 'authorities' will see the chance to make a bit of profit and take advantage of it. To those guys who were trying to convince me... I hate to say, "I told you so".

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 5:57 am
by laphanphon
ditto, same with me, thought about buying a 750 or something about that, would love another honda 900, but way too expensive w/book, and as you say, i thought it was just a matter of time before they enforced law, plus the invitation to be stopped every time you ride it.......no thanks. 8)

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 3:51 pm
by bluejets
So that's around Aus$1700 to Aus$2500 for Thai equivelant for rego?

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 4:16 pm
by Paul Taylor
Latest news......Got a Thai friend of mine to call a big bike shop,to get some more information.
He spoke to Ouy.....just across the road from AEK Udon hospital.
He said that there has been a suspension of the collection of excise until the end of the year.
The objections were raised by Thai motorcycle clubs to the relevant minister.
As i understand,negotiations will will now take place between those who raised there concerns.and the customs department or land transport.
We were also told that a petition will be circulated later on this year,possibly via the internet.
we were able to ascertain the level of excise.My friends 96 Honda steed......nicely chopped bike...cost Baht 10500.......at .3.3%.......nice little earner for the boys in bangkok!!!!! :-"

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 6:32 pm
by bumper
Well they are trying to get some tax dollars they need them. But, remember this just the first step to getting a book. This does not get you a book on the bike. May keep them from seizing the bike since that was why the others were siezed. I paid through the nose for a book. 70K to be exact.

But let me tell you when I transfered it to Udon they went over it with a fine toothe comb, they are not playing these days.

This time guys the boys in Bangkok really is the Government.

There is a lot of peace of mind that comes with having a good book. It also opens up riding to other countries not that far away.

But, each to his own. :pirate:

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 7:12 pm
by Paul Taylor
I feel for the Thai riders.....many will not have the money to pay excise......The tax liability, rests firmly with the importers and assemblers of these bikes......not the current owners.(just an opinion)
A petition is a good idea.the government stands to lose much more in revenue by not allowing a fairer resolution to this problem,once and for all!!

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 7:35 pm
by bumper
Well your right and some of the dealers did in fact pay the import tax. Some didn't.

But, the problem doesn't just stop there, the resale kills you as well. There is 400 or sale on the site right now for 95 K.

To come close to his price and factor in the leagl bike I will have to get 165 out of mine. Pretty much indentical bikes, mine has a bit more equipment.

So when price is the the only thing looked at, mine is way overpriced. People hear about bike with books prices and think they should all sale for that. I'm going to put mine up for 160K when the 800 is finished. I won't drop the price and I will proably keep it.

It's very confusing buying a bike here, lots of rumors and easy to fool newbies.

But such are life. Think about it would you buy a vechicle that had not been registered in your home country?

What makes it different here is the 70K when in fact the real price to register the bike is around 2K baht. I can see why people don't want to pay that other 68K it's usery. The system is really faulty no doubt about it.

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 8:09 pm
by wazza
I see it that shops and persons imported the parts and paid the lower tax on these parts. All with the view to rebuild a new bike in the majority of times. Im sure some importers did need some parts for fully imported bikes ( with full tax paid on them ) in the past that had been damaged or required repairing etc.

So effectively it was done with intent to defraud or evade the taxes and then sell the bike off etc

Then an illegal bike was born, and now the authorities have cracked down on them.

They have given an amnesty to those people. Use it would be the best option.

If those who thought they were buying a bargain ! think carefully, why are they are bargain ??

Big bikes in Udon will attract attention easliy and confiscation is an option, from the look of it. NO papers no book, no big bike.

E Caveat Emptor

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 8:10 pm
by Paul Taylor
This whole excise mess to me,is a retrospective tax......to the more better informed in the forum,is this legal under Thai law?
This is a serious question :D

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 8:24 pm
by laphanphon
since the bikes were brought in under false pretense, then sold under false pretense, though unregistered, which goes against rational thinking as a buyer. i think the authorities are being rather lax, and agree with wazza, take the amnesty period and get your bike squared away. just because they had lax enforcement before, doesn't mean it should be not be enforced now, as it is simply the law, always there for those to see and abide by. those that bought/rode/sold already, lucked out.

the only good thing that might come out of it, is they will realize many want larger bikes, and they may lower the excise tax to make it more feasible, though that would be way to practical. TIT. :lol: :lol:

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: September 25, 2009, 8:42 pm
by bumper
It really is strange used parts are taxed at 3%. New parts at 30%

Guys keep in mind things have really changed here, when I first came here anything over a 150, had to be done a parts or pay a huge sum for import. a lot more the the 70K.

These days we have new bikes being sold by authorized dealers a the book cost is nothing. But, they still have to jump through hoops. only certain models have been approaved and that has been down to the color of the bike. Even with that system you will pay around twice as much for a bike here then you would the same new bike in the states.

The Kawaski 650 is made in Thailand and it is only 250K.

The 900 made in Japan 460K
Really makes you wonder about free trade does it not.

Re: License plates for big bikes

Posted: January 30, 2010, 3:04 pm
by mikk3
Hi

I have a couple of retired mates living in Udon and other mates that live within the country
I will live there myself in the near future but ----

I have heard about this from my mates but they were of the understanding the price for the plates was about 90 000 bht

It scared me off getting a big bike when I live there - I dont mind paying a reasonable price for something but I hate being ripped off

I can only guess that this is an initial step for the Thai govt to either gain carbon credits which is going to be a huge issue in the future starting from now 01 01 2010 when a heap of new legislation comes into place (all to do with environmental issues) or rip off the consumer who fails to comply with what they want as compensation

This,sadly will only get worse over the comming years