I know most will have heard something about this subject at some point, and could have been covered on the forum before but want to know current info as we all know how stuff changes at no notice at all.
I seem to hear conflicting things regarding how easy it is to travel around with one, especially out of the province that it was bought in.
Driving them around at night out of province is something else I've heard is a no-no too, don't know for sure myself, hence the thread.
Main question would be about if someone bought one in say Surat Thani and got the related province area red plate from the garage but then decided to drive it up to Bangkok or HH for a holiday, would there be any police/law related issues to consider or that you would likely expect to encounter.
Anyone know what the current law is, definitively?
Too many variables, Spitfire! It all depends on the time of the month, both for the policeman, his wife and Mia Noi! If the kids need new shoes, or his Mekong bottle is getting low. How hot it is, but no ploblem if it`s raining.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
So long as you can do the usual couple of hundred baht with it then fine but I suppose there must technically be some law to govern the situation, however infrequently it is applied from obscurity.
A while ago I traveled from Surin down to Hua Hin in our new truck with red plates
and some plants in the back. Was stopped on a toll way ticket booth in Bankok by the MiB who told us it was illegal to carry cargo in the back of the truck on red plates on a toll way
Naturally, 200bath was exchanged for the experience, and we continued on our way on the toll way...passed the next set of ticket booths (and MiB) without any problem...
A car displaying red plates is meant to only be driven in the daytime ( I think before 6pm) The plates are similar to trader plates in the UK to be used during business hours only. A log book is supplied with the plates and should be filled in before each journey.
Travelling between provinces should not be a problem as far in my experience all the red plates I have had have Bangkok printed on them.
I have been stopped several times and have been asked for the log book.
Tip: fill the book in in English
illegal to carry cargo in the back of the truck on red plates
I have questioned this and been given different answers. I am fairly sure that no commercial activity/goods transportation etc is allowed with red plates.
I have been concerned about this as we rent cars and need to ensure the insurance is valid.
I now do not rent cars with red plates.
Can confirm from my recent experience (got the white plates a few weeks ago), that driving from PRovince to PRovince should not be a problem (I was stopped once, and following the logbook check, was sent on my way with a smile, and my wallet fully in tact)
Keep the Log book upto date, and, just like all the previous users before you, fill the details in pencil, then each morning erase the date and enter ther current date, makes it nice and easy then.
Driving after 6pm is offically prohibited, however, many do it. I did everyday for 1 month (both here and outside of Bangkok) with no problem. However, I do not know where you would stand if you had an accident (certainly at this time you do not yet have your offical insurance docs as they requrie the car's plate number, which you don't have yet).
When we got our new truck the dealer had run out of red plates and I drove from Hua Hin to Buriram and back without any plates at all.
My partner said it's OK as long as you leave that little bunch of flowers in the grill that the dealers put on. Amazingly it worked.
(Please take this as a tale of life in Thailand and not useful advice!)
^ must have been lucky heather
Would suspect no insurance would be in force.
I bough a car from Toyota in Chaam a couple of years ago and was supplied with a red plate. Whilst in market Village I saw another car with the same plates! When I rang Toyota they told me not to worry as the other plates were a copy. They said they would tell the other driver not to go into Hua Hin again until I got my white plates
TIT
I just bought a new car - red plates the first 45 days, dealer said. No mention of log book and I wasn't given one. Is this stuff about a log book for real, is it an official document, and if so, where to get it?
Thanks for the replies everyone. From what I can gather that there are real and copy red plates. You only get a log book with the real one and the log book is for the plate, not the car, so the cops can track the usage of the plate and where it's been, nothing to do with the car. When I got one the garage gave me choice of real or not, real one cost 3000 baht but will give you 2500 back when you change to the real white plates on return. Copy plates were free so I'm guessing that's how the cops know, just ask you for the book.
It never ceases to amaze me some of the rackets these people dream up. If they could direct some of their talent into something useful, then maybe the place would advance a bit. As already mentioned, what about the insurance while you are running around with fake number plates?
Better still, why not get their act together and manufacture a ready supply of the correct plates to start with? The amount of tax leveled on new cars in this country should ensure that the registration process is in order.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
a real red plate has a impresion stamp on it the size of a ten baht ,thats how i was told to tell if mine were a copy,
i drove from hua hin to khon kean about 4-5 times and only had a problem once and that was at night,400 baht and ticket ,which once you have a ticket they can not issue you a fine for the same thing the same day.
why not get their act together and manufacture a ready supply of the correct plates to start with?
I would have thought they are available. The problem I would suggest is that the dealer will have to pay for each plate and the insurance that goes with it.
why not get their act together and manufacture a ready supply of the correct plates to start with?
I would have thought they are available. The problem I would suggest is that the dealer will have to pay for each plate and the insurance that goes with it.
The dealer doesn't hold the plates, the local Government registration office holds them.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
