Vehicles are registered at the local Land Transport Office (LTO) when the vehicle is purchased from a dealer (new or used) or from a current owner.  Ownership is evidenced by a Green Book for motorcycles and by a Blue Book for other vehicles. 

The books are issued as a record of  ownership and and payment of the annual road tax. If there are any modifications to the vehicle, e.g., different paint, etc., the description in the book must be updated at the LTO to reflect the changes.

Photocopies of the relevant pages should be kept with the vehicle to show if requested at police checkpoints.  If the vehicle is financed, the holder of the note will retain the book and provide photocopies to the owner until the debt is paid.

A foreigner purchasing a vehicle will need their passport and a Certificate of Residence from Thai Immigration or from their Embassy - click here for information on obtaining the Certificate from Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office.

Dealer - The dealer (new or used) will usually handle all the paperwork with the local LTO to register the vehicle in the purchaser's name.  Dealers for new vehicles will have a temporary "red" license plate to be placed on the vehicle until the the permanent "white" plate is received from the LTO. A nominal deposit is required for the "red" plates, to be returned when the dealer receives the permanent "white" plates and ownership book - if financed, the ownership book will be retained by the lender until the debt is paid.

Individual - When purchasing from an individual, both should go to the local LTO to change the ownership information in the Book. In some cases, a "power of attorney" may be used if one of the parties cannot be present. If either the seller or buyer is Thai, they will need their Thai Identification Card and House Registration Book (Tabien Baan). Caution: Some considerations before paying for a used vehicle:

• The Land Transport Office will check the engine and chassis serial number to make sure the car has not been stolen, so it is strongly recommended that money is exchanged only after this has been checked.

• As all the documents will be in Thai it is suggested you have them all thoroughly checked by a Thai-speaker or solicitor and the Transport Office before making payment.

• In Thailand it is also buyer beware, so it is a very good idea to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic (not one selected by the seller).

• If the seller cannot produce the ownership book, there may be debt owed on the vehicle with the lender holding the book as security - insist on having the ownership book before buying.
  

• If the annual road tax payments are not up to date, the LTO will require they along with late penalty(ies) be paid at time of transferring ownership.