Expat Auto Chiang Mai - Serving the foreign community with quality cars

Ownership Transfer Forms


Additional Resources

Below are some useful links that explain about rules of the road, getting a Thai drivers license, accidents, and much more.

Paperwork for Buying/Selling a Car

Note: Every copy needs to be signed!

The buyer and seller must provide the following documents:
For Foreigners
1) Passport: copies of the photograph page, current visa stamp, and tm (departure) card.
*note: If you are consigning your car with us and any of your paperwork will be expiring soon, we will have you sign your name to a few pieces of blank paper so that when you leave the country you can send a scan of your departure stamp so we can print it off onto the signed blank paper as evidence you have left the country)
2) AND one of following:
Work Permit: copies of every page (with writing, and one blank page following) of your work permit.
OR
Certificate or Letter of Residence issued by Thai Immigration 500 THB - good for 30 days (some reports recently that they are sending people to their consulate to attain this) Or and Affidavit of Residence from your consulate/embassy - usually need to make an appointment online. 1500 THB - good for up to 1 year. Here is a link to what the US one looks like: Affidavit for Vehicle Issues ("Residence Verification")

Documents required for certificate of residence application from Thai Immigration:
  1. Application for Certificate of Residence
  2. Rental Contract OR House Title along with owner’s ID card.
  3. 2 photos (2”x2”)
  4. Passport: copies of the photograph page, current visa page/stamp, and tm (departure) card.
For Thais
ID card (Baht Pracha Chon) – copies of front and back.
House Registration Document (Tabien Baan)
Name changes/Divorce papers if applicable

If Buying or Selling in a Company/Foundation name:
Note: Every copy needs to be signed by all committee members and stamped with the company/ foundation stamp (including transfer form)

Company/ Foundation Registration Papers – with stamp on every page
Committee Member(s) individual documents (see required personal documents for Foreigners and Thais above)

All transfer, registration, and road tax costs are double if a car is registered in a company name.

Unless a Power of Attorney and Transfer of ownership forms are signed, both parties must go to the Land Transport Office to complete the transfer of ownership. The officers will check to make sure that engine and body numbers match the Title book, and check to make sure that it has undergone a road-worthiness test (for vehicles over seven years old). If you have not already done this, it can be carried out at inspection centers (Tor.Ror.Or.) around the city.


Title Document (Lem Tabian):

The Blue registration book that comes with every used vehicle contains all the details about the vehicle as well as the previous owners, taxes paid, changes that have been made to the vehicle such as paint color or engine, etc. Financiers will hold onto the registration book until all money has been paid.

Blue Title Book (Lem Tabien) front
Click to view the inside of this booklet



Tax and Government Insurance

Government Road Tax Window Sticker All vehicles must display a road tax sticker which must be renewed annually. Costs vary from 600-6000 THB. per year depending on engine size and vehicle type. Four door trucks and SUV’s will incur a luxury tax. In order to get this sticker you must also buy the government’s compulsory insurance called Por.Ror.Bo which covers the medical expenses of the other party involved in an accident (costs about 900 THB.)


Additional Insurance:

Our vehicles are up to date on the compulsory government insurance, but if you require more extensive coverage (recommended) we can arrange it for you.


Obtaining a Thai driver's license

If you have a foreign license already, it is quite easy. This is what you will need: If you are going to do a motorcycle license too, you will need to make another copy of all your documents as well. You will get a 1 year "temporary", then you will have to come back to renew with the same paperwork again and the fee will be 605 THB for 5 years. If you do not have a foreign license or it is expired, you need to be there at about 8:30 to sit through a 4 hour training course (in Thai so take a translator if you want), then take the written (English available) and driving tests (you need to provide your own vehicle). Be prepared for a full day event. Another helpful resource on this: How to obtain a Thai driver's license