Red license plates on cars - how long?

Post by **rct** » May 7, 2014, 4:56 pm

How long can one legally keep red plates on cars? We always ask the dealers to secure the actual plates asap.

I've seen a car with red plate more than two years!!! Perhaps the owner thinks the resale value will be higher if they do not register, or, it might be that since the car was imported / bought in the grey market to lower the purchase price, that due to some complication (something not right with the import and tax documents...), they simply cannot register it? Or, what might be the reason?

Have also seen cars without plates, driving around with impunity for long periods of time.

*****

On a tangent, how to safely shake off a car behind who is driving dangerously close? Is the only solution to pull over, letting them force the car ahead off the road, so they can zoom ahead?

Post by **stattointhailand** » May 7, 2014, 5:05 pm

rct wrote:How long can one legally keep red plates on cars? We always ask the dealers to secure the actual plates asap.

I've seen a car with red plate more than two years!!! Perhaps the owner thinks the resale value will be higher if they do not register, or, it might be that since the car was imported / bought in the grey market to lower the purchase price, that due to some complication (something not right with the import and tax documents...), they simply cannot register it? Or, what might be the reason?

Have also seen cars without plates, driving around with impunity for long periods of time.

*****

On a tangent, how to safely shake off a car behind who is driving dangerously close? Is the only solution to pull over, letting them force the car ahead off the road, so they can zoom ahead?

Wait until they get really really close, then touch (don't press) your brake pedal (which will light your brake lights) whilst pressing the gas pedal . It should scare him enough to make him brake, whilst he watches you dissapear into the distance.
No point in having red plates on the car unless you want to remain in Udon (you are not allowed outside the province of registration) and you do not want to drive after dark (that's illegal as well) daylight only driving with red plates.

Post by **Shado** » May 7, 2014, 5:14 pm

(you are not allowed outside the province of registration)

We were given a letter by the dealer and a small log book (brown colored cover) that we simply had to fill out each time we made a trip out of Udon Province. We spent lots of time away while having the red plates, going as far as a week long holiday in Chiang Mai. No problems.

Post by **jackspratt** » May 7, 2014, 5:17 pm

stattointhailand wrote: Wait until they get really really close, then touch (don't press) your brake pedal (which will light your brake lights) whilst pressing the gas pedal . It should scare him enough to make him brake, whilst he watches you dissapear into the distance.

If you have room to "disappear into the distance", perhaps the guy sitting up your tail has a point.

Post by **rct** » May 7, 2014, 5:31 pm

Suppose you are driving close enough to the speed limit, and the guy behind is within 2-3-4 meters of your car? Does it matter if you have room ahead and a faster car that can exceed the speed limit and win the race? Is one obliged to fill the gap ahead no matter what?

Or, should one need to pull over, to let the dangerous jerk behind pass?

Sometimes when you win you lose. I have done the "hit the brakes to shake them off" thing (eg to hint to stop the tail gating), and it seemed to only further motivate ever more aggression from behind, scary in fact. Lawless. I do not recommend it and it may cause an accident.

Thank goodness there are more courteous drivers than not here, though too many are not!

Post by **noosard** » May 7, 2014, 5:42 pm

Red pl;ate is the dealers plate which is suppose to be used max 1 month
gives time for reg plate
but lately reg plates have been very slow to come
as for no plate reason being not enough red plates as too slow getting reg plate
we had no plate on our truck for 6 months was pulled over nurerous times for checks and nothing said till coming back from Mukdahan and got a fine which the dealer paid
My bike had a red plate on it for about 1 year
again never a problem
reason so long. was dealer was slack

Post by **Drunk Monkey** » May 7, 2014, 5:54 pm

You raise an interesting point rct .... the licensed white plates to replace the temporary red plates are normally issued within 1-2 months after the date of purchase but recently as pointed out bu noosard more lee way has been given for cars without plates or on red for considerably longer as the central licensing office in Bangkok was effected by the unrest/protests in the capital ... there was a four/five month back log in the documentation and processing of the licensed white plates .

Some imported vehicles can wait longer , several months depending on the importer/dealer.

Shado is spot on reference the brown book that goes with the red plate , tho a 5k deposit is paid for the licensed red plate and refunded when you collect the white ones , you can travel cross province whilst on the license red plates WITH THE BROWN BOOK to show the BIB .

In addition if as i did recently loose one of the white plates off the delivery truck you can still travel as normal but must get a police report (bai anu yard) relating to the loss ,,, just waited nearly 5 months for the replacement and was stopped many times between Udon and Bkk .. without a fine or enforced tea donations .

Hope that helps.

DM

Post by **parrot** » May 7, 2014, 6:34 pm

Last time we bought a truck (2008), we agreed on the price and were close to signing the final papers. I inquired about a red plate....Toyota said "no have". I told them, no plate, no deal. The salesman disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a beat up red plate. I asked why he said they were out. He told me that they thought no one would want to drive a new vehicle with a beat up old plate like that on it. I took the plate and signed the papers. The plate must have been jinxed too!......no one won the lottery off our numbers.

Post by **FrazeeDK** » May 7, 2014, 6:56 pm

well then, there's the "Rules and Laws" which are here http://vigportal.mot.go.th/portal/site/ ... 0506001ca/

and as noted by man posters there's common practice.. Dealer doesn't have any "Red" plates.. No problem, just have all the paperwork and the copper will wave you on. How long can you wait to get your White plates?? Looks like according to one poster it could be up to 2 years...

On Red Plates; Leaving your home province, driving at night and on and on.. Yup, all seem to have some prohibitions (gotta have that log book) but again, enforcement is at the discretion of the policeman that pulls you over.. Remember, that tax rebate on new cars got over a million sold between 2012 and 2013...

Getting somebody off your butt when driving.. Give way unless you're passing slower traffic.. If so, continue to pass then give way... While the tailgater may not be a madman, in all probability that person is a horrible driver do trying to do any trickster stuff to get him off your butt will probably either enrage him or cause an accident.. Jai yen yen if ya can...

Post by **maaka** » May 8, 2014, 4:30 am

I had some little Gothic looking chick, with purple lipstick and a face bespangled in pop rivets, lead head nails, metal hoops, and what looked like a casino chip in one ear, driving some sort of pimped and lowered Jap job, driving so hard up my arse I couldnt even see the teeth of her grill, so I yanked on the handbrake..she just saved it by inches, but definately got the hint, and I got a ring encrusted index finger in the mirror when I turn off down my sidestreet...lovely woman..

Post by **noosard** » May 8, 2014, 6:30 am

took me awhile to find
Land Traffic Act
http://www.etajlandia.pl/images/pics/02 ... landii.pdf

Section 7 (1000B) Cars and motorbikes must have vehicle registration plates (licence plates) when in use on the road

Post by **parrot** » September 12, 2016, 5:12 pm

This warning for red-plate vehicles was posted on a variety of Thai websites today.
It's in Thai......but long-hair translators or google translate can give you a good idea of what it says.
http://auto.sanook.com/54971/

Post by **stattointhailand** » September 12, 2016, 5:26 pm

Reading all the pictures ........ I think it is something like it is now illegal to have young ladies take their clothes off in the back of your car if you have red plates on it

Post by **kopkei** » September 12, 2016, 6:03 pm

On a tangent, how to safely shake off a car behind who is driving dangerously close? Is the only solution to pull over, letting them force the car ahead off the road, so they can zoom ahead?
i would advice slow down and leave him pass....
lighting up your brakes could also result in the angry driver passing you , making a small hole in your head with the gun he had in his glove compartment ...people are short tempered here and you can die easy for some stupid thing
at least that is my experience as a los inhabitant for almost 15 years now...
use your brain and don't do (falang) idiot...you'll never win ...

Post by **old timer** » September 12, 2016, 6:27 pm

kopkei wrote:On a tangent, how to safely shake off a car behind who is driving dangerously close?

You need one of these stickers translated....

: Sticker.jpg (8.93 KiB) Viewed 3588 times

As for the OP question, just wait a few weeks before kicking up a fuss, a couple of months is all it should take (as mentioned before).

OT................. $\:D/$

Post by **stattointhailand** » September 12, 2016, 6:57 pm

kopkei wrote:On a tangent, how to safely shake off a car behind who is driving dangerously close? Is the only solution to pull over, letting them force the car ahead off the road, so they can zoom ahead?
i would advice slow down and leave him pass....
lighting up your brakes could also result in the angry driver passing you , making a small hole in your head with the gun he had in his glove compartment ...people are short tempered here and you can die easy for some stupid thing
at least that is my experience as a los inhabitant for almost 15 years now...
use your brain and don't do (falang) idiot...you'll never win ...

Don't know what circles you mix in kk, but I too have been here for many years and driven hundreds of thousands of Km on Thai roads without once ever having a gun pulled on me ................ or for that matter seen anyone wealding a gun in my presence ..... in fact the only guns I have ever seen in Thailand are those on TV and the ones for sale at the night market. Thankfully most Thai citizens put their brain into gear BEFORE they reach for a gun they "had in their glove compartment" .......... This is Thailand not New York

Post by **hairyharry** » September 12, 2016, 8:30 pm

As you know, on a dry day with a decent road surface, cared for breaks and tyres (lol TIT) a car driver should leave a 2 second gap between his vehicle and the vehicle in front (only a fool breaks the two second rule). When you have someone tailgating you, lift your foot off the accelerator and double the gap between you and the vehicle in front. This allows you to safely control the breaking of the vehicle behind while leaving a gap for the vehicle behind to easily slot into when they overtake. "Roadcraft" the UK police drivers handbook, will explain in more detail.

Of course if you're one of those morons who slots into the outside lane 5 kilometres before the required U-Turn then I have no sympathy whatsoever and would almost certainly (if I possessed such a thing) let you have an RPG up your exhaust pipe.

Post by **stattointhailand** » September 12, 2016, 9:19 pm

"Roadcraft" the UK police drivers handbook, will explain in more detail.

Unfortunately it 's been out of print since 1957

Post by **kopkei** » September 13, 2016, 7:19 am

Don't know what circles you mix in kk,
well statto , maybe you sit in your car too much and don't have time to read the news ...

thais people are very short tempered and will do crazy things in this state , my wife only follows the news in los and does not look at any of the stupid soaps....you would be surprised what's all happening here ...
so my advice is do not go look for trouble , because it could be the last time you do so when you have bad luck ...
i also lightened up my stoplights once , making the driver only angry , passing us and making a full brake in front off us, luckily i was expecting it , than he moved and stopped a few times in front of us ...i did not react to this ...and (wisely) let him be ....but all up to you how you react ... later on we can only say somnamnaa....

Post by **stattointhailand** » September 13, 2016, 7:56 am

Only a wind up KK

I might be BAD and a little ??? bit MAD, but in Thailand I'm also DAD so don't take more risks than I have to