Motorcycle Green Book in Thailand: When You Get It, What to Check and How to Replace It
TalataMotorcycles
The green book is the registration book for a motorcycle in Thailand. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) issues it, it shows who legally owns the bike, and you need it for every sale and transfer. Talata, an online marketplace where people buy and sell used motorbikes across Thailand, explains when you get one, how to read it before you buy, and what to do if it goes missing.
What is the green book for a motorcycle in Thailand?
The green book is the vehicle registration book (ใบคู่มือจดทะเบียนรถ) issued under the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 when a motorcycle is first registered. It records what the bike is, who the legal owner is, who has the right to use it, and every official change made to it since.
Possession is not ownership here. Whoever's name sits in the owner field of the green book owns the bike, no matter who is riding it.
Green book, blue book, registration book: are they the same thing?
The green book and the registration book are the same document. Thais call it lem khiao (เล่มเขียว) after the colour of the cover, and in English you will also see "motorcycle registration book" or simply "the book". The blue book is the car version: the same legal document in a different colour. Our guide to the Thai vehicle registration book covers the car version.
What you need it for
You will reach for the green book when you:
- prove you own the bike
- transfer it to a buyer, when the DLT writes the new owner's name into the book
- report a change to the bike, such as a new colour or a replacement engine
- replace a lost or damaged licence plate
- use the bike as collateral for a title loan
It sits alongside two other documents riders handle every year: the round tax disc on the bike and the compulsory insurance certificate, known in Thailand as Por Ror Bor (พ.ร.บ.).
What is inside the green book, and which pages matter?
Most pages stay blank until something is recorded. Three parts are worth reading carefully before you hand over money.
The vehicle details page: chassis number, engine number and cc
This page lists the plate number and province, make, model, colour, chassis (frame) number, engine number and engine size in cc.
The chassis and engine numbers are what prove the bike in front of you is the bike in the book. On most motorcycles the chassis number is stamped on the steering head, so you turn the handlebars to full lock and look closely. Some newer models stamp it on the frame under the seat. The engine number is stamped on the lower crankcase. If you cannot find either, ask the seller or a mechanic before going further.
Owner vs possessor: why two names can appear
The owner (ผู้ถือกรรมสิทธิ์) is the legal owner. The possessor (ผู้ครอบครอง) is the person entitled to use the bike. On a bike bought for cash, both fields usually carry the same name.
On a bike that is still on finance, the owner is the finance company and the possessor is the person paying. That person cannot sell or transfer the bike until the loan is paid off and ownership is transferred into their own name.
The officer's record page
Further in, there is a page headed "officer's record" (รายการบันทึกของเจ้าหน้าที่). Thais often call it "page 18" because that is where it sits in the car book; in a motorcycle book the page number can differ, so look for the heading. Every official change gets stamped here: ownership transfers, colour changes, engine changes, moves to another province, plate number changes, and periods when the bike was declared off the road.
Read it as a short history of the bike. If the seller says the engine is original and the page shows an engine change, get that explained before you talk price.
Can a foreigner have a green book in their own name?
Yes. Foreigners can own a motorcycle in Thailand and have it registered in their name, with the green book showing them as owner. The DLT asks for your passport and proof of a Thai address, which most people get as a certificate of residence from their local Immigration office; a yellow house book also works. Lawyers who handle transfers note that a work permit is not required, although some DLT offices accept one as supporting evidence. Requirements vary a little by office, so call ahead. Our guide to buying a motorbike in Thailand as a foreigner walks through the full document set.
When do you get the green book?
It depends on how you bought the bike. A new bike paid in cash usually takes 30 to 45 days while the dealer registers it. On finance, you get the original only after the last payment. A used bike transferred at the DLT normally comes back with your name in the book the same day.
| How you bought it | What you leave with | When the original arrives | Who holds the book meanwhile |
|---|---|---|---|
| New, paid in cash | The bike, a receipt and the dealer's paperwork | After the dealer registers it, usually 30–45 days, sometimes up to 2 months | The dealer or the DLT office |
| New or used, on finance | The bike, the hire-purchase contract and a copy of the book | About 15–30 days after the final payment, or 30–60 days if you settle early | The finance company |
| Used, transferred at the DLT | The bike and the book with your name in it | Usually the day you file the transfer | You |
These are typical ranges reported by dealers and lenders, not deadlines set by law.
Buying new with cash
Paying in full does not get you the book on collection day. The dealer has to lodge the paperwork with the DLT, which then issues the white plate and the green book. Dealers usually quote 30 to 45 days, and up to one or two months in busy periods because they batch several bikes into one submission. Keep your receipt, and ask on the day you buy whether the book will be posted to you or collected from the shop.
Buying on finance
While you are paying, you only hold a copy of the book. The finance company keeps the original because it is the legal owner. Once the final instalment clears, most riders get the book in their own name within about 15 to 30 days; settling the loan early usually takes 30 to 60 days. Our guide to motorbike finance in Thailand covers payments and early settlement, and the article on transferring ownership after paying off finance explains the paperwork that follows.
Buying used and transferring at the DLT
If the seller is the registered owner and you both go to the DLT office, the officer records your name in the book and hands it back the same day, as long as the documents are complete. The law gives you 15 days from the sale to report the transfer, with a fine of up to 2,000 baht if you miss it. The vehicle transfer documents guide lists what each side needs to bring.
Still no book after the expected date?
Start with whoever filed the paperwork: the dealer for a cash purchase, the lender for a financed bike. Ask which DLT office they filed with, on what date, and for proof that they did.
If the answers are vague, call the DLT office in the province where the bike is registered and give them the chassis number and purchase date. Contact numbers for each provincial office are on the DLT website.
Lost or damaged green book: how to get a replacement
Apply for a replacement registration book at the DLT office responsible for the bike, bring the owner's ID card or passport, and pay 55 baht. A book that is torn or water-damaged until it cannot be read goes through the same process; bring the damaged book with you.
Do you need a police report?
Not always. The DLT has said you can bring a police report or give a statement about the loss to the registrar at the office. Some offices still ask for a police report, so call first.
Documents and fees
If the owner goes in person, an ID card (or passport for foreigners) is enough. If someone goes on your behalf, they need a signed power of attorney, signed copies of both people's ID, and their own original ID.
The fees on the DLT schedule are 5 baht for the application and 50 baht for the replacement book. If the tax disc is also lost, a replacement disc is another 20 baht. The DLT's public service manual puts processing at about an hour once your documents are checked, not counting the queue.
Bike still on finance, or a damaged book
On a financed bike, the lender is the legal owner and usually holds the original book. Ask the lender first where the book is and who can apply for a replacement. A rider who is still paying cannot request a new book themselves; what they can request is a certificate of vehicle registration (ใบรับรองรายการจดทะเบียนรถ), available at any DLT office, for 35 baht for a motorcycle.
During the 2026 floods, the DLT is letting owners whose licence plate or tax disc was lost or damaged replace them at any office using a copy of the green book or their ID card instead of the original book, until 30 November 2026. A green book that was lost or soaked still needs the normal 55-baht replacement at the responsible office. For less common cases, such as a bike registered to a company, see our article on a lost registration book.
Buying or selling a used motorbike: green book checklist
A clean sale needs a green book that matches both the bike and the person selling it. Use this list when you view a bike and when you prepare to sell one.
For buyers: check the book against the bike and the seller
- Ask to see the original green book, not a photocopy or a photo sent in a chat.
- The owner's name must match the seller's ID card or passport. A finance company's name means the bike is still on a loan.
- Compare the chassis and engine numbers in the book with the numbers stamped on the bike, digit by digit.
- Read the officer's record page for colour changes, engine swaps or suspended registration the seller did not mention.
- Check how many years of road tax are unpaid. Arrears must be paid before the transfer.
- Do not pay in full until you have seen the original book and agreed a date to transfer at the DLT.
Our used motorcycle checklist covers the mechanical inspection.
Bikes sold with "no green book"
In tourist areas you will see bikes advertised cheaply as "no green book" or "no book". Without the book, the bike cannot be transferred into your name, you have no proof of ownership if police stop you, and you cannot tell whether it is still on finance, impounded or stolen. A lower price does not offset those risks. If a seller says the book is lost, ask them to get a replacement from the DLT first; it costs 55 baht and takes about an hour.
For sellers: get the book and papers ready for a one-day transfer
Before you list the bike, make sure the book is in your name, the bike is clear of finance and the road tax is paid. Prepare the original green book, signed copies of your ID and house registration (or passport and residence certificate), a sale agreement and the DLT transfer form.
If the book is lost, replace it before you list; most buyers will not pay for a bike they cannot see the book for. And do not sign the papers over and let the buyer transfer it alone. If they never go to the DLT, the bike stays registered to you. Our guide to motorbike transfer and the 15-day rule explains that risk, and the article on how to sell a used motorbike covers the whole sale.
Why buy or sell a used motorbike on Talata?
For buyers, Talata brings used motorbike listings from across Thailand into one place. You can filter by brand, price and area, compare several bikes before arranging a viewing, and contact the seller directly. Take the checklist above to the viewing and compare the book with the bike on the spot.
For sellers, listing is quick. Say up front that the green book is ready to transfer and the tax is paid, and buyers decide faster. On either side, check the original book and compare a few options before you agree to anything. When you find the right bike, or you are ready to sell, start on Talata.
Frequently Asked Questions
The seller only has an ID card and the green book. Is that enough to transfer?
No. Both sides need copies of their ID (or passport) and proof of address, the DLT transfer form needs to be filled in, and the bike has to be inspected and the transfer filed at the DLT office. If the seller cannot attend, they must give you a signed power of attorney. The vehicle transfer documents guide has the full list.
The seller says the book is with the finance company. Can I still buy the bike?
Yes, but the seller has to pay off the loan and transfer the bike to you, or you both arrange a change of hire-purchase contract through the lender. Never pay and ride off without the lender knowing, because the contract stays in the seller's name. Our motorbike finance guide covers both routes.
Do I have to carry the original green book when I ride?
No. Under section 42 of the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 you must carry your driving licence and a photocopy of the registration book, and failing to show them when an officer asks can bring a fine of up to 1,000 baht under section 66. Keep the original at home; if it disappears from under the seat, you are back at the DLT for a replacement.
Can I get a replacement green book online?
Not yet. You still apply in person at a DLT office. The DLT Vehicle Tax Plus app can display an electronic version of the registration book, but it does not replace the paper book for a sale or transfer. Ignore websites or pages that ask for your ID number and promise a new book online.
Do I need the green book to renew motorcycle road tax?
No. You can renew online or at a DLT office without the original book. What you do need is valid compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor) and, for a bike more than five years old, an inspection certificate from a private inspection centre. Our guide to renewing motorcycle tax covers the costs.
I haven't received my green book yet. Can I sell the bike?
You can list it, but you cannot transfer it until the book arrives with your name in it. If the dealer is still registering the bike, chase the book first. If it is on finance, pay it off and transfer it into your name before arranging the sale.
