Motorcycle Transfer Fee in Thailand: 2026 Cost, Documents and Steps

Transferring a motorcycle within the same province costs roughly 200-300 THB, while a cross-province transfer runs about 500-1,000 THB because a new plate and book are added. The exact figure depends on the vehicle's DLT-appraised value and the type of transfer. Every transfer happens at the Department of Land Transport (DLT), and you have to bring the bike itself. If you are buying or selling a second-hand motorcycle, Talata gathers motorcycle listings in one place so you can compare condition and price and contact the owner directly before you sort out the paperwork.

How much is the motorcycle transfer fee

The transfer fee is not a single flat number. It is a set of charges the Department of Land Transport collects, plus stamp duty calculated from the bike's appraised value. Whether you transfer inside the same province or across provinces also changes the total, because the two cases are priced differently.

Here is the breakdown of each charge.

The totals are estimates. The registrar reassesses the amount on the spot based on the vehicle's condition and appraised value, so bring a little more than your calculation to be safe.

Same-province transfer fee

A same-province transfer means the bike and the new owner stay within the existing registration area, so there is no plate change. The main charges are the 5 THB application fee, the 100 THB transfer fee, and stamp duty on the appraised value. For an ordinary motorcycle the total usually lands around 200-300 THB.

When other sites quote "about 280 THB," that figure bundles the transfer fee and the stamp duty for a low-appraised bike. It is not a fixed charge. As the appraised value rises, the number climbs with it.

Cross-province transfer fee

A cross-province transfer moves the registration to the destination province, which adds a 200 THB plate change and a 100 THB book change. Combined with the base fees and stamp duty, the net total usually sits around 500-1,000 THB depending on the appraised value. A higher appraised value means more stamp duty, which pushes the total toward or past the 1,000 THB mark.

If you would rather keep the same plate number, you can request it while filing the destination transfer, but you will fill in an extra form stating that intent and wait for the new plate and book on the destination office's schedule.

Stamp duty is based on appraised value, not engine size

A common assumption is that the fee rises with engine size, so a 150cc bike costs more than a 125cc one, or a big bike runs into the thousands. The transfer fee itself is identical across bikes. What varies is the stamp duty, charged at 0.5% of the vehicle's appraised value, or 500 THB for every 100,000 THB of appraised value.

Take a motorcycle the DLT appraises at 40,000 THB: its stamp duty is about 200 THB. A big bike appraised at 300,000 THB pays roughly 1,500 THB. Higher-cc bikes tend to carry higher appraised values, but the charge tracks the appraised value, not the cc figure stamped on the engine. Those appraised values are examples only, so ask the registrar for the real figure for your model.

Types of motorcycle transfer and whether the fee differs

There are three ways to complete a transfer. The DLT fees are the same for all of them. What changes is convenience, risk, and any service charge if someone else handles it for you.

Direct transfer at the DLT

A direct transfer means the buyer and seller file the paperwork together in front of the registrar. It is the safest route, because staff check the documents and inspect the vehicle at the same time. Once it is done, the buyer walks out with a registration book already in their name, with no worry about missing paperwork later. The catch is that both parties have to be free at the same time and travel there in person.

Floating transfer (โอนลอย) and what buyers should watch for

A floating transfer means the seller pre-signs the transfer documents, then hands over the book and paperwork for the buyer to complete at the DLT. Second-hand dealers favour it because it is quick and the seller avoids the trip. The risk sits with the buyer.

Before accepting a bike this way, check that the name in the registration book matches the seller, that the chassis and engine numbers match the vehicle, and that the bike has no outstanding finance or theft record. If the documents are incomplete or the name does not match, you may hit problems at the counter. The safest move is to complete the transfer at the DLT quickly rather than holding signed-over documents for long.

Using a ตรอ. transfer agent

If getting to the DLT yourself is inconvenient, many private vehicle inspection stations (ตรอ.) will handle the transfer as your agent, filing the documents on your behalf. The all-in service fee starts around 1,000 THB and up, depending on the shop and location. That figure already includes the government charges and the shop's handling fee, which suits anyone happy to pay extra to save time.

What documents do you need to transfer a motorcycle

Transfer documents decide whether you finish in one visit or go home for more. Preparing the full set upfront speeds everything up. The set differs slightly by case.

Documents for direct and floating transfers

Both direct and floating transfers share this base set:

• The original registration book (the green book)
• ID card copies of both the transferor and the transferee
• House registration copies of both parties
• The sale agreement, receipt, and tax invoice if available
• The completed and signed transfer request and acceptance form

The difference for a floating transfer is that you also need a power of attorney, since the seller is not at the DLT in person. The seller signs this before handing over the documents.

Documents for an inherited motorcycle

If the bike is inherited from an owner who has passed away, you need extra documents to prove entitlement. On top of the base set, prepare a copy of the previous owner's death certificate along with the court order appointing the estate administrator, or the original will and a copy. The registrar checks entitlement before transferring the name to the heir.

Documents to transfer a bike from finance (once paid off)

If you bought the bike on a hire-purchase plan and have finished paying, the finance company still holds title until it is transferred to your name. The company usually sends a document set with a transfer request form and a power of attorney it has already signed. You add copies of your own ID card and house registration. A finance transfer often carries a separate handling fee set by the company, which varies from one to the next.

How to transfer a motorcycle step by step

Once the documents are ready, the process at the Department of Land Transport is straightforward. Follow this order.

1. Prepare the documents for your case and sign to certify every copy.
2. Bring the actual bike to the DLT office for inspection and a chassis and engine number check.
3. Submit the documents and transfer request to the registrar, then wait for your queue number.
4. Pay the fees the officer assesses.
5. Collect the registration book showing the new owner's name.

The step newcomers miss most often is that the bike has to come with you every time, because the registrar records the chassis number against the book. No vehicle to show means no transfer, except for a cross-province destination transfer where you file the move first and bring the bike for inspection at the destination province afterward.

How many days until you get the book

A same-province transfer is faster than most people expect. With complete documents and a light queue, you can get the renamed book in about 2-3 hours, and rarely more than one working day.

A cross-province transfer takes longer, because the destination move comes first. That step runs about 3 working days, and a new plate and book may be ready straight away or take up to about 15 working days on the destination office's schedule. You can keep riding the bike while you wait.

Where can you transfer a motorcycle

Transfers happen at the DLT office for the province where the bike is registered. In Bangkok, that means one of the Bangkok Area Offices 1 to 5; elsewhere, your provincial DLT office. For a cross-province transfer, file at the destination provincial office where the bike is moving to. If none of that is convenient, a ตรอ. can handle it as covered above. Weigh the cost and time of each route against your own schedule before you decide.

Why buy or sell a used motorcycle on Talata

The transfer fee is the last step after a sale is agreed. If you are shopping for a second-hand motorcycle, Talata brings listings together in one place so you can compare models, condition, and price, pick one where the owner says the book is ready to transfer, and message the owner directly to sort out documents and agree who pays the transfer fee before heading to the DLT.

Sellers can post their own listing too, spelling out the bike's details, the documents on hand, and the transfer terms from the start, which helps a genuine buyer show up sooner. Once you find the right bike or a serious buyer, handle the transfer using the steps above. Start browsing or list your bike on Talata.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays the motorcycle transfer fee, the buyer or the seller

There is no fixed rule. It comes down to what the buyer and seller agree. Most often the buyer covers the transfer fee, though some deals split it in half. Settle this before you head to the DLT so there is no friction at the counter.

What should I watch for when buying a bike on a floating transfer

Check that the name in the registration book matches the seller, that the chassis and engine numbers match the vehicle, and that the bike has no outstanding finance or theft record. The signed-over documents should be complete. Then complete the transfer at the DLT quickly rather than holding the paperwork, which carries risk later.

Do a 150cc bike and a big bike pay the same transfer fee

The transfer fee is the same. What differs is stamp duty, charged at 0.5% of the appraised value. A big bike has a higher appraised value, so it pays more stamp duty, but the charge is not based on the cc figure directly. Two bikes with the same cc but different appraised values pay different amounts.

How much does a ตรอ. charge to handle the transfer

An agent transfer through a ตรอ. starts around 1,000 THB and up, depending on the shop and area. That total already covers the government fees plus the shop's handling charge. It suits anyone who cannot get to the DLT in person.

Can I transfer without bringing the bike for inspection

Normally you must bring the actual bike so the registrar can inspect it and check the chassis number. No vehicle to show means the transfer cannot proceed. The exception is a cross-province destination transfer, where you file the move first and bring the bike for inspection at the destination province later.

What documents transfer a bike from finance once it is paid off

When you finish paying, the finance company sends a transfer request form and a power of attorney it has signed. You add copies of your own ID card and house registration, then bring the bike for inspection at the DLT as usual. Budget for the handling fee the finance company charges, which varies by company.