Vehicle Transfer Documents in Thailand: The 2026 Guide for Cars and Motorcycles

Transferring a vehicle in Thailand takes only a handful of core documents: the original registration book, copies of the seller's and buyer's ID, a signed transfer request form, and proof of sale such as a sales contract or receipt. Open transfers and inheritance cases add a few extra papers. This guide covers both cars and motorcycles, with the steps and current fees. And if you're shopping for a used vehicle, Talata pulls listings from many sellers into one place, so you can compare price and condition before you arrange a viewing.

Getting the paperwork right the first time saves a wasted trip. Turn up at the Transport Office with something missing and you're back home collecting it, then queuing again. Before the document lists, it helps to know what a transfer actually is and why finishing it matters.

What a vehicle transfer is, and why it matters

A vehicle transfer, or transfer of ownership, changes the registered owner's name in the vehicle registration book from the old owner to the new one, with the Department of Land Transport (DLT). It usually happens when a used vehicle is sold, inherited, or handed to a family member. Once the transfer is complete, the new owner's name appears in the book and the legal right to the vehicle passes to them.

The part many people overlook is the risk while a transfer is still pending. If you sell a car but your name stays in the book, and that car later gets used for something illegal or racks up unpaid tax, the authorities come looking for the name on record first. That's the former owner. Finishing the transfer isn't a formality. It closes off liability that could otherwise follow you.

Direct transfer vs open transfer: what's the difference

There are two main ways to transfer, plus inheritance as a special case with extra paperwork. What separates them is who files at the Transport Office, and whether the name in the system changes right away.

Direct transfer

In a direct transfer, buyer and seller go to the Transport Office together and complete the paperwork in front of the registrar in one visit. This is the safest route for both sides. The buyer becomes the legal owner the moment the transfer finishes, and the seller is clear of the vehicle from that day, with no lingering name in the system.

Open transfer (transfer lorng)

An open transfer, known in Thai as "transfer lorng", is where the current owner signs the transfer papers in advance and hands them to the buyer, who files the transfer later on their own. It's common in the used-car market and at dealers because it's convenient, with no need to match both parties' schedules. The catch: until the name is actually changed at the Transport Office, the seller's name stays in the book and in the DLT database. Anyone buying on an open transfer should file it promptly. If you're the seller, keep photocopies of what you signed and write a note limiting each copy to that specific vehicle's plate.

Inheritance or transfer within a family

When an owner passes away and the vehicle goes to an heir, the paperwork is the standard transfer set plus proof of inheritance, such as a copy of the owner's death certificate and a will or a court order appointing an estate administrator, depending on the case. Handing a vehicle to a family member while the owner is still living follows the normal transfer steps, though some cases, such as a parent transferring to a child, may be exempt from part of the fee. Ask the officer on the day you file.

Documents to transfer a car

Car transfer documents split into the seller's side, the buyer's side, and shared papers used by both. Prepare all three before you go, and the officer can check the vehicle and both parties in a single pass.

Seller's documents

The seller brings the original registration book, plus a copy of their ID card signed to certify it. If the owner is a company, use the company registration certificate and a copy of the authorised director's ID instead. One thing to watch: when you certify a copy, write "for transfer of vehicle plate ... only" and fill in the plate number, so the document can't be reused for something else.

For a foreign seller, the ID card is usually replaced by a passport plus a Certificate of Residence from immigration or an embassy, or a work permit. Requirements vary, so confirm the exact list with the Transport Office beforehand.

Buyer's documents

The buyer brings a certified copy of their ID card. If someone else files on their behalf, add a power of attorney and a copy of the representative's ID. Before accepting the transfer, the buyer should check that the name in the registration book matches the seller's ID, and that the chassis and engine numbers match what's printed in the book. Foreign buyers use a passport with a Certificate of Residence or work permit in place of a Thai ID and house registration.

Extra documents: open transfer, power of attorney, and inheritance

On top of the core papers, some cases need extras: proof of sale such as a sales contract, receipt, or tax invoice, and the DLT transfer request form, filled in with the vehicle details and signed by both parties. An open transfer, or any case where one side doesn't attend, needs a power of attorney with copies of both the grantor's and the representative's ID. An inheritance adds a copy of the owner's death certificate and a will or court order appointing an estate administrator, as the case requires.

How motorcycle transfer documents differ

The document set for a motorcycle is close to a car's: the original registration book, a copy of the ID card, proof of sale, and the transfer request form. The difference people forget is that a motorcycle transfer usually also asks for a copy of the house registration (tabien baan) for both parties, and the motorcycle registration book is the green book, a different format from a car's.

For an open transfer of a motorcycle, which is about as common as it is for cars, prepare the original green book, ID copies for both the old and new owner, the house registration copy, the open-transfer form, and a power of attorney with every copy signed. If you've just finished paying off a motorcycle with a finance company, transferring it out of finance into your own name is simpler than a typical used transfer, because the finance company usually prepares the transfer request and power of attorney for you. You sign, attach copies of your ID and house registration, and send them back.

Steps to transfer at the Department of Land Transport

Once your documents are ready, the sequence at the Transport Office runs like this:

1. Submit the transfer request with your documents for the officer to check they're complete.
2. Take the vehicle for inspection, where the chassis and engine numbers are matched against the registration book. Some cases are exempt, such as closing a hire-purchase account from the lessor to the lessee.
3. File the ownership transfer and pay the fees at the vehicle registration desk.
4. Collect the registration book with the new owner's name, along with the receipt, the tax sticker, and the licence plate.

The vehicle must have no outstanding annual tax and no registration hold. If it has been modified so it no longer matches the book, correct the record first before you can transfer.

Where to transfer, and can you transfer across provinces

In Bangkok, you can transfer at Bangkok Transport Office Areas 1 to 5: Bang Khun Thian, Taling Chan, Sukhumvit, Nong Chok, and Chatuchak. Pick whichever is convenient. Outside Bangkok, use the provincial Transport Office or a branch, based on the address shown in the registration book.

Cross-province transfers are allowed, but keep two things separate: transferring ownership and moving the plate to another province. If you want to keep the existing plate, you can change the owner's name without moving the registration. Moving the plate to the destination province is an added process with extra cost. For motorcycles, a same-province transfer usually returns the book quickly, while a cross-province one needs more processing time and a wait for the new plate.

Car and motorcycle transfer fees in 2026

The transfer cost isn't a single figure. It's several small fees added together, and the one that moves the total most is stamp duty, which is calculated from the vehicle's appraised value. A car appraises higher than a motorcycle, so its stamp duty is higher.

Approximate car transfer fees:

• Transfer request: 5 baht
• Transfer fee: 100 baht
• Vehicle inspection at the Transport Office: 50 baht
• Stamp duty: 500 baht per 100,000 baht of appraised value (about 0.5%)
• New licence plate: 200 baht, only if you change it
• New registration book: 100 baht, only if the old one is damaged

Approximate motorcycle transfer fees:

• Same-province transfer, including processing and stamp duty, comes to roughly 200 to 300 baht, with the officer appraising by the vehicle's value.
• Cross-province transfer has a 5-baht request, a 100-baht transfer fee, a 200-baht plate change, a 100-baht book change if the book is damaged, and stamp duty of 500 baht per 100,000 baht of appraised value.
• Transferring through a private inspection station (Tor Ror Or) adds a service charge, starting around 1,000 baht.

These are the rates in long-running use, but fees and the way stamp duty is calculated can change. Check with the Department of Land Transport or your local Transport Office before you go, especially the stamp-duty amount, which depends on each vehicle's appraised value.

The 15-day deadline, and the risk of not transferring

Under the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 (1979), the transferor and transferee must notify the transfer to the registrar within 15 days of the transfer date. Miss the deadline and there's a fine, generally up to 2,000 baht. This applies to both cars and motorcycles.

The real risk of leaving it isn't the fine. It's the window where the former owner's name still sits in the system. If the vehicle is used in an incident, falls behind on tax, or ends up in a dispute, the former owner can be dragged in despite having sold it. The buyer loses out too, since they aren't the full legal owner until the transfer is done. Both sides gain from finishing it quickly.

Why buy or sell used cars and motorcycles on Talata

Transfer documents mostly come out during a used-car or motorcycle sale. If you're looking for your next vehicle, Talata gathers used car and motorcycle listings from many sellers in one place, so you can search, filter, and compare price against condition, then contact the owner directly to arrange a viewing, inspect the registration book, and confirm the seller's name matches the book before any transfer.

If you're the one selling, you can post a listing on Talata yourself. Adding the vehicle details, its condition, and whether the documents are ready to transfer helps buyers feel confident and makes the conversation easier. Before you agree on anything, check the vehicle and its paperwork carefully, compare a few options, and start the conversation through Talata once you find the right vehicle or the right buyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying used on an open transfer, what documents do I need from the seller?

At minimum, the original registration book, the transfer request form signed by the seller, a certified copy of the seller's ID, and a power of attorney if the seller isn't filing in person. Confirm the name in the book matches the seller's ID, and file the transfer at the Transport Office as soon as you can.

After taking a transfer, how many days do I have to notify the office?

You must notify the registrar within 15 days of the transfer date. Miss it and there's a fine under the law, generally up to 2,000 baht, so sort the documents and file early.

What documents does a seller prepare for the buyer?

The original registration book, a certified copy of your ID, the signed transfer request form, and proof of sale such as a sales contract or receipt. Add a power of attorney if you won't file in person. For a motorcycle, include a copy of the house registration.

Does every vehicle need an inspection before transfer?

Usually, yes. The vehicle goes for inspection at the Transport Office to match the chassis and engine numbers against the registration book. Some cases are exempt, such as closing a hire-purchase account from the lessor to the lessee. Check the conditions with the office first.

Are car and motorcycle transfer documents the same?

The framework is similar: registration book, ID copy, proof of sale, and transfer request form. The differences are that a motorcycle usually also needs a copy of the house registration, its book is the green book, and its stamp duty is lower because the appraised value is lower than a car's.

Can I transfer without a sales contract?

Proof of sale is an important supporting document. If you bought privately without one, prepare a sales contract or a sale confirmation before you go, so the officer can verify it and to prevent problems later. If you're unsure what's accepted, ask your local Transport Office.