PhuketGreenbike Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Hi there.... I have business in Phuket for rent and sell electric bikes >>>> phuketgreenbike.com Anybody understands the registration procedures in Thailand???? Obviously the law says,that bikes below 45 km/h speed and below 50cc (or 500 W) cannot be registered. Does this mean they cannot have insurance?Can they be driven legally on the road? The Land Transport Office says:sorry,electric bikes are not in the book,so we do not know.... I have pretended to buy an electric scooter through website on Thai company.They confirm,that their scooter cannot be registered.On the question if it is legal on the road,they are quiet......or say they are not sure. Anybody knows about registration of 50cc miniscooters???I have seen small bikes on the road with numberplate with red bar in the center.Is this special plate?? Thanks for your replies Josef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Are you seriously telling us you have been selling them without any thought of the legal situation of these bikes? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrry Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I read that they were in the same category as bicycles. THey cannot be registered as they do not need to be. If you hit someone or something you are of course liable for any injuries and damage. Insurance for liability to others can be obtained privately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuketGreenbike Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Are you seriously telling us you have been selling them without any thought of the legal situation of these bikes? If you could tell me how to find out what is legal and what not in Thailand..that would be of great help...obviously this are "Bicycles" as they have pedals...thats what some policemen say,I was driving into the yard of Chalong police station and asking...thats what some people at landtransport office are saying...I was driving into their yard and asking....but what is official and in writing??? There must be something,as everybody says 50 cc miniscooter do not need registration.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Are you seriously telling us you have been selling them without any thought of the legal situation of these bikes? If you could tell me how to find out what is legal and what not in Thailand..that would be of great help...obviously this are "Bicycles" as they have pedals...thats what some policemen say,I was driving into the yard of Chalong police station and asking...thats what some people at landtransport office are saying...I was driving into their yard and asking....but what is official and in writing??? There must be something,as everybody says 50 cc miniscooter do not need registration.... I would not sell them if I did not know the consequences and regulations. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post FrankBlunt Posted August 12, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2014 I agree with stevenl, you shouldn't really be in business selling them if you don't have a full understanding of the rules and regulations. I certainly don't think it is advisable to openly admit on a forum that you don't really know the rules. I don't think you've helped the credibility of yourself or your business by doing this. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eezergood Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Well I think you are both overreacting! Stones & glass houses and all that........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBlunt Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Well I think you are both overreacting! Stones & glass houses and all that........Feel free to disagree but what exactly are you getting at by "Stones & glass houses..." in my particular case? Please elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N47HAN Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) It begs the question , if they need to be registered then surely follows you need insurance too ? What would happen if someone hired one had an accident and required insurance ? Could be a difficult situation for the OP to find himself in. Maybe invest a few baht and go to Sunbelt Asia or similar to find out for sure. Good Luck and hope you get a definative answer before something like that happens. Edit , Just remembered , several years ago I actually bought an electric bicycle for the MIL from Tescos and they never required any registering process , so is it fair to say no licence needed ?? Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited August 12, 2014 by N47HAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuketGreenbike Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 It begs the question , if they need to be registered then surely follows you need insurance too ? What would happen if someone hired one had an accident and required insurance ? Could be a difficult situation for the OP to find himself in. Maybe invest a few baht and go to Sunbelt Asia or similar to find out for sure. Good Luck and hope you get a definative answer before something like that happens. Edit , Just remembered , several years ago I actually bought an electric bicycle for the MIL from Tescos and they never required any registering process , so is it fair to say no licence needed ?? Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app If they can be registered,it is easy,because they can get also insurance...... If they cannot be registered,they cannot be insured because any in insurance is tied to the individual bike with ID number. So the question is,....even if they do not need....can they be registered and can then get an insurance. so far,everybody who rents a bike is signing to acknowlwedge that there is no registration and no insurance...use it at your own risk. But it would be much better if I could solve this issue.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N47HAN Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Hope you can sort it quickly if nothing else for your peace of mind. Would the highway dept. In BKK be able to advise ? Perhaps worth a phone call ? Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited August 12, 2014 by N47HAN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuketGreenbike Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Its a tough road with the gov officials. I had thai friends make several call to the LTO,even someone meeting with the former head of LTO.... it goes from: We dont know as Electric bikes are not mentioned in the law, to Electric Bikes cannot be registered because they are not in the law. Big C and others are selling electric scooters,but they do not know or care about registration. Maybe I have to go and sit on an officers desk in Bangkok........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilbaz Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) I've been using an electric 3 wheeler scooter on Phuket for over 3 years now. It is a GT150 "Boss" model from Bkk - 400W and gets along up to 35 kmh and reverse gear is useful. I have permission to use it for local use around Kamala from the local Police chief after reference to the OrBorTor. (local use is a moot point as it can't climb the hills that surround Kamala to go too far). However it does give a great deal of independence within those parameters. After exhaustive inquiries (Phuket and BKK) I also got the answer that it can't be registered because (a) it is electric and ( it is 3 wheels - despite the hordes of modified saelengs around - strictly speaking they are not legal. As it can't be registered it can't be insured and no licence is required. A while back Honda brought out a 49cc leaning trike which were popular with under-age students for the same reasons as above. Unfortunately I couldn't ride it due to balance problems. I've only been stopped by the BIB to have a gawk - as soon as I say "electric" they smile and wave me on. Edited August 12, 2014 by Evilbaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuketGreenbike Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 I've been using an electric 3 wheeler scooter on Phuket for over 3 years now. It is a GT150 "Boss" model from Bkk - 400W and gets along up to 35 kmh and reverse gear is useful. I have permission to use it for local use around Kamala from the local Police chief after reference to the OrBorTor. (local use is a moot point as it can't climb the hills that surround Kamala to go too far). However it does give a great deal of independence within those parameters. After exhaustive inquiries (Phuket and BKK) I also got the answer that it can't be registered because (a) it is electric and ( it is 3 wheels - despite the hordes of modified saelengs around - strictly speaking they are not legal. As it can't be registered it can't be insured and no licence is required. A while back Honda brought out a 49cc leaning trike which were popular with under-age students for the same reasons as above. Unfortunately I couldn't ride it due to balance problems. I've only been stopped by the BIB to have a gawk - as soon as I say "electric" they smile and wave me on. Same with me.....I drive a big looking electric scooter without license plate myself....some discussion with police,but no problem...I showed them the spec,which says 40 km/h and 500 W...they said ok,but you can drive it only in your local village....I said ok,phuket is my local village..... I drive also a 3 wheeler with a solar panel installed as a roof...same thing...some discussion with the police,..but no problem. The problem is,as i am selling,I need clarity... I want to import the big ones with 6000 W and 100km/h speed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 My friend owns one and says it's just like a bicycle. Same laws apply. He's ridden it way out of town many times. Never a problem. He just breezes right by police checkpoints and has never been stopped. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPI Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Are you seriously telling us you have been selling them without any thought of the legal situation of these bikes? If you could tell me how to find out what is legal and what not in Thailand..that would be of great help...obviously this are "Bicycles" as they have pedals...thats what some policemen say,I was driving into the yard of Chalong police station and asking...thats what some people at landtransport office are saying...I was driving into their yard and asking....but what is official and in writing??? There must be something,as everybody says 50 cc miniscooter do not need registration.... I would not sell them if I did not know the consequences and regulations. Easy answer........don't sell them! Let Mr Greenbike sell them instead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Are you seriously telling us you have been selling them without any thought of the legal situation of these bikes? If you could tell me how to find out what is legal and what not in Thailand..that would be of great help...obviously this are "Bicycles" as they have pedals...thats what some policemen say,I was driving into the yard of Chalong police station and asking...thats what some people at landtransport office are saying...I was driving into their yard and asking....but what is official and in writing??? There must be something,as everybody says 50 cc miniscooter do not need registration.... I would not sell them if I did not know the consequences and regulations. Easy answer........don't sell them! Let Mr Greenbike sell them instead! Answer to which question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kartman Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Its a tough road with the gov officials. I had thai friends make several call to the LTO,even someone meeting with the former head of LTO.... it goes from: We dont know as Electric bikes are not mentioned in the law, to Electric Bikes cannot be registered because they are not in the law. Big C and others are selling electric scooters,but they do not know or care about registration. Maybe I have to go and sit on an officers desk in Bangkok........ The only way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Seems to me that if your selling them just explain the situation to your potential buyers and let them worry about it. Maybe a 3rd party insurance will cover it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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