Registering a samlor krueang / tuk tuk

[Big Gary]

Hi Bob,

some things to think about:

• engine
  "standard" tuktuk egine won't be allowed in any nature reservations or on islands. Make sure you have a car engine in there.
• driver license
  I don't know the current situation, but I had to make a special Sam Lor driver license instead of using a car driver license. Funnily, a tuktuk driver license allows to drive a car, but not vice versa (plus: gives you great smiles in poilice controls even when just driving a car )
• who do you buy from
  I bought my TukTuk (it stills runs around on Koh Chang) six years ago from a german guy in Naklua and yet have to get any papers for it. In most areas, you will find local people helping you to register it. but be sure that the vendor shows you the engine and chassis registration stamps.
• Registration
  Is done in a province and every province can decide how to handle TukTuk registrations. I think Pattaya/Banglamung is quite relaxed for this, while other areas might show some 'never-had-this-before' faces...
• Leaving Thailand
  This will require additional paperwork and it will have to be registered to yourself (or whoever drives it over the border).

And after you have it, make sure you're driving out. A Farang driving a TukTuk outside Pattay is still creating tons of smiles on peoples faces!
PS: making the driver license is easy and quite cheap, too. Should be a tourist activity attraction!

I live part year on Koh Chang in Ban Dan Kao and seen your Tuk Tuk. Its Orange in colour.

[chitown]

Uncle. Send you girl down to the vehicle registration office and have her get it done. Then go ahead and drive it. Chances are there will be no problems. If there is, and the BIB curbs you, then pay the small bit of team money and be on your way. If you are worried, have her cruise you around in it.

[Bobsuruncle]

Well here with the update on my samlor quest. On Sunday the 15th I found and purchased a samlor kreuang in Na Gae. It has a 1400cc Daihatsu 5 speed engine and can carry well over 1 ton of weight in the back (so I was told. Haven't loaded that much into it yet, only 4 people from the family). On Monday I got my Yellow House Book and took the house book and the sales slip from the seller's shop that had the engine # down to the local Transportation office and was able to get insurance for 400 baht but was told that they can no longer register samlor kreuangs. They used to under a previous administration but no longer. Yesterday I drove it back to the transportation office and received my samlor kreuang driver's license. I don't have a work permit as I'm on a retirement visa and there was no problem. The written test was a bit different than what I had expected as some of the questions and answers defy logic but I answered enough to their liking in order to pass the written and the driving part was very easy. Go forward and then reverse and do a parallel park and then pull up and stop close to a curb, Pay 155 baht and done! Now the question is what will the police do when they see me coming. So far many locals have big smiles on their faces when I drive past, hope that's the same with the BIB. I carry a copy of the sales receipt (which was 84,000 baht) which shows the engine number and a copy of my insurance policy and of course my brand new samlor kreuang driver's license. I'll keep you posted when I get stopped by the BIB.
Oh almost forgot. I had originally ordered one from a shop in That Phanom but they're back logged with so many orders that they couldn't finish mine until 10 Aug at the soonest. I had given them a 2,000 baht deposit on a 80,000 baht price. Yesterday we went in to tell the owner that we no longer need them to build one for us and expecting him to say ok but you don't get your 2,000 baht back. I was totally surprised when he said ok and reached in his wallet and handed us the 2,000 baht deposit! Life is good!

[Thetyim]

Let's see a picture of it then

[Marmite the Dog]

I've also been told that most of them don't have vehicle approval therefore cannot be registered nor driven legally on Thai roads.

The police turn a blind eye because for many Thais they are essential pieces of equipment.

All I know is, they're useful when I'm pissed and need a ride home, but a bloody menace the rest of the time.

[Bobsuruncle]

Thanks much to KM's Pic Posting Tutorial

[Big Gary]

JimmyBoy,
Just asked the wife and she said that you are correct the word จดทะเบียน means registered. She also said that the biggest engine they are offering is a 200cc engine. I'll see if I can get more info from them on how to register a bigger engine. Thanks again,
Richard

I know this is not the exact design you are looking at , but it has a number plate
does that mean its been registered

Thats a stretch limo being used for inappropriate purposes!

Just noticed you are from Bonnie Doon. I was born in Benalla and we used to go Boating and Fishing on Bonnie Doon. Bloody long time ago

[Jesus Jones]

Hi Bob,

some things to think about:

• engine
  "standard" tuktuk egine won't be allowed in any nature reservations or on islands. Make sure you have a car engine in there.
• driver license
  I don't know the current situation, but I had to make a special Sam Lor driver license instead of using a car driver license. Funnily, a tuktuk driver license allows to drive a car, but not vice versa (plus: gives you great smiles in poilice controls even when just driving a car )
• who do you buy from
  I bought my TukTuk (it stills runs around on Koh Chang) six years ago from a german guy in Naklua and yet have to get any papers for it. In most areas, you will find local people helping you to register it. but be sure that the vendor shows you the engine and chassis registration stamps.
• Registration
  Is done in a province and every province can decide how to handle TukTuk registrations. I think Pattaya/Banglamung is quite relaxed for this, while other areas might show some 'never-had-this-before' faces...
• Leaving Thailand
  This will require additional paperwork and it will have to be registered to yourself (or whoever drives it over the border).

And after you have it, make sure you're driving out. A Farang driving a TukTuk outside Pattay is still creating tons of smiles on peoples faces!
PS: making the driver license is easy and quite cheap, too. Should be a tourist activity attraction!

I met a guy on Koh Chang with one, lost a leg in an accident i believe. Nice guy he was too.

[Panty Hamster]

^
Yes it's registered but as a tuk-tuk for carrying fare paying passengers.
To drive it you must have a tuk-tuk driving license.
A farang cannot get a Tuk-tuk DL without a work permit.
You can't get a WP for driving a Tuk-tuk

^ There is the answer.
Tuk-tuks are viewed as profit-motivated transportation -- for hire. Farangs need not apply. Pale-faced cheese-eaters ain't allowed to transport people/things for profit. A Thai will sell you anything. Doesn't make it legal. Having a driver's license and insurance doesn't make it legal either. It's not registered.

You'd run into similar brick walls if you tried to buy and register a metered taxi.

It's like having a large motorcycle without registration. You can buy it, insure it, get a DL for it, but you're at risk of being shaken down by the idiots in brown at every turn because it's not registered.

[Bobsuruncle]

I've given in to the fact that I won't be able to get it registered. I've complied with everything that I can as far as obtaining insurance and getting the correct driver's license. The officials won't let me register it so I've decided not to worry about the police. I'll just pay the fee they ask for each time I'm stopped. Small price to pay for being able to drive the vehicle I want.

[Exige]

Small price to pay for being able to drive the vehicle I want.

Until you get into an accident involving others......

If you can't get it registered, insured, driving license, etc... It's clear the Thai authorities do not it on the King's roads.

Be careful....

[jeebeeg]

Hallo all,

I am very interested in a Daihatsu engined Tuk Tuk, and maybe Bob, or somebody else, would want to give me more information about them.Anyway, apart from registration, Bob knows someone who sells them, that would be a good start.
Thanks all.

Hans

[Bobsuruncle]

Hello jeebeeg,
There are 2 places that I found up here near my place. One is in That Phanom and the name is in Thai and I can't read it but the phone number is 089-7121420. This is where the man quoted me a price of 80,000 baht for I think a 660cc 4 speed Daihatsu. The other place where I actually bought the one I have is located in Na Gae and the phone number there is 042-571294. This is the 1400cc 5 speed Daihatsu for 84,000 baht. Now you may have a 3rd place as the name on the actual paperwork that I got from this shop had the name TGM Autopart Limited and has an address in Bangplee Samutprakarn and it's phone number on the paper is 02-3250483--5. Maybe it was made there. Now remember I was able to get insurance and my samlor kreuang driver's license but I was not able to get it registered.

[stickmansucks]

Hope that insurance won't deny the claim because the vehicle is not registered...

[Spin]

but no registration means no insurance

Rubbish. it's easy to get insurance on any vehicle here, registered or not.

[Gerbil]

My understanding is that it is impossible to get a new registration any more.

You can transfer a registration from an old one that has been certified as being destroyed.

Because most of the registrations were classed as 'vehicles for hire' - which is illegal for a foreigner to hold, it's almost impossible to do that.

[Racin]

I wonder why you can't register these as private vehicles?

If you think about it, for B80,000 you can get a vehicle that can transport three people safer than a motorcycle and with a bit of rain cover for not much more money. I would have though they would be everywhere.



What's this bad-boy called and how much does it cost?

Perfect for a poor family who can't afford a car and can only pay a small amount monthly.

This type is called Skylab and are made in Udon Thani. Go to Ake Panich | Tuk Tuk, 3-Wheeler, Skylab Manufacturer and Exporter from Thailand or Ake Panich | Tuk Tuk, 3-Wheeler, Skylab Manufacturer and Exporter from Thailand (same company). Prices with small Chinese Lifan engine starts around 57000B, I think and you can have up to 200cc. they also make bigger ones with the 3 cyl Daihatsu engine.

[Thetyim]

Found another one here

http://www.expertise.co.th/products.php

[jeebeeg]

Today I paid a visit to Ake Panich, and a Tuk Tuk with a Daihatsu engine costs 121.00, there are no show models, order one now, choose between white, blue and red, and wait 6 to 8 weeks.Not a great option for me.I will look further.

[Thetyim]

Tuk Tuk with a Daihatsu engine costs 121.000

Maybe the ones from Ake Panich have a brand new engine

[jeebeeg]

No, they made it very clear that we are talking about a used, secondhand one.
So the price surprised me too.

[Bobsuruncle]

jeebeeg have you called the places I suggested? It's a bit of a trek from Udon but they are 84,000 in Na Gae and 80,000 in That Phanom. But it may be the same scenario where you might need to wait for 5 to 6 weeks, not sure. I walked into the Na Gae shop on a Sunday at around 12pm and drove away an hour later with the 1400cc samlor.

[Marmite the Dog]

I know an American who had one made to his design for 80k with a Daihatsu engine. It's still an illegal vehicle though.

[farmerfloyd]

Florida said they would get it legal with blinkers etc and few small things. always wanted one like the taxis in BK.

[draco888]

I think these look quite funky, copies of 60's Daihatsu midgets made in thailand now i think.