QUESTION
How can I get nice licence plates for my motorbike? There are auctions for car plates twice a year, and they are always announced in the media. Still, I haven’t ever heard of any auctions for special motorbike licence plates, but I see motorbikes with similar-looking licence plates on Phuket’s roads. Are these plates officially sold anywhere? Are they legal to use?
– Alexander, Thalang
ANSWER
The Department of Land Transport does not have auctions for special motorbike licence plates like we do for licence plates of other vehicles.
What we technically call ‘graphic licence plates’ for motorbikes are not permitted, though some people still have some made at private workshops for themselves.
These are illegal.
Any persons found with illegal licence plates on a car, motorbike or any other vehicle can be charged for breach of Section 11 of the Vehicle Act*, B.E. 2522. (See law here.)
However, we do allow people to make special reservations for particular motorbike licence plate numbers that they would like, just as we do for cars.
To get a special licence plate number (such XX 9999), just apply at the Vehicle License Division at the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO).
(NOTE: Section 60 of the same Act stipulates that breach of Section 11 incurs a fine of up to B2,000.)
– Banyat Kantha, Chief, Phuket Land Transportation (PLTO)