If you have a tourist visa you cannot own a vehicle in your own name.
When you buy a car, the motor dealer will normally arrange the paperwork for you and register the vehicle. You will have to provide signed copies of your Passport, Visa and Work Permit. However, the Vehicle Registration Office of the Department of Transport in Saphan Hin will normally want to see your original passport and work permit. Rather than let your passport and work permit out of your hands, you can take copies and the originals yourself to the Registration Office, where they will stamp and certify the copies. These certified copies are all the motor dealer will need to complete the registration.

This is a proven system and has been checked recently – for both a car and a motorcycle – and is the safest way to avoid your passport or work permit going astray. If you use a reputable motor dealer, though, this should not a worry! Be wary about buying a car other than through a reputable manufacturer’s dealer or a second hand dealer of note.
The annual vehicle registration fee is governed by the engine size and the type of vehicle.

Both the vehicle registration sticker, issued by the vehicle registration office (which shows the year of expiry in large figures) must be displayed on the left hand side of the windscreen

When a new car is registered, you will be given red licence plates until your registration is complete – normally about one or two months. When they’re ready, go back to the dealer to have the permanent plates fitted and collect the registration book. Some dealers can be slow providing new plates. As strictly according to the law, you may not drive at night or outside your home province on temporary plates, if you feel your dealer is ‘dragging his feet’, apply some gentle pressure; your licence plates will magically appear…

If you’re buying a car using a loan, the lender will hold the registration book until you finish paying, at which time they’ll transfer to your name (you will need to re-provide all those again). To obtain car finance, you’ll need a Thai guarantor.

Insurance
There are two types of insurance in Thailand, the Government mandatory 3rd party insurance and the comprehensive insurance which is not mandatory but highly recommended. Both insurance types are arranged by an insurance company and there are many such companies with offices in Phuket and agents everywhere!

If you have an accident without insurance, there is no limit to your liability, so it is unwise to drive without adequate insurance; and don’t forget to renew. There is a 10,000 Baht Police fine for driving without insurance.

Motorcycles
All the above also applies to motorcycles, except that no comprehensive insurance is available in Thailand for motorcycles. You must, though, have the mandatory government insurance.