BANGKOK, THAILAND – A foreigner living in Thailand has encountered an unexpected hurdle in renewing their driving licenses, finding their applications denied due to unpaid traffic fines linked to a motorcycle they sold years prior.
The applicant, who has possessed driving licenses for both cars and motorcycles for several years, recently sought to renew them as their five-year validity expired. Upon submitting the necessary documents to the Department of Land Transport (DLT), they were informed that their request could not be processed. The reason given was outstanding, unpaid traffic violations registered under their name. The DLT stated that license renewal would only be possible after all fines were settled.
This news came as a complete surprise to the applicant, who claims to always promptly pay any traffic penalties incurred. Investigations revealed that approximately five years ago, the individual sold a motorcycle to another foreigner. The sale was concluded with a cash payment, and the applicant handed over the vehicle along with its registration documents, assuming the buyer would complete the official ownership transfer. The applicant has been unable to locate the buyer since.
It was discovered that the buyer never registered the motorcycle in their own name, leaving it legally registered to the original owner. The vehicle has since accumulated multiple traffic violations. These fines were sent to the applicant’s former address, which they had moved from, meaning they never received the notices. Consequently, the fines went unpaid, and the DLT holds the registered owner accountable. The applicant is now seeking advice on whether to pay the fines incurred by another person, report the issue to the police to indicate the sale and lack of re-registration, or if there are other avenues to resolve the situation without financial penalty.