In Thailand it is standard for all cars that are more than 7 years old and motorbikes that are more than 5 years old to be tested each year for roadworthiness. Several aspects of the mechanics of the vehicle are tested including the emissions levels. All tests are carried out at authorized test centres and this is the equivalent of the MOT test which is carried out in the UK.

Following the test all vehicles are issued with a certificate known as TorRorOr. This is a requirement for the annual tax sticker which is issued each year. There are no reminders sent out to vehicle owners so it is important to make a note of the renewal date and not miss it. The certificate is a legal requirement and if you are stopped by the police and do not have a valid certificate you may be subject to prosecution.

The testing centres are privately owned but are authorized to carry out the testing by the Department of Land Transport. Standards are strict and if there are problems with the garage that you choose you can lodge a complaint with the Department of Land Transport. Garages that can carry out the test display a logo which is a yellow gear on top of a blue circle.

The test that is carried out includes a check on the engines, lights, indicators, tyres, steering and the bodywork of the vehicle. Part of the test is also to check that the engine numbers, chassis number and the colour stated in the Blue Book match those on the car. For this reason, in order for the test to be carried out, the owner will need to take the book to the test.

In the event that the car fails the test there must be repairs carried out until the car is considered to be roadworthy. If you are in a city then you should not be too far away from a testing centre as each city has plenty to choose from. Bangkok has 225 centres in total and other cities also have large numbers.

Finding a centre is easy as they are listed in the local yellow pages. If you are in doubt then it is worth asking friends or neighbours for a personal recommendation. As a result of these regulations the standard of vehicles in Thailand is generally very good although you may find in some rural areas there are people who are driving vehicles that are in fairly poor condition.

There are a number of options for breakdown assistance in Thailand. Most local garages have a recovery service but there are a several options for nationwide breakdowns. These include the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT). Membership can be arranged by simply calling them and asking to join. You will need to provide details of your vehicle and driving licence and the membership cost is fairly low when compared to similar services in the UK and US.

Useful Resources

Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT)
www.raat.or.th
Tel: + 66 2939 5770