So I'm at the Thai/Laos border on my way up from Kuala Lumpur and they are asking for the temporary import/export paper for my bike. Import/Export paper? What's that??
I realize that other than buying insurance at the border I have no papers for my bike. So here's my question and a warning to others
Question:
Any ideas of any possibilities of getting one here 2,000 km away. I'm afraid if I ask the guys directly they'll impound my bike. As it is, I just told them I need to go back to my hotel and look for it and they looked confused but let me go. I'm thinking of crossing Laos without the bike and then asking for the documentation at the border while keeping my bike parked at a hotel nearby.
Warning:
Driving up from KL to the Malaysian/Thai border I did ask if I needed anything else and they said no. Granted I speak no Thai and their English/Malay wasn't too good. Getting insurance 100 meters later provided no warning as they didn't ask to see anything like that. "Experience" didn't help; I've often ridden into Thailand but always stayed in the South - Hat Yai, Petani, Yala etc. I'd asked before and no one seemed to care, nor did any of the other motorcycle riders coming from Malaysia seem concerned about having more papers for your bike. Singapore to Malaysia is pretty easier and even easier in the other directions. Many other countries I've ridden to stamp the bike in my passport.
I guess what I'm saying is, is that it is easy to do without realizing you are doing something wrong. Of course this forum does a good job of telling you what you need but heard about this forum when I got to Chiang Mai - and then if you are reading this you probably already know
So now I have the stress that at any point in time I could be pulled over and lose my bike, go to jail... I have no clue what the consequences are and don't really feel like asking at the border on this side from home!
I realize that other than buying insurance at the border I have no papers for my bike. So here's my question and a warning to others
Question:
Any ideas of any possibilities of getting one here 2,000 km away. I'm afraid if I ask the guys directly they'll impound my bike. As it is, I just told them I need to go back to my hotel and look for it and they looked confused but let me go. I'm thinking of crossing Laos without the bike and then asking for the documentation at the border while keeping my bike parked at a hotel nearby.
Warning:
Driving up from KL to the Malaysian/Thai border I did ask if I needed anything else and they said no. Granted I speak no Thai and their English/Malay wasn't too good. Getting insurance 100 meters later provided no warning as they didn't ask to see anything like that. "Experience" didn't help; I've often ridden into Thailand but always stayed in the South - Hat Yai, Petani, Yala etc. I'd asked before and no one seemed to care, nor did any of the other motorcycle riders coming from Malaysia seem concerned about having more papers for your bike. Singapore to Malaysia is pretty easier and even easier in the other directions. Many other countries I've ridden to stamp the bike in my passport.
I guess what I'm saying is, is that it is easy to do without realizing you are doing something wrong. Of course this forum does a good job of telling you what you need but heard about this forum when I got to Chiang Mai - and then if you are reading this you probably already know
So now I have the stress that at any point in time I could be pulled over and lose my bike, go to jail... I have no clue what the consequences are and don't really feel like asking at the border on this side from home!