Shipping a motorcycle in Thailand is a lot easier than it sounds and probably less expensive than you’d think. There’s transport by train, in the luggage section under a VIP bus, by private courier, or through the Thai post. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about shipping a motorbike by mail, whether it’s a run-of-the-mill 120cc scooter or a 1000cc big bike.
If you’re screwing up your face right about now, you’re not the first person to think, “You can send a motorbike through the post office?” We thought our friend was kidding when he told us it was possible to send a motorbike in the mail just like you would a birthday card. But then we remembered, “This is Thailand,” and we leaned in closer for the details.
Pre-shipping preparations
You may want to ship a motorbike if:
- You’re moving to a new city but can’t or don’t want ride your bike there
- You’re temporarily staying in another part of Thailand and prefer riding your own motorbike rather than getting a rental
- You’ve sold or purchased a bike from a person in another city
There are a few things to keep in mind prior to shipping a motorcycle in Thailand:
Ship to/from a post office with Logispost
You’ll have to choose a post office to ship from and one to pick up from. Not all post offices ship motorcycles, but the ones that offer Logispost shipping do. Generally speaking, the larger branches have this service.
Empty your gas tank
As a safety precaution, the post office asks that you empty your gas tank. This might be completely empty or less than 25% full (as we were told). The post office workers may or may not check your tank. If they do, there is a chance that they will empty it for you if it doesn’t meet their criteria.
Package your bike
To ensure that your bike is protected to your liking, wrap it yourself with bubble wrap, cardboard, and cellophane wrap. This should include turning in the mirrors as well as removing lights or any other protruding components. Cover the plastics and the seat. Wrap it to your heart’s content. However, the bike must be able to roll and use its kickstand.
If you choose not to wrap your bike yourself, the post office should be able to provide supplies (cardboard, bubble wrap, tape, etc) and the manpower to wrap it prior to shipping.
Find your Green Book (motorcycle registration)
The post office will ask for your Green Book. In the event that the bike does not have a Green Book (i.e., a new bike), you must show proof of purchase. For unique cases, please contact your nearest post office for their requirements.
Pack any additional gear
Prepare additional gear such as gloves, jackets, or helmets to be shipped with your bike. It’s best if these items can fit under the seat or in your bike’s luggage containers. If not, a post office worker should be able to direct you to the correct packaging.
Keys are not needed to ship your bike, so do not hand over your motorcycle keys to the post office.
They won’t get accidentally lost and it eliminates the temptation of taking your bike for a joy ride.
Which post office can I ship my motorbike to/from?
Not all post offices will ship motorcycles around Thailand. They must offer a service called Logispost, which ships large items such as motorcycles, furniture, and home appliances up to 200 kg. Logispost is typically offered at main post offices designed for handling larger freight, but not always. Here are a few post offices in several major cities that ship motorcycles:
Bangkok
Phrakhanong Post Office
1573-5 Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Saturday (Closed Sunday)
Phone: (023) 902-270
Chiang Mai
Charoen Mueang Post Office
406/1 Charoen Mueang Road, T. Wat Gate, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai 50000
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12 pm Saturday, 9 am to 12 pm Sunday
Phone: (053) 241-640
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen Post Office
153/8 Glang Muang Road, T. Nai Mueang, T. Amphoe, Khon Kaen 40000
Hours: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12 pm Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (043) 226-121
Pattaya
Banglamung Post Office
Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday and 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Saturday to Sunday
Phone: (038) 428-549
Phuket
Ko Kaeo Thailand Post Office
25 Moo 1, Thepkasattri Road, Koh Kaew, Phuket 83000
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12 pm Saturday (Closed Sunday)
Phone: (076) 223-691
This center offers door-to-door pickup and delivery from an office adjacent to the post office.
Sa Kaeo
Aranyaprathet Post Office
4 Suwannason Road, Han Sai, Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo 27120
Hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Saturday (Closed Sunday)
Phone: (037) 233 033
How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle by mail?
The cost to ship a motorcycle in Thailand by mail depends on three factors: the engine size of your bike, which provincial zone you a shipping from, and which provincial zone you are shipping to.
There are three motorbike sizes:
- Motorcycle with an engine 150cc or less
- Motorcycle with an engine more than 150cc but 400cc or less
- Motorcycle with an engine more than 400cc as well as “big bikes” and choppers
NOTE: Regardless of your bike’s actual engine size, if you have a big bike or chopper, you may be charged for the highest rate (Option 3). |
There are ten provincial zones:
Zone 1: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan
Zone 2: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sakaew, Trat
Zone 3: Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram
Zone 4: Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Chainat, Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, Singburi, Suphan Buri, Uthai Thani
Zone 5: Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Tak, Uttaradit
Zone 6: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae
Zone 7: Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et, Sisaket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon
Zone 8: Khon Kaen, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani
Zone 9: Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Ranong, Surat Thani
Zone 10: Krabi, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phuket, Satun, Songkhla, Trang, Yala
There are ten different pricing tables, one for each zone. Below you’ll find one pricing table for Zone 1 (Bangkok and neighboring provinces) and the cost to ship a motorbike to Zones 1 through 10.
Pricing Table (in Thai baht) to ship from Zone 1
ZONE | Engine < 150cc | 150cc < Engine < 400cc | 400cc < Engine |
Zone 1 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 3,300 |
Zone 2 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 3,300 |
Zone 3 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 3,300 |
Zone 4 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 3,300 |
Zone 5 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 3,300 |
Zone 6 | 1,680 | 2,100 | 4,020 |
Zone 7 | 1,440 | 1,800 | 3,660 |
Zone 8 | 1,680 | 2,100 | 4,020 |
Zone 9 | 1,680 | 2,100 | 4,020 |
Zone 10 | 1,680 | 2,100 | 4,020 |
NOTE: Shipping to an island may incur a surcharge in addition to the above prices. |
Documents to Mail a Motorcycle by Thai Post
Here are the items you’ll need in order to mail off and pick up your motorbike.
Application Requirements
- Completed Logispost Service Form ป. 309 (provided at the post office)
- Original motorcycle Green Book to show proof of registration (plus photocopy)
OR
Original purchase contract and buyer’s/depositor’s ID (plus photocopy) - ID (passport or Thai license) of the sender (and the receiver if different from sender)
- Phone number of the sender (and the receiver if different from sender)
- Physical address of the receiving post office
- Shipping fee to be paid by debit card, credit card, or cash
Pick Up Requirements
- Original shipping receipt
- ID (passport or Thai license); name must match the “Name of Addressee” on the original receipt
- Motorcycle keys
- A small container of gas
Our Experience Shipping a Motorcycle in Thailand by Mail
We shipped our motorbike, a 300cc Honda Forza, from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. It took three days and the total cost was 4,320 baht.
We drove our motorbike to the Charoen Mueang Post Office near the train station in Chiang Mai. There are three entrances to the building:
- Front entrance (where people send off letters and parcels)
- Right side entrance (location of the Logispost office)
- Rear entrance (loading dock)
We went along the right side of the building and parked our bike in the side entrance near the ramp. We were ushered into the small “Business Customer Section” office where our paperwork was processed.
We were asked for our ID and the motorbike’s Green Book. The office had a photocopy machine, so they made copies of the Green Book and ID free of charge. We filled out the Logispost Service Form ป. 309 using our home address in Chiang Mai (Address of Sender) and the address of the Phrakhanong Post Office in Bangkok (Address of Addressee).
Our bike cost 4,020 baht, which we paid for by credit card. We did not wrap the bike ourselves, so we were charged an additional 300 baht for the wrapping materials and labor. We had to pay that by cash.
Once we finished, we collected our Thai driver’s license, motorcycle Green Book, and we took the keys home with us. We made sure that our motorbike, which was still parked outside, was off to the side of the ramp so as to not impede deliveries. We took photos from several angles to show that the bike was damage-free prior to shipment.
The whole process took a little more than 30 minutes. This could have been shorter, but we hadn’t decided on a post office in Bangkok to ship to. The motorbike was wrapped by the post office staff after we left.
We booked a Grab Taxi home, but we could have just as easily hailed a songthaew from Charoen Mueang Road. Halfway home we also realized we didn’t empty the gas tank. There were no problems shipping the motorbike (no leakage, no explosions) but we should have emptied it as instructed.
Three days later we received a phone call that our motorbike arrived in Bangkok. We were already in Bangkok by that time, so we went to the Phrakhanong Post Office. A worker directed us to the ‘Acceptance Section’ collections office in the back right corner of the pair of buildings.
We saw our motorbike immediately, parked in a small hallway near the office’s entrance. It was minimally but effectively wrapped in cardboard, foam, and tape. After freeing it from the packaging, it arrived with zero damage.
We signed a pickup list that had a long list of printed names. We also signed a handheld electronic device.
And that’s that! In 72 hours and for a little more than 4,000 baht, we had our bike with us in Bangkok. It was painless and efficient. We’re glad we didn’t try to ride nine hours from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on it!
If you’ve shipped a motorbike through the Thai post, how was your experience? Good? Bad? Please share your experience in the comment section below.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
UPD
Prices rose dramatically.
For Honda PCX shipment from Phuket is:
Chiang Mai – 7200 thb
Bangkok – 5000 thb
(*as of Dec 3rd 2024)
Great article and great info. Here’s an update regards posting a scooter/bike. This is my experience as of 25th March 2023. I dropped my PCX 150 off at the post office after of the 18th of March, all paperwork was done efficiently and processed within 15 minutes. I duly paid over the sum of 4600 the which included handling and packing. The PCX was heading for Hua Hin, granted a fair jaunt. On enquiring regards the delivery time I was informed 5 to 7 days, seems reasonable considering it was Saturday afternoon. Let’s jump forward to today 25th March, the… Read more »
FYI, prices have gone up. Just shipped a 155cc Aerox from Chiang Mai to Khon Kean. To prep the scooter for shipping they now charge 600bath and it was 6,000bath for shipping. Other then that good instructions and it was very easy to do at the post office.
Hi, how to ship a motorcycle from Bangkok to hat yai?
Did you got a tracking number? So you could search by you self where it was on the road?
Great article. Exactly what I was looking for. My Yamaha nmax has keyless ignition. Any foreseeable problems with shipping staff pushing around with no key?
Excellent detailed article, Thanks.
Do you know if the shippers / post office will manage shipping between places other than Bangkok, e.g. Udon Thani to Krabi? I could manage the points to correspond with major train stations, e.g. Chiang Mai to Trang.
thing is you have to check before, not all trainstations in Thailand load or unload motorcycles, specially not if bigger than a Honda Dream or Wave with 110cc. They often just dont have the capability or stuff to do so.
Hi
I want to ship a scooter from Khon Kaen to Bangkok area. I was told it would be 2300 baht. Does that sound ok?
How would I go about doing this? Is it even possible? I am in the states and helping my brother who is moving to Bangkok now.
Thank you so much.
Cindy
Great article and very helpful. I got a question, maybe you would know, I want to ship my bike from chiang mai but I never bothered to change the name on the green book from the previous owner.. would that be a problem in your opinion? thanks in advance!
Our advice would be to change the name while you’re still in Chiang Mai.
Great article on Shipping a Motorcycle. I guess this is one of the most important posts on Shipping a Motorcycle, & explained so well.
Thanks! :) Glad the information is complete and useful for you.
Thank you Chris. very helpful info.
You’re welcome!
I live in Chiang Mai. I have found a great company called NackonChai Air. They were able to deliver a scooter from Chiang Rai to me in Chiag Mai for around 800 baht. It was a big scooter 150cc which is too big they said to put under the VIP green bus.
For moving big bikes around I think train is easiest, although you have to travel together with the bike I believe.
I bought a big bike in Siam Superbike some 12 years ago and took it on the train to Chiang Mai
Thanks for sharing this great info. Thailand is one of the place we are planning to live after our retirement.
You’re welcome :)
Crazy guys how cheap it is to ship a motorbike. After renting one that arrived via a pick up truck I saw it is easy to move these suckers around. I know exactly where that Chiang Mai post office is too. Helpful to know if we spend a long term trip in Thailand.
Yeah! The friends and family we’ve told back home are mindblown :)
Interesting and useful. Thanks a lot.
You’re welcome :) We had a great experience shipping our motorbike this way.
So why was it 4,020b? The chart shows less than 400cc zone 7 as being 1800b.
Chiang Mai is Zone 6, so we *should* have been charged 1,800 baht and not 4020 baht. First, we didn’t see the chart until AFTER we shipped the motorbike and wrote this post. Second, we were either deliberately or accidentally charged the “big bike” rate because our big is always classified as a big bike (even tho by this chart it’s a medium bike.)
Just sharing our experience and what we learned so that you can benefit from our errors.
I want to know how i can ship scooter from Koh Samui to Phuket?