Shipping a Motorcycle in Thailand by Mail

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:

1. You're moving to a new city but can't or don't want ride your bike there
2. You're temporarily staying in another part of Thailand and prefer riding your own motorbike rather than getting a rental
3. 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:

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.

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:

1. Motorcycle with an engine 150cc or less
2. Motorcycle with an engine more than 150cc but 400cc or less
3. 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

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

1. Completed Logispost Service Form ป. 309 (provided at the post office)
2. Original motorcycle Green Book to show proof of registration (plus photocopy)
   OR
   Original purchase contract and buyer's/depositor's ID (plus photocopy)
3. ID (passport or Thai license) of the sender (and the receiver if different from sender)
4. Phone number of the sender (and the receiver if different from sender)
5. Physical address of the receiving post office
6. Shipping fee to be paid by debit card, credit card, or cash

Pick Up Requirements

1. Original shipping receipt
2. ID (passport or Thai license); name must match the "Name of Addressee" on the original receipt
3. Motorcycle keys
4. 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:

1. Front entrance (where people send off letters and parcels)
2. Right side entrance (location of the Logispost office)
3. 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.