During your last trip to Thailand did you ever notice vehicles with red licensed plates instead of the white ones and wondered what they signify? Especially when these vehicles or motorcycles didn’t seem to be that of the emergency, government, or some other self-explanatory type.

Red number plates also known as trade plates are mostly found with newly purchased vehicles, issued by authorized local vehicle companies and dealers with permits and approvals from the DLT. There aren’t only issues in Thailand but in other countries as well.

Trade plates fondly called red number plates in Thailand are similar to those issued in the UK. These are temporary licensed plates attached to, in most cases, newly purchased unregistered vehicles or vehicles without complete documentation (e.g insurance and road tax). In other words, newly purchased vehicles in Thailand are issued red number plates until all paperwork is sorted out. After this is done then a proper white number plate is issued. These exceptional number plates are made from pressed alloy and have a red background with black or white four digits and one or two consonants.

Furthermore, newly-acquired cars with red number plates in Thailand are not allowed to be driven out of the province where they were purchased and registered. By law, individuals who intend to travel out of this specified area must seek permission from the local authorities each time so as not to be found guilty of breaking the law. When traveling out of the specified area with a red plate, all documents must be in order, there must reflect the dates and destination of travel. Local authorities are mandated to stop vehicles with red plates for examination, the driver, car, and driver’s documents are thoroughly examined even without triggering a traffic offense. It would be an advantage to drivers of such cars to always have all car-related documents, an ID card, and a proper driver’s license ready for inspection at all times. Also, vehicles or motorcycles with red plate numbers are not allowed to be driven on expressways and at night.

There are two types of red number plates in Thailand, both of which do have the same restrictions. There are red number plates with black text and red number plates with white text. The red number plates with black text are for cars while the white texts are for trucks.

Foreign vehicles without proper documents or permits from their countries of origin but with red number plates are allowed entry into Thailand as soon as they are cleared and authorized by customs. On special occasions such as transfer or relocation of show cars, red plate numbers are mostly borrowed from the DLT.

They’ve been rumors of DLT coming up with a plan to introduce a quicker vehicle registration process and stopping the use of red number plates as temporary licensed plates.

Do Other Colored Number Plates In Thailand Have Meaning?

In Thailand, there are several colors of registered licensed plates, amongst them are green background with a white text, White background with a black text, white background with a blue text, white background with a green text, white background with a red text, black background, and a white text, and deep blue background with a white text. All these colors have meanings attached to them.

Green background with a white text – Registered number plates with a green background and white text are mainly for business and tourist rental vehicles.

White background with a black text – This is one of the most common licensed plates in Thailand. These plates belong to the most common passenger cars, they usually have 2 consonants with 1 to 4 black digits.

White background with a blue text – These are personnel transport license plates.

White background with a green text – This type of number plate belongs to registered company vehicles. They do have 1 to 4 green digits and 2 consonants.

White background with a red text – This belongs to private motorized tuk-tuks. Just like the rest, they have 1 to 2 consonants and 1 to 4 digits.

Black background with a white text – These types of license plates are meant for the royal families or royal households. Being unique from the rest, they have 3 letters in Thai script and 4 white numbers.

Deep blue background with white text – These license plates belong to navy personnel, they all have anchor symbols attached to letters and 5 white numbers.