How do I purchase a motorbike from a Thai person that still has payments on it?

yeah your friend's idea is a recipe for disaster honestly. if she stops paying for any reason you're just screwed with no paperwork to back you up

what i'd do is ask her to call the finance company first and see if they allow a "change of debtor" or "โอนหนี้" - some of the bigger ones like Aeon or CIMB Thai will let you take over the loan if you have a work permit and pass their credit check. you'll prob need to go to their branch together with your passport and her ID card

if they say no, another option is you pay her the lump sum to settle the loan yourself, but only do this after getting a written agreement and having her sign a sale contract at your local district office (เขต). that way at least you have some legal footing if she flakes on the transfer later

the key thing is never hand over cash without the green book being released first. i've seen this go sideways too many times at the soi motorcycle shops near my place

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If the finance company won't let her transfer the loan, there's a simpler path. Go with her to the branch of wherever the loan is from, pay off the remaining balance yourself with a bank transfer or cashier's cheque right there at the counter. Get the receipt and the release letter, then head to the Department of Land Transport on Vibhavadi Rangsit that same day to do the name transfer in the green book. You'll need her ID card and your passport, plus a signed sale contract written in Thai (you can grab one at the photocopy shop outside the DLT for 50 baht). This way you own the bike outright, she's off the hook for payments, and nobody's trusting a handshake deal that could blow up.

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The finance company is the real owner until the loan is paid off, so you can't just transfer the green book without settling it first. One option you might not have considered is going with her to the bank or finance company to see if they allow a loan assumption, where you take over the remaining payments and the bike gets registered in your name. Some lenders in Bangkok will let you do this if you have a work permit or proof of income, but it depends on the institution. If they say no, you're better off paying the loan balance directly to them, getting the release letter, and then doing the transfer at the Department of Land Transport on Vibhavadi Rangsit. That way you avoid the nightmare of her missing a payment and you losing the bike.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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