Buying a motorbike in HCMC

Dear all

I just have converted my driving license to a Vietnamese driving license.
Next year I want buy a a new motorbike.

I read some posts here in the forum. But to summarize all information and being sure that I am not wrong, some questions:

I am married with a Vietnamese woman and have a TRC.
Can I buy a motorbike in my name? Or is it easier to buy it in the name of my wife?

Is the  license plate tied to the motorbike or the owner?

I read the seller will do the registry for the license plate, right?
Do I have to do anything after that?

I read an insurance is not mandatory, right?
But I think I need an insurance which has to pay for damages of the damaged and third parties.
Which is the best insurance for expats?
What are the costs?
I read in another post, only about 100k a year. But I can't imagine that  :/ .

Are there no taxes to pay for a motorbike or car?

Is the procedure for buying a car same?

My wife would like buy a Vespa (because her mother is very happy with her Vespa  :) ).
Good idea? But maybe expensive  :huh: .

Thank you in advance for helpful comments.

I found two older links in the internet.

https://tuoitrenews.vn/business/13786/m … in-vietnam

http://www3.asiainsurancereview.com/New … ype=eDaily

According this information, an insurance is legally required.
It covers damage of 3rd party.
It is stipulated that the insurance costs VND66,000 per year.
Not auttoriced street vendors buy the insurance incredibly cheap.

Where I can buy legal such insurances for the stipulated price (I really don't trust these street vendors)?
Does someone experiences about this insurance. Do they really pay for 3th party damage?
If not, I can pay the monetary fine of 100k Dong just as well.

colinoscapee posts already this link in another thread: https://www.baovietbank.vn/en/corporates/car-insurance
But this insurance is not mandatory and covers theft and damage on the own vehicle.

That's correct, but your other post asked for other forms of insurance.

Just look for the words "Bảo Hiểm" out the front of shops,gasoline stations, cellphone shops.

I was only reading this blog the other day:

http://www.itchyfeetonthecheap.com/2014 … otorcycle/

It has some info on buying. What to look for, where to buy, basic bike checks before you buy etc..

The WikiHow link suggests getting the insurance from the same agent where you got your license. No idea if this would work out to be any different to getting it through another shop, gasoline station, or cellphone shop.

@andy passenger: the info on how to buy a bike is probably not much use to you as you've already bought a brand new bike.

sanooku wrote:

@andy passenger: the info on how to buy a bike is probably not much use to you as you've already bought a brand new bike.


Yes Meanwhile, we have bought a Vespa.  :top:
Seems that there are only 2 Vespa shops here (D5 and D10).
We went in the shop in D5 and after about one hour we driven home with the new Vespa.  :idontagree:
For 2 Million Dong more, the shop does everything regarding the license plate.
Now we are waiting on the license plate (I think the license plate will be registered on my wife's name). Seems it's normal that you can driving without license plate the first days.

But I still not know whether I must do something after we got the license plate.
In Switzerland you must pay every year tax and insurance.
And to get the bill, they must know your address.
After we have a new address, whom we must give the new address?
The bike shop, or the gasolin station I bought the insurance?  :lol:

I was also wondering in the past when my former Thai girlfriend moved to another apartment and she was not made an effort for sending anyone the new address.
But there it seems that the post is sent all the live to the parent's home.
Maybe here same same.  :unsure

You just go and renew the insurance as per the date on the card.

colinoscapee wrote:

You just go and renew the insurance as per the date on the card.


Thank you colinoscapee.  :top:

The onus is on you to renew it, they don't send reminders.

I always delegate remembering important dates like this to my trusted.......mobile phone. Enter event name, date/time. add notification. Job Done!  :cool:

Yesterday I bought the right motorbike insurance.
I tried some gasoline stations and phone shops.
Finally I found the right insurance in a phone shop.  :)

I found also an informative web page about that insurance:
http://www.nguoitieudung.com.vn/bao-hie … 30423.html
There is also to see how the insurance paper looks like.

Of course, that's just common sense.
You go to the phone shop for motorbike insurance
and the convenience store for a phone card
The gold shop for currency exchange
and a barber to clean your ears

gobot wrote:

...and a barber to clean your ears


That's not all. The last time YogiBear went to a barber shop they grabbed him by the nuts  :o

To be fair, he may have wondered in to one of the hot toc's. (as opposed to a cut toc)