Import Tax Vintage Car

[Pui]

Someone I know said that there is a tax exemption for cars imported that are over a certain age.

He thought it was 10 years but looking around the forum it must be older than that.

If this is true it could open doors to all sorts of nice cars. Not necessarily stately old Rolls Royce’s but there are a lot of older cars that are very nice and cheap in Europe.

Anyone know anything about this?

Edited March 10, 2007 by Pui

[tuktukmike]

The max import discount for imported cars is or was 70% for a car 10 years or older.

I dont think vintage cars would be exempt.

Mike.

[A_Traveller]

Sorry, this is from memory but the discount structure does, in principle, go to 100%, on vehicles over 25 years(?) {note might be 30}. I looked at this a few years ago when considering bring a Bristol over here, but in that case the engine capacity seemed to be a stumbling block and subsequently my plans changed anyway so I didn't pursue it further.

The Thai customs authorities have a decent website http://www.customs.go.th which might assist the OP further.

Regards

PS I do recall that they were supposed to be moving to a more standardised methodology, which may, or may not be more helpful.

[buddhafly]

sorry to be negative, but ive read that it is a nightmare to import any type of car.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

sorry to be negative, but ive read that it is a nightmare to import any type of car.

Seconded

[billrose]

Someone I know said that there is a tax exemption for cars imported that are over a certain age.

He thought it was 10 years but looking around the forum it must be older than that.

If this is true it could open doors to all sorts of nice cars. Not necessarily stately old Rolls Royce’s but there are a lot of older cars that are very nice and cheap in Europe.

Anyone know anything about this?

A few weeks ago I enquired at Customs in Bangkok about importing my 50 year old motorbike. The maximum discount for import duty is 70% after 10 years, but that is 70% of 214% of CIF (Cost, insurance and freight). I thought I might be able to convince them that the cost when new in 1957 was £256, but they looked up the current value of my bike on the internet and found one for sale in UK at £4500 and used that value to calculate the import duty! i.e. £4500 plus insurance & freight @ £1000 = £5500 x 214% = £11,770, less 70% discount = £3531 import duty!!

It's not worth it!!

[tuktukmike]

billrose is right except for one minor detail.

As others here will know I imported a car with an agreed import price from the DFT which is where you get your import license.

Forget what you paid for the car or even the new price, they will decide how much to rip you off for.

I had 3 price increases from customs dept, when i pointed out that they had priced the new value wrong they told me to get proof from the internet of new price in US dollars.

When i finally did show them the new price they said if they accept this they would not give me 70% discount, which then made the duty even higher.

Reality, customs officers I am told have various contacts in the car trade and will and do increase the import tax until you walk away.

Then guess who buys them on the cheap

Thailand signed up to the GATT agreement but as always here signing somthing and following the code means nothing.

Mike.

[Martin]

I used to have a well-kept 1953 Jowett Javelin which is up for sale again, and I was thinking of how aircon could be fitted and wondering about the ins-and-outs of importing it here.

It sounds as if I would need to find one of those Thais in the trade who have good connections amongst the customs people and pay a commission for him to buy it, import it, and then sell it to me.

Any suggestions?

[HDRIDER]

I used to have a well-kept 1953 Jowett Javelin which is up for sale again, and I was thinking of how aircon could be fitted and wondering about the ins-and-outs of importing it here.

It sounds as if I would need to find one of those Thais in the trade who have good connections amongst the customs people and pay a commission for him to buy it, import it, and then sell it to me.

Any suggestions?

Any suggestions?

Yes, dont, the one you talk to might be the only one there is going to cheat you

[monty]

A few weeks ago I enquired at Customs in Bangkok about importing my 50 year old motorbike. The maximum discount for import duty is 70% after 10 years, but that is 70% of 214% of CIF (Cost, insurance and freight). I thought I might be able to convince them that the cost when new in 1957 was £256, but they looked up the current value of my bike on the internet and found one for sale in UK at £4500 and used that value to calculate the import duty! i.e. £4500 plus insurance & freight @ £1000 = £5500 x 214% = £11,770, less 70% discount = £3531 import duty!!

It's not worth it!!

Another trick they pull is that the 70% discount, is actually a " reduction of duties to be paid of 70%"

An acquaintance of mine had this exact scenario. The base tax was 308% (over 220 HP) so he expected to pay 92.4% tax (30% of 308).

The way they calculated it was 308%-70% is 238% tax to be paid!!!