Importing a car from the UK to Thailand

[Sean Rock]

Hi

 

I'm considering bringing my current car (ford fiesta st, 1year old as of 2019) to thailand in approximately 2 years time (2020/21).

 

Has anyone here done this or looked into it? Is it worth it? Am i making a rod for my back?

 

Thanks.

 

[ianezy0]

I think the import taxes would cost very similar to what the car is worth....But don’t quote me on this.

Others have commented previously and said, it isn’t worth it.

Edited July 3, 2019 by ianezy0

[Pilotman]

I looked at it about 4 years ago for my 5 year old UK BMW.  The import tax was the same as if the car had been new and was prohibitive. I bought a new Toyota here for a lot less less than the import tax and registration costs would have been on the BMW.  Enough said. 

[metisdead]

This idea has been discussed repeatedly on this forum, the consensus is it is not worth it.   Import taxes will be so high, it would be better to buy a similar car here in Thailand than to import. 

[mvsaraburi]

58 minutes ago, metisdead said:

it would be better to buy a similar car here in Thailand than to import. 

my car in UK is an M5 mapped to 700+bhp.  the cost of one here is way beyond my means and even if it wasn't, the thought of my missus behind the wheel of that on her thai licence is too terrifying to contemplate.  we have a slow, boring yaris here ????

[madhav]

3 hours ago, mvsaraburi said:

my car in UK is an M5 mapped to 700+bhp.  the cost of one here is way beyond my means and even if it wasn't, the thought of my missus behind the wheel of that on her thai licence is too terrifying to contemplate.  we have a slow, boring yaris here ????

What series M5 is it?

 

I had a 1996 Toyota Supra with similar power in my own country before I moved here. I looked into bringing it here and it is not worth it. 

 

However don’t be dismayed as there are plenty of options for modified cars. Just need to accept that the government protects the local (boring) car industry. So pretty much everything interesting is taxed like crazy making it maddening.

 

So if you are looking for a Euro with that kind of power, it is possible, just need to spend a lot lot more. Check out Autowerks Bangkok on facebook. They do a lot of Euros and map them to various stages.

 

There hasn’t been many locally assembled big engined euros until recently. Now can get the Mercedes C43 (v6 twin turbo), also a few BMW M models like M2 M4 and the new M5 (prices are crazy though).

Audi has mostly the 2.0 turbo engines but none of the S or RS models here. 

Volkswagen has pretty much nothing. 

 

Cheaper option is to go with Japanese engines, the Thai people like to retrofit the venerable 2JZ into many cars. As you know this engine can take a beating and makes big power easy. But there are not nearly as comfortable and refined as a modern Euro.

 

I have a Mk6 golf GTI with a hybrid turbo and many breathing/fuel mods running about 450bhp. Is a handful but will be selling it soon as want something different.

[Sean Rock]

Ok thanks everyone. Question answered.

[MatteoBassini]

On 7/3/2019 at 6:46 PM, metisdead said:

This idea has been discussed repeatedly on this forum, the consensus is it is not worth it.   Import taxes will be so high, it would be better to buy a similar car here in Thailand than to import. 

No such thing as a Fiesta ST here.

 

People who aren't into cars wouldn't understand. if you really want to, you can import by paying an import dealer. Just tell them you're willing to give them good compensation for importing your car for you.

 

Also, you can no longer import used cars anymore unless it was owned for more than 5 years by a Thai citizen living overseas.

 

So, even if you had 10 million baht to import a Fiesta ST, it is simply impossible because it is used.

[NanLaew]

Yeah, I sold my Veyron before moving here as it would have cost the same as Chiron I have now.

[Pilotman]

On 7/3/2019 at 7:48 PM, mvsaraburi said:

my car in UK is an M5 mapped to 700+bhp.  the cost of one here is way beyond my means and even if it wasn't, the thought of my missus behind the wheel of that on her thai licence is too terrifying to contemplate.  we have a slow, boring yaris here ????

yep, I went from my BMW 535i Sport to a Toyota Vios.  I don't regret it, it's perfect for this place, as I no longer worry about getting dents in Supermarket car parks, but I do miss my in-car toys.  I have a radio/CD player and that's about it.  

[kartman]

Breaking News Customs Department has announced an end to all this TV nonsense

[Jai Dee]

Luggage to be X-rayed at airports by year-end, used-car imports to be banned: Customs