Driving a Malaysian Car in Thailand for extended periods

[harrykylee]

A great big hello to all of you! Hope the year has been kind as you look forward to the new year coming around.

 

I am seeking some information about driving a malaysian car in thailand for extended periods of time due to my unique circumstances. I have found some past information on this forum but i am also given to understand the law changes from time to time, usually to the detriment of one trying to accomplish what i am trying. 
 

I am a Malaysian formerly working for a MNC based in Penang and was laid off early this year.

 

I recently took up a job based in the outskirts of Bangkok (Rama 2 area). Before i lost my job, i bought a new car in Malaysia. The car was extensively financed (90% bank loan) which at that time was okay as i was paying for it with my car allowance as part of my work package. 

 

Now that i've lost that job and found myself a job in Bangkok, the car is sitting idle in Penang with family. As my wife and kids begin to contemplate moving to Bangkok as a complete expat family, i have considered that perhaps having a car in bangkok to drive would be nice.

 

I cant sell the car in Malaysia largely because the market or used value is lower than the amounts i need to repay the finance company (bank). The difference that i would need to top up to the bank in the event that i attempt to sell this car would be worth approximately 7-8 repayments or maybe even more which is why ive not sold it yet and have just struggled along making the payments.

 

I would like to ask...

 

1. I read online that Malaysian cars can come for UP to 6 months. But general consensus and understanding is you are given 30 days at the border. How does one make 30 days become 6 months? 

 

2. If indeed 6 months is possible, can i then send the car back at the 6 month period and come back the next day for a further 6 months? (i read on other threads that immediate exit and reentry is common and wont pose an issue, although that was usually against 30 day permits)

 

3. In the event of an overstay, how much is the fine and how is it computed? Does the government have the right to confiscate the car? 

 

4. Does the severity of the overstay relate to the length of the overstay logically? Ie : Overstay by 2 months, pay a fine. Overstay by 12 months, lose your car. 

 

5. Can a thai national drive a Malaysian registered car? (I read in another thread that he needs to have a Malaysian driving license, but is there such a law prohibiting a thai from driving a foreign car? In singapore, singapore nationals are not allowed to drive malaysian cars).

 

Ideally i would like to sell the car, but it has been on the market for the past 6 months now and i have to be realistic that a sale would likely not be forthcoming.

 

I also cant afford to make that massive payment to the bank to cover the differential in the event of a lower priced sale. 

 

Hence im stuck between a rock and a hard place wherein i just have to continue serving the repayments.. Being able to use it in thailand would be good..

 

Appreciate all the advise given! 

 

Thanks in advance everyone! 

Regards, Harry

[Airbagwill]

Have you considered that the finance company won't allow the vehicle out of Malaysia?

[harrykylee]

Hi Airbagwill,

 

Thanks for your response! 
 

I cant imagine it will be a problem. I have driven the car into thailand to Danok and Hatyai multiple times as is common for alot of folks residing in northern malaysia. I always got permission to remain for 30 days though i return within the same day or the next.

The registration card is also in my possession, which i need to bring along when driving across the border. 

 

With that said, i cant imagine i would face any other obstacles. The bank is interested in getting paid and as long as i keep making the payments dutifully, i think we should be alright

 

Thanks again 

[Srikcir]

On 11/27/2019 at 8:59 PM, harrykylee said:

driving a malaysian car in thailand for extended periods of time due

You might check with Thailand customs first.

Effective December 2019 there will be a ban on import of used cars for personal use.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1110797-govt-to-ban-import-of-used-cars-for-personal-use-starting-in-december/

 

[PoorSucker]

Found the customs regulations on temporary import of vehicle to Thailand for you. 

Thailand customs

[Airbagwill]

On 11/28/2019 at 9:41 AM, harrykylee said:

Hi Airbagwill,

 

Thanks for your response! 
 

I cant imagine it will be a problem. I have driven the car into thailand to Danok and Hatyai multiple times as is common for alot of folks residing in northern malaysia. I always got permission to remain for 30 days though i return within the same day or the next.

The registration card is also in my possession, which i need to bring along when driving across the border. 

 

With that said, i cant imagine i would face any other obstacles. The bank is interested in getting paid and as long as i keep making the payments dutifully, i think we should be alright

 

Thanks again 

The border with Malaysia is pretty relaxed.... but I would check with the finance company before embarking on any long-term trip.

Certainly Thai vehicles aren't allowed out if under finance without the financiers permission.

 

Thailand is getting very uncooperative with allowing any foreign vehicles in. I had a similar problem in Laos - I wanted to take my Thai car their for an extended [period. Officially it was 6 months, but in reality they would only allow it in fr a month. Furthermore if I hasd overstayed I would have had to r-eimport the vehicle to Thailand.

Thailand now has banned the "import" of ALL secondhand cars, however I'm not sure if this includes temporary imports.

You might be better off selling the car and buying a Thai one.

[harrykylee]

11 hours ago, Srikcir said:

You might check with Thailand customs first.

Effective December 2019 there will be a ban on import of used cars for personal use.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1110797-govt-to-ban-import-of-used-cars-for-personal-use-starting-in-december/

 

Thank you very much for that Srikcir. Much appreciated! Yes i was aware of this change in ruling. 

 

This seems to apply to instances where an "import permit" is required and granted for importation of personal use vehicles. 

 

Driving malaysian, singapore & thai cars around in these nations are covered under a reciprocal agreement which makes it somewhat of a temporary import or transit as such? 

 

It will be interesting though. I will make a trip to Hatyai post December 12 to see if there is any changes when i head in and if there is any difficulty at all at the border.

 

I am happy to write back with my findings! ????

[harrykylee]

4 hours ago, Airbagwill said:

The border with Malaysia is pretty relaxed.... but I would check with the finance company before embarking on any long-term trip.

Certainly Thai vehicles aren't allowed out if under finance without the financiers permission.

 

Thailand is getting very uncooperative with allowing any foreign vehicles in. I had a similar problem in Laos - I wanted to take my Thai car their for an extended [period. Officially it was 6 months, but in reality they would only allow it in fr a month. Furthermore if I hasd overstayed I would have had to r-eimport the vehicle to Thailand.

Thailand now has banned the "import" of ALL secondhand cars, however I'm not sure if this includes temporary imports.

You might be better off selling the car and buying a Thai one.

Yes there seems to be a change in attitude from the thai authorities in wanting to allow foreigners in. Whilst it was initially said that they wanted to deter the chinese from driving in from Chiang Mai, it seems the message may have been lost along the way and the chinese whisper goes on to say that all foreign vehicles shall be victimised and these officers then go on to do that. 

 

My problem is that it is a pretty nice car, one that i definitely cant afford to buy cash in thailand. And i dont think im eligible for finance in thailand, being a contract worker with no guarantees that my contract will be renewed when it ends. 

 

I think what ill do is ill bring it across, and then use it unknowingly. When i encounter a problem, ill apologize, pay a big fine and send it back across the border.

 

I think. For now.. Lets just dwell on that thought without any actions just yet.. Haha

[drbeach]

Just to add to this...Thailand has agreements with Malaysia, Singapore and Laos on the usage of private registered cars. For Singapore and Malaysia, the agreement covers motorcycles too. Vehicles from other countries (except Cambodia and Myanmar for local travel) need to sign up for a tour although in practice some smaller border crossings are still letting them in. This may not be possible for too much longer, because once the new tracking systems they are proposing are in place, it won't be possible anymore. I'm talking about the foreign vehicle entry permit system, which is officially in place, but not universally used yet and the RFID chip system. Neither applies to Malaysian registrations though so you are fine, no matter what happens.

 

I think you will have no problems keeping your car in Thailand most of the time, as long as you don't overstay. Apparently, extensions up to 6 months can be requested at customs but you'll probably need to appear in person with all your documents. However, after a while it might become an issue to keep the car here long-term...unless a 1000km+ journey to Malaysia every few months is OK for you, then you might want to consider eventually selling this car and buying a new one locally.

 

In any case, you'll be one of the very few black number plates driving around Bangkok. I occasionally see the odd one, like every few months or so, but given the distance, few Malaysians drive as far as Bangkok. Those that do drive this far usually continue onto northern Thailand.