Imported used cars will be banned next month, here’s what you need to know

By THE NATION

 

 

Keerati Ratchano, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said this week that his department is now readying measures to comply with the Commerce Ministry’s ban on the import of used cars for personal use.

 

The directive, which was announced in July, comes into effect on December 10 and aims to reduce air pollution and improve safety on the roads.

 

“After December 10, all used vehicles imported for personal use will be confiscated and destroyed immediately,” he said. “There will be no auction of confiscated cars like in the past, and the owners will be fined a sum 5 times the imported value.”

 

Keerati added it is usually takes his department 25 days to approve import applications, so anyone planning to import a used car for personal should scrap the idea as the ban will take effect in 11 days.

 

The import of specialised used vehicles such as tractors, cranes and vehicles donated to government, state enterprises, charity organisations e.g. ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed under Ministry of Commerce’s guidelines, he added.

 

Meanwhile, the import of used vehicles for uses other than personal, such as diplomatic vehicles, prototype vehicles for research and testing,

vehicles to be modified for export, vehicles for museum display, and military vehicles will be under supervision of related agencies and not affected by the ban imposed by the Foreign Trade Department.

 

“However, as with vehicles that are imported to be modified and later exported, entrepreneurs must strictly follow the regulations of the Customs Department and Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand,” Keerati added.

 

Related Story: Govt to ban import of used cars for personal use starting in December

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30378880

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-11-29

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Classic car scene in Thailand has always sucked. Now it's getting a headshot and the economy that goes with it. Idiots.

All those vw bus bars.... 

That's good news, the government can stillhave their posh cars.

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Keerati added it is usually takes his department 25 days to approve import applications, so anyone planning to import a used car for personal should scrap the idea as the ban will take effect in 11 days.

And what will happen to the vehicles that are en route already and began their journey before this ban was announced? Such a piece of legislation should really have had a much more lengthy warning before coming into effect. Don't know what caused it, but as is so often the case, seems to be an ill thought through knee jerk reaction, with protection for the domestic industry probably figuring more highly than emissions..

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

The import of specialised used vehicles such as tractors, cranes and vehicles donated to government, state enterprises, charity organisations e.g. ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed

Who the heck will import a vehicle and then donate it to the government?

The import of specialised used vehicles such as tractors, cranes and vehicles donated to government, state enterprises, charity organisations e.g. ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed under Ministry of Commerce’s guidelines, he added.

 

Tanks war planes armoured cars and subs perfectly acceptable also ????

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

and improve safety on the roads.

So Somchai driving a 10 year old imported Ford is more likely to have an accident than Son of Somchai driving a brand new Beemer?

Ops they'll come to confiscate and destroy my Lotus Elise and Caterham?

Really need to find another less paranoid land, Thailand is exceeding my tolerance limit.

 

Quote

The import of specialised used vehicles such as tractors, cranes and vehicles donated to government, state enterprises, charity organisations e.g. ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed under Ministry of Commerce’s guidelines.

Are they sending a message to Japan and China?

Give us your used public transport!!!

30 minutes ago, webfact said:

aims to reduce air pollution and improve safety on the roads.

????

 

Yeah..... those are the reasons. 

"The directive, which was announced in July, comes into effect on December 10 and aims to reduce air pollution and improve safety on the roads."

 

Road safety and air pollution? Really?

 

Pretty sure anyone going to the trouble of importing cars is bringing in Mercedes and BMW and Porsches that are a few years old...not 1986 Isuzu pickup trucks.

17 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Who the heck will import a vehicle and then donate it to the government?

_{Just about everyone that has imported a vehicle in the past}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No problem for some????

15 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No problem for some????

Can I go for a run around the block?

Sure, you can John, but I can't promise the car will still be here when you get back.

45 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Who the heck will import a vehicle and then donate it to the government?

Looks like everyone now.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The import of specialised used vehicles such as tractors, cranes and vehicles donated to government, state enterprises, charity organisations e.g. ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed under Ministry of Commerce’s guidelines, he added.

and here we can see the potential for brown envelopes.

 

Import your Lambo, list it on documents as a tractor et all, pay import duty for a tractor and you save a fortune. Customs get paid to turn a blind eye and all is good in the world for the hi-so's.

 

It's genius, I tell ya.  It's a pity they don't use these smarts for more productive things that will benefit the country. ????

ANOTHER reason to give Thailand a "Pass - no thank you, I'll try another country."

48 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

So Somchai driving a 10 year old imported Ford is more likely to have an accident than Son of Somchai driving a brand new Beemer?

On the contrary. The Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily) will stay in the garage more than it's driven.  555

4 minutes ago, thequietman said:

and here we can see the potential for brown envelopes.

 

Import your Lambo, list it on documents as a tractor et all, pay import duty for a tractor and you save a fortune. Customs get paid to turn a blind eye and all is good in the world for the hi-so's.

 

It's genius, I tell ya.  It's a pity they don't use these smarts for more productive things that will benefit the country. ????

555 Lamborghini do make tractors so that would work! 

<deleted> is going on in this country are these guys on a bonus for dreaming these things up

35 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

<deleted> is going on in this country are these guys on a bonus for dreaming these things up

Perhaps they're on the mind expanding 'Magic Papers', but the've nothing to expand?

1 hour ago, metempsychotic said:

All those vw bus bars.... 

I think it is not a retroactive measure, so that existing imports are ok..........did I get that right??

Wonder if this applies to race cars ?

Inch by inch, law by law it's continuing to become a closed society.

Im trying to think of words to describe this lot, We are Thais' we do what we want if you dont like it <deleted> off

26 minutes ago, J Town said:

ANOTHER reason to give Thailand a "Pass - no thank you, I'll try another country."

Yes, cause so many of us are importing used cars.

 

 

I can think of a 100 ways to improve the air quality in BKK other than stopping the importation of used cars, but here in this country everything is done backward and with no real knowledge of what they do...

1 hour ago, kelboy said:

That's good news, the government can stillhave their posh cars.

As can anyone else.  There are no special exemptions from the personal use rules for government employees.

MotoGP is going to be pretty dull next year.

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Keerati added it is usually takes his department 25 days to approve import applications, so anyone planning to import a used car for personal should scrap the idea as the ban will take effect in 11 days.

And what will happen to the vehicles that are en route already and began their journey before this ban was announced?

Vehicles in transit to Thailand will have had their import applications approved already; I doubt that anyone is daft enough to ship in a personal car without import approval, that would be asking for trouble.