Importing LHD cars from Europe to Thailand

[Graeme612]

Recently moved to Thailand (Isaan Province) a few months back and thinking of buying/importing a secondhand car (Left Hand Drive) from EU, what challenges/obstacles am I to expect? In terms of Taxes etc

[Just Weird]

All the taxes are laid out, in English, on the Customs Dept website.

[emptypockets]

And the import of used vehicles was banned in 2016 or so along with spare parts if memory serves me correctly.

The only way around it is your Thai wife has personally owned the vehicle for 12 or 18 months ( cant remember which..think 12 months) and can show the proof of purchase AND holds a license to drive that vehicle in the country it is imported from. In other words a thai person who actually owns and drives the vehicle can import it. Been there done that with my old Harley. Its a no go generally speaking. The Thai wife can ride the bike no problem but no hope of getting an ozzie license. Passed the learners test after a couple of goes  Failed the car practical license even though she is a good driver 555

Edited March 18, 2020 by emptypockets

[liddelljohn]

Dont bother ,, its cheaper to buy a car thats already here and much less hassle 

 

I used to import motorcycles into Thailand for 7 years before it was made illegal and it was a big hassle ...It was very very bureaucratic  ,,time consuming and  even then  not always successful .

[emptypockets]

5 minutes ago, liddelljohn said:

Dont bother ,, its cheaper to buy a car thats already here and much less hassle 

 

I used to import motorcycles into Thailand for 7 years before it was made illegal and it was a big hassle ...It was very very bureaucratic  ,,time consuming and  even then  not always successful .

What pings me off though is my bike is 47 years old with a lot of my sweat and tears and years having gone into it. There isn't another one like it in Thailand.....well there is one I've seen but without a green book. My bike is nothing special apart from being MY bike. I'd dearly love to import it and ride it but it is a no go. Sob sob cry...

[transam]

You do know LOS is RHD.....?   ????

[liddelljohn]

16 hours ago, emptypockets said:

What pings me off though is my bike is 47 years old with a lot of my sweat and tears and years having gone into it. There isn't another one like it in Thailand.....well there is one I've seen but without a green book. My bike is nothing special apart from being MY bike. I'd dearly love to import it and ride it but it is a no go. Sob sob cry...

I agree I have 2 old Ducatis that cost me peanuts in UK ,, and are my favourite bikes I have owned them 20 years plus and would dearly like to bring one of them to Thailand  ,, but its not worth it ,, the customs cost would be enourmous ,, more than buying a good second hand one here ,, pluse it might get ripped off by them,, Happened to me before when I was doing it as a business .