What are the rules of driving a car into Thailand and how long can we keep the car?

[Thaidude]

Is it possible to drive to Thailand and keep the car inside Thailand parked in my Condo for 2 months? If anyone has done it before, kindly mention what are the legal steps needed

 

PS: I am married to a Thai girl and i have the O Visa

 

 

[Langsuan Man]

Cover it and who is going to know !

[zzzzz]

30 days allowed on entry but can be extended at the customs office

DONT take the above advice, cause you will, at best be fined, at worst, lose your car when you depart thailand

[dddave]

First of all, you will need a "Carnet" which is sort of a passport for a vehicle. 

[Puccini]

Unless things have changed since 2016, Thailand apparently does not require the Carnet de Passage (CDP) but a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).

 

Source: http://wikioverland.org/Thailand

[A1Str8]

There are no rules in Thailand country, when it comes to driving. 

 

[Don Mega]

On 6/26/2020 at 8:53 AM, zzzzz said:

30 days allowed on entry but can be extended at the customs office

 

Up to a maximum of 60 days per year too isn't it ?

[sammieuk1]

Whatever the current rules are its bound to be expensive and near impossible but just guessing ????

[Don Mega]

Currently you cannot drive a vehicle into Thailand how ever to bring it in by sea here's what the customs website says.

Once the borders re-open I'd expect driving in to be a similar process.

 

Temporary Importation of Personal Vehicles by Sea

Motor cars, motorcycles, yachts or fishing vessels/boats, which are temporarily imported with passengers and will be re-exported out of Thailand within 1-2 months, but not exceeding six months (for the purpose of traveling) will be exempted from duty, provided that the importer complies with Customs rules and regulations

 

1. Documents required:
   1. Application for performing Customs formalities for temporary importation of personal vehicles
   2. Registration Certificate of the vehicle
   3. National Identification Card or Passport of the person who controls the vehicle with Tourist Visa (TR) and International driving license
   4. Authorization Letter (if applicable)
   5. Air Waybill
   6. Evidence of purchase such as Proforma Invoice and Invoice
   7. Copy of Juristic Person Certificate
   8. Guarantee contract for re-export 
   9. Other documents (if any)
      
       
2. Customs Procedure for Temporary Importation of Personal Vehicles by Sea
   1. The importer submits the documents above, including the completed Application for performing Customs formalities for temporary importation of motor vehicles and motorcycles to a Custom House/Office at the port of entry. In case where there are other things or passengers and accompanying luggage with the vehicles, the importer must notify the Customs officer.
   2. The Customs officer checks the eligibility of the importer's temporary import based on the Customs Tariff Decree B.E. 2530 and check the period of stay allowed by the immigration office and whether or not he or she has received Tourist Visa. Once the examination is completed, the Customs officer will prepare a Special Declaration Form for the imported vehicle and determine the amount of guarantee deposit for the shipment.
   3. The importer makes payment (by cash or bank guarantee), if any.
      
       
3. Guarantee and Bank Guarantee
   1. The importer may opt for cash guarantee, bank guarantee or personal guarantee. In case where such guarantee options are not available for the importer, he or she may opt for self-guarantee.
   2. The importer may request the Embassy to issue a verification for Customs to consider approving the importer's self-verification
   3. The amount of guarantee will be determined by value plus all duty and taxes of the vehicle
   4. The importer presents the evidence of the guarantee to Customs officers. They will then inspect the vehicle and the passengers' accompanied baggage. When finished, The Customs officer will provide the importer with a copy of the Special Declaration Form to keep with the vehicle and present to Customs officers when re-exporting the vehicle.
      
       
4. Customs Procedure for Re-exporting Personal Vehicles
   1. The exporter presents the Special Declaration Form issued upon importation of the vehicle to Customs officers at the port of exit
   2. The Custom officer checks the vehicle and the passengers' accompanied baggage. When completed, the officer will record the re-export of such vehicle in the computer system and withdraw guarantee/bond (for cash or bank guarantees) deposited with Customs at the time of importing such vehicle
      
       
5. Failure to Re-Export the Vehicle within the Time-Limit
   1. In case where the importer fails to re-export the vehicle within the time-limit as set out in the bond and security paper, Customs will impose the full amount of a cash deposit or bank guarantee posted at the time of importation without any reduction.
   2. Imposition of Guarantee:
      1. When the temporary time-limit set in the bond and security paper is due, or an importer provides a written notice to Customs that he does not wish to re-export the vehicles temporarily imported, Customs will impose the full amount of liable taxes and duties as indicated without any reduction.
      2. In case where motor cars or motorcycles are temporarily imported into Thailand for a short visit via the border points and to be re-exported at the conclusion of the visit, but the importer fails to do so within the time-limit as indicated in the bond and security paper, provided he/she does not intend to violate the regulations, a 1000 Baht fine per day, but not exceeding 10,000 Baht in total, shall be charged from the due date of the Contract.
   3. In case where an importer wishes to extend the temporary allowance as set out in the bond and security paper, Customs may extend the time-limit to allow the vehicle to remain in Thailand for up to six months. In exceptional circumstances e.g. a broken engine, car accident, etc., the time-limit may be extended to more than six months but not exceeding eight months from the date of importation.  The extension of the temporary allowance can be applied at a Customs House.
      1. 
         
          
   4. The term “yacht/ sports boat” means any boat used solely for pleasure or sports, but excluding those imported for commercial, military, and scientific research purposes. A master of a yacht/sports boat or fishing vessel from abroad is required to make an arrival and departure reports of such boat or vessel to Customs upon the arrival or departure and to  request from Customs a vessel release document for export.
6. For more information, please contact:
7. Duty Exemption and Investment Promotion Sub-Division, Central Service Division of Bangkok Port Customs Office
   Tel. on 02-667-7000 ext. 20-5523, 20-7638 or 20-5539

http://www.customs.go.th/content_with_menu1.php?ini_menu=menu_individual_submenu_02&ini_content=individual_F01_160909_01_01&lang=en&root_left_menu=menu_individual_submenu_02_160421_03&left_menu=menu_individual_submenu_02_160421_03_160922_02

Edited June 29, 2020 by Don Mega

[metisdead]

Moving to the Motoring forum. 

[zzzzz]

4 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Up to a maximum of 60 days per year too isn't it ?

last time i knew someone that extended it was a max 6months

[Bob A Kneale]

14 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Currently you cannot drive a vehicle into Thailand how ever to bring it in by sea...

Those regulations are not just for cars being shipped in.

[Don Mega]

2 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Those regulations are not just for cars being shipped in.

Yeah heard a rumour a similar policy is in place for humans too.