I'm planning to spend around 4 to 6 months in Thailand every year. I'll  need a car to get around. Should I buy new or used, bearing in I'll only be using it the car for less than 6 months a year.  I'm looking at several options:

1, buying new 

2, buying used 

3, long term rental

 

Anyone here in a similar situation?  Any tips or advice are much appreciated.

 

 

You'll only be using it for 6 months, and is that straight months, or a few 2 or 3 months at a time?   Will others have access to it, and where will it sit, when you are not here?

 

How's your budget and how long do you plan on being a part time visitor?   2nd hand probably the best option, for value.   Will you have access to 'residence' charging ?  

 

Is it for knocking around town, or longer road trips  ?

 

 

it would all depend on where you can lay the car up when outside Thailand

as above Is it for knocking around town, or longer road trips, what are your long term plans

I would just rent with a company like easy car. 15k a month 1st class insurance and all repairs, swaps and maintenance included. 

 

Best part no need to worry about it while you're gone.

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I would just rent with a company like easy car. 15k a month 1st class insurance and all repairs, swaps and maintenance included. 

 

Best part no need to worry about it while you're gone.

Bit more than that these days. Toyota Altis an eco car rents for this.

Rent defo.

 

Buy?.....Insurance, tax, storage, maintenance, breakdown cover.....no thank you.

Buy used for 300k-500k. 

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Rent defo.

 

8 minutes ago, marin said:

Bit more than that these days. Toyota Altis an eco car rents for this.

138000฿ for each six month visit. May as well buy a new car.

Just now, novacova said:

 

138000฿ for six months. May as well buy a new car.

 

Buy?.....Insurance, tax, storage, maintenance, breakdown cover.....no thank you.

If it's a straight six months, then long-term rental is best. I did that between buying new cars once. Avis - a Honda City (very big trunk/boot). I think it was 12-14,000 THB per month including insurance. But that was 10 years ago - probably more now.

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Buy?.....Insurance, tax, storage, maintenance, breakdown cover.....no thank you.

Yes, a lot of people buy cars. Personally own four, two here, one of which is being sold and two in the US. Luckily in the US the vehicles insurance is suspended for about ten or eleven months out of the year, can’t do that here but the insurance here is cheap anyway.

The OP can buy a reliable secondhand car for 200K to 300K baht. ToyotaSure is the best bet, a Vios or Corolla has a well-earned reputation for no-fuss durability.

 

If he is leaving the car for 6 months, pump the tyres up to 50 psi, and take out the battery. Buy a can of ether spray to put down the air intake when starting up.

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

Yes, a lot of people buy cars. Personally own four, two here, one of which is being sold and two in the US. Luckily in the US the vehicles insurance is suspended for about ten or eleven months out of the year, can’t do that here but the insurance here is cheap anyway.

 

I'm paying 14k first class....never really shopped around.....does that sound about right?

 

New CX5 2.2 Diesel 

9 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Buy?.....Insurance, tax, storage, maintenance, breakdown cover.....no thank you.

Those items cost much less than in Western countries.

 

Why would he need breakdown cover? Grab a lift to the nearest service shop, they will send out a mechanic and/or a tow truck.

 

Anyone would think the OP was in the Sahara.

16 minutes ago, novacova said:

 

138000฿ for each six month visit. May as well buy a new car.

 

He can rent 10 years before he has paid the price of a new Altis + maintenance + insurance + tax and all other expenses

Just now, CallumWK said:

 

He can rent 10 years before he has paid the price of a new Altis + maintenance + insurance + tax and all other expenses

It really comes down to how many kilometres the OP thinks he will do when he is here.

 

Buying a new car IMO is only justifiable if he is going to do lots of them.

39 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

I'm paying 14k first class....never really shopped around.....does that sound about right?

 

New CX5 2.2 Diesel 

Sounds about right.
Why did you decide to get the 2.2? It’s notorious for engine failure, right at about 100,000km, plus the cost of maintenance of the dpf, you’ll need to change the radiator cooling fan at about 70,000km. The cooling system on those engines can’t handle the pressure and they all eventually fail blowing the head gasket and subsequently the engine. In any case be sure to have that vehicle fully serviced on time even after warranty or they won’t put a new engine in at their cost.

16 hours ago, novacova said:

Sounds about right.
Why did you decide to get the 2.2? It’s notorious for engine failure, right at about 100,000km, plus the cost of maintenance of the dpf, you’ll need to change the radiator cooling fan at about 70,000km. The cooling system on those engines can’t handle the pressure and they all eventually fail blowing the head gasket and subsequently the engine. In any case be sure to have that vehicle fully serviced on time even after warranty or they won’t put a new engine in at their cost.

 

Well that has cheered me up no end.

On 8/13/2025 at 9:15 AM, KhunLA said:

You'll only be using it for 6 months, and is that straight months, or a few 2 or 3 months at a time?   Will others have access to it, and where will it sit, when you are not here?

 

How's your budget and how long do you plan on being a part time visitor?   2nd hand probably the best option, for value.   Will you have access to 'residence' charging ?  

 

Is it for knocking around town, or longer road trips  ?

 

 

Good questions. For the next 2 years my visits to Thailand  will be between Oct to March with maybe a short break back to the UK. My long term plan is to fully relocate to Thailand.

I will have a place to park the car but leaving the car unused for six months is a concern - although can get a good friend of ours to keep an eye and take it for a spin from time to time.

The car will only be used for convenience to get around probably used daily for short distances. 

I am looking for a small-ish run around new approx 1 mil TB. Few people I know have advised me to steer clear of buying  second hand cars in Thailand. I would be interested in people's opinion on here. 

 

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The OP can buy a reliable secondhand car for 200K to 300K baht. ToyotaSure is the best bet, a Vios or Corolla has a well-earned reputation for no-fuss durability.

 

If he is leaving the car for 6 months, pump the tyres up to 50 psi, and take out the battery. Buy a can of ether spray to put down the air intake when starting up.

Interesting - thanks for the advice

22 hours ago, Lacessit said:

If he is leaving the car for 6 months, pump the tyres up to 50 psi, and take out the battery. Buy a can of ether spray to put down the air intake when starting up.

Good advice,

But how do I take the battery out of my EV?

23 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Rent defo.

 

Buy?.....Insurance, tax, storage, maintenance, breakdown cover.....no thank you.

Yep. I'm leaning towards the rental option - it seems safer and less hassle

Just now, Maypole31 said:

Yep. I'm leaning towards the rental option - it seems safer and less hassle

 

For sure....assuming the financials are too adrift......and if you have an accident.....lot of hassle when you own the car.

23 hours ago, Lacessit said:

If he is leaving the car for 6 months, pump the tyres up to 50 psi, and take out the battery.

That's good advice. If I go away from even just a few weeks, my Mazda starts okay (good battery) but the dash always lights up like a Xmas tree (for no reason). Tires are usually just a little soft - but 6 months would be a real challenge.

 

While I have the floor briefly - anyone know of a local Bangkok repair shop that specializes in Mazdas (aside from the rip-off dealers of course)?

I bought a car for 600k Baht about 12 years ago, still going strong. I don't drive it that much and sometimes leave it sitting for months while I'm out of the country.

Insurance is cheap, I have an insurance agent handle all of that and they even collect the tax disks for me.

I have no reason to replace it as it just works but one day when it stops working I'll pop along to Toyota and just buy a new one - whatever they've got in stock at the time will do. It will cost 500 to 700k most likely.

I will miss the VIOS though, I quite like them for short journeys around town - not so comfortable for multi hour journeys though.

I know others who have cars years older than mine - occasional use only - no problems. It's all about the mileage really, plus occasional tyre and battery changes due to heat.

I didn't bother with the 10k KM service because it took me like 6 years to reach 10,000 KM. lol

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Good advice,

But how do I take the battery out of my EV?

With a crane.

 

Seriously, it does not matter with EV's, because one has at least 20 kWhr. Unless it was left damn near flat, plenty of juice after 6 months.

Buy a 1 yr old car from Toyota Sure. 

 

Rent it out for the 6 months you're away.

2 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I know others who have cars years older than mine - occasional use only - no problems. It's all about the mileage really, plus occasional tyre and battery changes due to heat.

I have a similar case. Around 11 years old and only 53,000 km (30k miles). Battery and tyres and the odd electrical needs fixing. Agree about the mileage. If you look at the popular used car Website in Thailand (4-cars something), a similar make/model/year of mine will have 200,000 Km. Anything under 120,000 is rare. I guess the Thais drive the crap out of them, then sell them to the used car dealers. I'd never buy one of them.

8 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

That's good advice. If I go away from even just a few weeks, my Mazda starts okay (good battery) but the dash always lights up like a Xmas tree (for no reason). Tires are usually just a little soft - but 6 months would be a real challenge.

 

While I have the floor briefly - anyone know of a local Bangkok repair shop that specializes in Mazdas (aside from the rip-off dealers of course)?

IIRC the dash lights up like a Christmas tree because the ECU is resetting itself.

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

IIRC the dash lights up like a Christmas tree because the ECU is resetting itself.

I figured that too, but the lights always stay on - usually the anti-skid and one other - they stay lit until the next time I'm at the dealer for something. There's no fault, and they reset for free, in addition to whatever else they're socking me with of course.