someone please tell me, what is it, can a foreigner borrow for a car or not?

if so, must it be a new car?

what are the prevailing terms and rates?

thanks.

Got a licence? Get a car! Either an international license, or a thai license... There are many expat car rental places - Q cars were good to me if you are around pattaya...

Rates from around 14000 p/m for long hire

dr kc, you are the source of my confusion. in another thread, you said :

"Car around 15k - either renting at around 15k or buying a new one on finance (can't risk a 2nd hand one, and can't afford to buy out)."

so, if you are a foreigner, and can buy a new one on finance, please let me know how.

thanks.

You can't, unless you can come up with a deposit, and deposits usually come in the form of land, and you most likely don't own any in your name. So this effectively means 'no'. (unless you have a registered company, etc, etc. )

Of course you can put the loan in your girlfriend's grandmothers name. Worked for me. She just has to trust you that you pay back the loan.

Cheers,

Chanchao

Dude:

If you are here on a WP, with a reputable company, who are willing to give a letter of guarantee, then you may well be able to get financing.

The question always centres on the period of the loan. Strictly speaking, a loan to an Expat should not be for more than the outstanding term on the WP. However, if you have worked here for a number of years, say more than 3, then in all likelihood the loan company (with the letter of guarantee) will take a chance.

Essential is the letter of guarantee, without that you're paying cash on the nose!

SM

thanks for the straight up answers chanchao and sumitr man, much clearer now.

There's a bloke on Second Road in front of the Welcome Plaza (just before that new row of shops) that'll rent u acr without seeing your license. He just wants to hold your passport and will charge you 1300 baht per day.

thanks DJ Pat, but i'm kind of on a longer term stay here, so i'm looking to own a vehicle. if i'm gonna be paying so much for a car, i'll want to own it as an asset at the end of the day instead of paying rent which gives no returns. i'm too skint to pay 100% cash so i'm looking to see if there are any companies that will provide finance. even though i am on a WP, i am loath to invoke a company-backed letter of guarantee for various reasons.

Sorry 'theDude' for the confusion...

I started off by hiring a car at 14,000 per month. I realised this was costing me quite a lot, so I decided to buy a car instead.

It is possible for farang's to buy cars on finance, but it isn't straight forward (you need a Thai or Thai company to gaurantee for you) - I have my girlfriend for that. My car repayments similar to my rental was, but at least I will get some of it back when I sell.

Once again, sorry for the confusion - I read your question as

'can a foreigner borrow a car or not?'

Dude:

Although a more expensive method of financing, have you considered going to a tent and asking the owner if you can put a cash deposit down plus monthly instalment payments. Try and explain to him that this way the car is not a liability for him? Of course, you'll need to arrange things like a loan agreement and how to transfer the ownership. But I understand it is not unheard of, so someone (most likely a Thai) may be able to explain to you how this is done. The only downside with this is that it would be a second-hand car rather than a new one.

SM

thanks for the straight up answers chanchao and sumitr man, much clearer now.

With any Non-Immigrant visa you can get a Thai drivers license which should be a must for most insurance purposes.

thanks for the straight up answers chanchao and sumitr man, much clearer now.

With any Non-Immigrant visa you can get a Thai drivers license which should be a must for most insurance purposes.

...you don't even need to do the test....

Sorry Dr P, couldn't resist it

thanks for the straight up answers chanchao and sumitr man, much clearer now.

With any Non-Immigrant visa you can get a Thai drivers license which should be a must for most insurance purposes.

...you don't even need to do the test....

Sorry Dr P, couldn't resist it

My pleasure Mr Man