Importing Own Car From Uk

[getithere328]

I have been told that you can import a car from the UK with out to many problems provided you can prove that you have owned the car for a certain amount of time (how long I dont know) and you intend to use it, not sell it, in LOS.

The car is my wife's, who is Thai and we are moving to LOS some time next year. I understand you can import your personal belongings and wonder if this includes cars?

The car is a BMW if that makes any difference?

Thanks in advance.

[Jaydillon]

Yes you can I think the car needs to be in your Thai partners name for 15 months .You can go to Thai customs web site and have a look.She might also be entitled to duty- free import,She will also have to apply for a import permit,if this is the case it might well be worth taking the care to LOS specially a Bmer.

I know a very good import agent in Thailand that I have used if you are interested PM I will forward you his details.

Good luck

[Petesear]

Things may have changed but it used to be the case that if the vehicle was older than 10 years it was duty free.

And the vehicle did need to be in a Thai nationals name for a certain period of time too, but I thought it was 24 months.

It will be interesting to see how you get on because I've got a car I'd like to bring over...... Good luck

[Jaydillon]

I had a look at the customs web site OWNERSHIP is 15 months Have a look at this:-

New vehicles of all types not yet registered abroad are allowed to be imported without applying for an import permit from the Ministry of Commerce. However, for the vehicles with the weight less than 3500 Kgs., an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute, telephone number 02-2023331.

Used/secondhand vehicles need to obtain an import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce, telephone 02-5474804. For the vehicles with the weight less than 3500 Kgs., an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute as well.

Warning...

For the importation of used/secondhand vehicles, an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce before the arrival of the vehicles; otherwise he/she shall be liable to a fine equal to 10 percent of the price of vehicle but not less than 1,000 Thai Baht, or exceeding 20,000 Thai Baht.

Criteria for a Permanent Import of Used/Secondhand Vehicles

[1]

An importer is eligible to import only ONE used/ secondhand vehicles for personal use.

[2]

In case where the importer is a nonresident, he/she is required to stay in Thailand for at least ONE year and present a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Bureau, the National Police Office together with a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare at the time of importation.

[3]

In case where an importer is a Thai resident marrying a foreigner, he/she is required to present documentary evidence of marriage and proof of changing residence to Thailand. Also the importer has to own and possess the imported vehicle for at least one and a half year while staying abroad, from the date of transferring the ownership to the date of arrival into Thailand.

[4]

In case where an importer is a Thai resident, he/she is allowed to import a vehicle only when such vehicle is accompanied the owner on the change of residence and he/she has owned and possessed the imported vehicle together with the valid driving license for at least one and a half year while staying abroad.

Documentation

[1]

General Documentation:

•

An Import Goods Declaration and 3 duplicates;

•

A Bill of Lading or Air Waybill;

•

Proof of vehicle purchase (if any);

•

A Release Order (Kor Sor Kor 100/1);

•

An insurance premium invoice; and

•

Other relevant documents (if any) e.g. a power of attorney.

[2]

Additional Documentation for the used/secondhand personal vehicles:

•

A House Certificate and an Identification Card;

•

A passport in case of changing residence;

•

A Vehicle Registration Certificate indicating that the imported vehicle was used abroad;

•

An import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce

Import Clearance Procedures

[1]

An importer/agent submits an Import Goods Declaration together with all supporting documents to the Customs office/house at the port of entry;

[2]

Customs verifies the documents, allocates a Goods Declaration number and calculates liable taxes and duties;

[3]

The importer/agent pays liable taxes and duties at a Cashier Office; and

[4]

The importer/agent presents the receipt issued by the Cashier Office to a Customs Inspection Office to bring the imported vehicles from Customs custody.

Tax and Duty Assessment:

The Customs value of the imported vehicles is determined on the basis of the CIF value (Cost & Insurance & Freight).

[1]

Customs Value

•

Purchase prices of new vehicles imported or exported by an authorized dealer.

•

If the purchase price in 4.1.1 is not available, the price listed in the Parkers Car Price Guide, Japanese Car and What Car ?

•

Costs of any modification or improvement of parts or accessories done on the vehicle are also taken into account.

•

In case where the vehicle is damaged by any incidents other than normal use e.g car accidents, fire, etc. the price of the vehicle is discounted as appropriate.

•

The Customs value for used/secondhand vehicles is discounted according to the registration period as shown in the given table below:

[Crossy]

I'll move this to the Motoring forum.

There are a number of threads regarding vehicle import, the standard answer being "don't".

If you do have a go, make sure you have everything in place BEFORE shipping, even then the amount of duty seems to be arbitrary. Not seen anyone actually succeed using the "returning Thai" route.

[jayjayjayjay]

I seriously don't know of anyone who has done this successful and painlessly (with the exception of a Thai who worked in the foreign service for 20 years)

Stop while your ahead, now!

[johnh101]

And regardless of what the rules say they would still demand "Tea Money" before they released it to you.

[raro]

I have to revise my previous stance from "absolutely impossible" to "more or less impossible and ahelluva expensive".

Yes, a major stack of paperwork has to be completed BEFORE shipping and you have to pay duties, even if you were the previous owner of the car. More strings attached but hope the above scared you enough already.

[getithere328]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I like the idea of bringing the car over, however, it appears that the goal post's are likely to be moved by the time it gets to LOS followed by costing an arm & leg.

Think I might give it a miss!

[jayjayjayjay]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I like the idea of bringing the car over, however, it appears that the goal post's are likely to be moved by the time it gets to LOS followed by costing an arm & leg.

Think I might give it a miss!

I think a wise move. The goal posts move so often they eventually disappear, leaving your car to be moved around by Customs, eventually to be seized. The ensuing auction to sell is all done in-house, no matter how much you try you wont be in the right place at the right time to bid. Someone in the loop gets the car, it gets registered legally after this auction and one of the customs personel or a family member will enjoy your ride for years to come..................

I know of someone who lives near a border crossing in Issan. He has a Range Rover still carrying UK plates. But don't get excited. He shipped it to Singapore, but the Thai customs guys were screwing him over so bad once they new the vehicle was in transport he decided to drive it to Thailand as a tourist vehicle having quit all the import process. In the end, Singapore/Malaysia to Thailand. Now, inside of a 30 day window, drives to Cambodia once a month. I don't know how he manages insurance, i guess it is UK insured too. This car can never be sold in Thailand. The owner enjoys his ride, but it's like having to do a visa run for the car on top of personal visa stuff too.

[regedit]

Importing a car from UK to Thailand would be a great topic for a documentary - hidden camera on car, tracker, visits to customs, etc. Given enough (bad) publicity things might start to improve (something about jet-ski's comes to mind).

[getithere328]

Importing a car from UK to Thailand would be a great topic for a documentary - hidden camera on car, tracker, visits to customs, etc. Given enough (bad) publicity things might start to improve (something about jet-ski's comes to mind).

Thats a great idea....anyone from the BBC please pm me