Bringing New Bike To Thailand

[changnaam]

I am planning on getting a new bike in the UK when I return next month. The choice and price here just don't make it attractive. Does anyone have any experience with bringing a new bike in? Still boxed?

I brought a used bike through the airport in a bike bag a few years ago but not sure if they will try and slap tax on a new looking boxed bike?

Also anyone with experience of buying a bike on Internet and having it shipped? most of the UK retailers advertise shipping to Thailand but then it would be the lottery of customs, and the customer expense!!

If anyone has any thoughts it would be appreciated. Currenty bringing over in the original box is favourite, may just take some packaging and labelling off to make it appear used already.

[moe666]

I think I would at least take it out of the box and partial assemble the thing then repack in box to make it look used. I did a bike trip in England in 1997 walking thru the green line with bicycle on trolley the customs guy ask me why I didn't go thru customs. I explained it was my bicycle for personal use and would be returning home with me in 3 weeks he says ok your good, maybe will work for you.

[Damaz6052]

Put it in a bike bag you're here for a comp. It's worked for friends of mine.

[SomchaiCNX]

Bring it in by yourself, many airlines require a box anyway.

It is safer if you use it before repacking it.

If you bring it in by Fed ex or others be prepared to pay an extra 50 %

legal import;

Cost of the bike

+ cost of the shipping

+ 30 to 35% import duty on top of the combined price

+ 7 VAT on top of that.

[changnaam]

Thanks for the input, I think a few test runs in the UK and back in the box will be the way forward.

Will report back on what happens!!

[ianf]

Thanks for the input, I think a few test runs in the UK and back in the box will be the way forward.

Will report back on what happens!!

I have travelled backwards and forwards from UK many times with a bike in a box. One friend came in with two bikes in two boxes. No hassle. Largely ignored. Currently I am riding in Burma and I travelled there with a biuke not in a box or bag. Success!

[chantorn]

Used bike for personal use should be OK, I think.

[SadieMBeagle]

legal import;

Cost of the bike

+ cost of the shipping

+ 30 to 35% import duty on top of the combined price

+ 7 VAT on top of that.

Does this also apply if I ask my family to ship my bicycle to me from the states? It's definitely used...but it's an indestructible titanium frame so I think it would be worth it to pay the tax... or if it's not a new bike, does that mean I only have to pay VAT? (And how do they determine the value of the bike anyway, when I bought it ten years ago?)

Thanks for your help, sorry for the slight thread hijack

[SomchaiCNX]

legal import;

Cost of the bike

+ cost of the shipping

+ 30 to 35% import duty on top of the combined price

+ 7 VAT on top of that.

Does this also apply if I ask my family to ship my bicycle to me from the states? It's definitely used...but it's an indestructible titanium frame so I think it would be worth it to pay the tax... or if it's not a new bike, does that mean I only have to pay VAT? (And how do they determine the value of the bike anyway, when I bought it ten years ago?)

Thanks for your help, sorry for the slight thread hijack

I got taxed (1.800 baht) on a used bicycle trailer, send by DHL from Europe , that I got for free.

I got recently (June) taxed on a shipment (new stuff) from the States (Fed Ex) the company included an invoice for around 500 $ but I still had to pay 18.600 baht on that shipment because they added the Fed Ex costs ( 600++ $) to calculate the value as well.

A Thai friend had to pay more than 10.000 baht on an old race bike that was send as a gift for his son. (about 8 years ago)

To get around it is safer to send it by Post, USPS, if the package is within the limits, less than 48 " I have been told.

At the post office they add less (10% in my case) or even nothing, I got some stuff through seamail (new) but this service is not available in the US anymore.

[ianf]

legal import;

Cost of the bike

+ cost of the shipping

+ 30 to 35% import duty on top of the combined price

+ 7 VAT on top of that.

Does this also apply if I ask my family to ship my bicycle to me from the states? It's definitely used...but it's an indestructible titanium frame so I think it would be worth it to pay the tax... or if it's not a new bike, does that mean I only have to pay VAT? (And how do they determine the value of the bike anyway, when I bought it ten years ago?)

Thanks for your help, sorry for the slight thread hijack

I got taxed (1.800 baht) on a used bicycle trailer, send by DHL from Europe , that I got for free.

I got recently (June) taxed on a shipment (new stuff) from the States (Fed Ex) the company included an invoice for around 500 $ but I still had to pay 18.600 baht on that shipment because they added the Fed Ex costs ( 600++ $) to calculate the value as well.

A Thai friend had to pay more than 10.000 baht on an old race bike that was send as a gift for his son. (about 8 years ago)

To get around it is safer to send it by Post, USPS, if the package is within the limits, less than 48 " I have been told.

At the post office they add less (10% in my case) or even nothing, I got some stuff through seamail (new) but this service is not available in the US anymore.

I had a new frame sent from the UK. The frame cost me £300. The invoiced value showed 100; the shipping cost £105 and I paid 1,200Baht

You can often get away with this by marking the parts as replacement or repaired. I will shortly be sending a bike to condors for respray and repair and I hope not to have to pay tax on it's return.

[SomchaiCNX]

Ian, who did the shipping?<BR><BR>To them (customs) it makes also a little sense as a frame is light so it can not be expensive <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif"> <BR>Believe it or not for the last shipment the weight was one of the factors to decide to open one of the packages. <BR><BR>This remind me that I once paid 2.500 baht on a new frame (Merida, replacement) under warranty <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif"> for shipment and import.

[ianf]

Ian, who did the shipping?<BR><BR>To them (customs) it makes also a little sense as a frame is light so it can not be expensive <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif"> <BR>Believe it or not for the last shipment the weight was one of the factors to decide to open one of the packages. <BR><BR>This remind me that I once paid 2.500 baht on a new frame (Merida, replacement) under warranty <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif"> for shipment and import.

I cannot remember who did the inward shipping but I have found that shipping OUT of Thailand is cheaper and more efficient with the Thai Postal.

[burgdawg]

...call up the airline you intend to fly with and inquire about THEIR policy.

In USA, flying domestic flights is $100 for boxed bicycle. This rate doubles to $200 USD when you fly international.

You pay the extra baggage fee at check in with credit card. Bicycle in box is NOT to exceed 23 kgs, or 50lbs.

This was United Airlines policy anyway....

I whipped by local bicycle shop and got cardboard box for free. I found some fork spreaders as well.

Get that heavy duty plastic wrap as well. People who wrap up pallets of stuff know what it is....

Remove crank arms with crank removal tool, remove seat, loosen and rotate handlebars 90-degrees.

Pop your wheels off and wrap with plastic. Cut hole where axle protrudes, remove quick releases.

Have a small parts bag.

Remove rear derailleur and tie up outta harm's way with zip tie. Cut wooden dowels to the EXACT size of your

front and rear fork spread. You have to support this opening where your axle goes. Secure in place.

Saran/clear plastic wrap entire bike frame. I really do not care about bike scratches, doesn't bother me. Then I

cut holes in the voids formed by the plastic wrap and stuff in extra water bottles, gloves, jerseys, tools, shoes, etc.

Put bike frame within box and wrapped wheels in midsection. I stuffed my bike box with anything and everything I could!

Write hotel address and your Thai cell number on outside of box with black felt pen.....

Duct tape box closed.

Install a handle at each end of bike box. My bike had a rear rack, so I made sure my strap passed under this rack to help

support. Wrap the entire girth of the box with TWIN straps...the cam-lock buckle type.

My box weighed 37 kgs (80lbs) and United let it slide, whew! No extra weight charges. I really had stuffed all sorts of extras

into that box!

All arrived in tip-top shape, no damage. No VAT tax, no import tax, no nada(nothing).

I assembled bike and rode like a maniac. I brought over an extra set of Continental Sport Contact Slicks...with the 3M reflective bead

in the sidewall. I like bicycle riding at night.....

[pampal]

I would bring the bike with you.

I brought a Banshee Morphine with me and didn't pay a penny, but the Scott that I had shipped cost me 8000 baht in customs duties.

[pete600]

I bought my Bianch c2c of the net from the UK sent by UPS got charged 35'000 customs duties yes thats right 35'000 Baht.

[burgdawg]

pete600...

ouch, that hurts! 35k baht for customs?

That alone is the price of a top of the line NEW bike anywhere in the Kingdom....

yeah, anyone considering bringing a bicycle to Thailand...just box it up (or have bike shop in UK, Europe or USA do it for you).

Save a fortune.....

Be sure to tie a card with your name, address and Thai contact number inside box.....

[OriginalPoster]

pete600...

ouch, that hurts! 35k baht for customs?

That alone is the price of a top of the line NEW bike anywhere in the Kingdom....

yeah, anyone considering bringing a bicycle to Thailand...just box it up (or have bike shop in UK, Europe or USA do it for you).

Save a fortune.....

Be sure to tie a card with your name, address and Thai contact number inside box.....

35K baht sounds extortionate for an import duty but I think that you pricing info on "top of the line" bikes. The Bianchi C2C (the bike that was taxed that 35K) had a list prices between about US$2500 and US$4000 (depending upon which components you select) when it first came out. Many other bikes exist in that price category (and above) as well.

Edited September 18, 2010 by OriginalPoster

[Atmos]

I brought an almost new triathlon bike back with me - had it in storage in NZ - as i was travelling light was able to bring it in as part of my 20kg baggage allowance - was asked if it was new, i said 'no' and waved through. No duty/tax etc.

As for packing - I flew Thai Air they recommended bubble wrap - I removed pedals, turned the bars, one wheel each side of frame and a lot of the big-bubble wrap. It went NZ-Bangkok-Phuket without damage. The man i spoke to at Thai Air said it it was in a box other bags would likely be on top of it, clear-wrapped and obviously fragile it'd be loaded last . . . anyway it worked for me. I've since sent it ahead as I've traveled in Thailand using same wrap method and Thai Post, been lucky so far always arrived on time and undamaged.

[changnaam]

Thanks for the advice but totally changed the plan in the end. Went into Pro Bike in BKK just before I went back just to confirm my thoughts on the prices. I had been looking to get a Trek Fuel EX8 in the UK, around £1,700 for a 2010 model in the sale, but they offered me a 2011 model for a little less than that.

The 2011 in the UK is £2,300 and a nice piece of kit.

They said it was coming out cheaper due to coming from Taiwan rather than the US. Will check the spec but from what I understand about Trek it will be standard worldwide.

Thought in the end I wil get a better service in the future if purchased from them, just very strange as a lot of other bikes which I have seen were much more expensive than the UK. It seems that with the strong Baht they are able to sell at US$ prices.

[stat]

Just checked prices on some stores online in Bkk and prices are higher by a lot than in Germany. Has anyone actually bought a bike in another country and imported it to Thailand? Thinking of buying one in Germany or Taiwan and then importing it VAT free or with Thai VAT into Thailand. Any recomendations on how to do this? First idea buy it Vietnam (example) and drive it over the border and then hop on a bus. If it saves 1000€ I start thinking about it :-)

35% customs as mentioned would make the bike very expensive as it will cost like 2500€. A

Thanks!

[Bluedan]

I say travel with the bike or you will probably get fleeced by customs!

[el jefe]

Just checked prices on some stores online in Bkk and prices are higher by a lot than in Germany. Has anyone actually bought a bike in another country and imported it to Thailand? Thinking of buying one in Germany or Taiwan and then importing it VAT free or with Thai VAT into Thailand. Any recomendations on how to do this? First idea buy it Vietnam (example) and drive it over the border and then hop on a bus. If it saves 1000€ I start thinking about it :-)

35% customs as mentioned would make the bike very expensive as it will cost like 2500€. A

Thanks!

if you read the first 19 posts on this thread you'll see the experiences of 7 or 8 riders who have brought bikes into Thailand. I've wheeled an unboxed, obviously used bike through customs at least 20 times in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai without a problem. I've gone through both airports about a dozen times with a bike in either a cardboard box or a traveling case and have never once been asked to open it, although I have occasionally been asked what's in it, to which I always answer "bicycle".

[coldfusionPaul]

Just checked prices on some stores online in Bkk and prices are higher by a lot than in Germany. Has anyone actually bought a bike in another country and imported it to Thailand? Thinking of buying one in Germany or Taiwan and then importing it VAT free or with Thai VAT into Thailand. Any recomendations on how to do this? First idea buy it Vietnam (example) and drive it over the border and then hop on a bus. If it saves 1000€ I start thinking about it :-)

35% customs as mentioned would make the bike very expensive as it will cost like 2500€. A

Thanks!

the advertised & sticker prices are only guidelines. you should be able to get 10-20% off & even more if you go for last year's or older model.

[stat]

I took my 3 year old MTB with me and had no problem at the airport. Did not have a chance so far to have a look at the bike stores in town...

Thanks for all the good advice!

[LeCharivari]

I can't understand how the tax is applied to bicycles for sale here at all - I want to import a KMX recumbent trike from Malaysia, particularly as they only charge US$100 for shipping to Bangkok, but as far as I can see I'll be liable for either 40% bicycle tax + 7% VAT or a whopping 80% tricycle tax + VAT!

At the same time I can't believe that many bike shops pay 40% bicycle tax - Schwinn, for example, are way cheaper here (in Rayong) than the normal price in the States even though they're only imported in very limited numbers so I would have expected them to be more expensive.

I think I'll have to ask my local friendly bike dealer if he can help, but does anyone have any experience about this?

[yotspeed]

I can't understand how the tax is applied to bicycles for sale here at all - I want to import a KMX recumbent trike from Malaysia, particularly as they only charge US$100 for shipping to Bangkok, but as far as I can see I'll be liable for either 40% bicycle tax + 7% VAT or a whopping 80% tricycle tax + VAT!

At the same time I can't believe that many bike shops pay 40% bicycle tax - Schwinn, for example, are way cheaper here (in Rayong) than the normal price in the States even though they're only imported in very limited numbers so I would have expected them to be more expensive.

I think I'll have to ask my local friendly bike dealer if he can help, but does anyone have any experience about this?

Under Thai Customs HCC Codes bicycles made in other ASEAN countries (such as Malaysia) are supposed to be import duty exempt. There are also a good many other FTA exempted agreements for places such as Australia and NZ. Check out the Thai Customs codes on their web site and bikes come under 8712 heading Duty rates can be found at Tarif and then type 8712 into tarif box and click 'search'.

However if a bike is made in the US or Europe standard import duty is 30%. So if you are planning to bring in a bike from Malaysia it should be import duty free and only 7% VAT applicable. I think a lot of the 'US' bikes are actually made in Taiwan or now more so China. So if the bikes are shipped direct to Thailand from the manufacturer in Asia then duty would normally be zero. I think (but stand to be corrected) that the Schwinn Bikes (despite being a US brand) are manufactured in Asia. Tends to be the hand made bikes such as Ellsworth, Turner, Intense etc. that are still made in US.

[LeCharivari]

Thanks for that, YS, that makes a lot of sense and explains why some are, comparatively, so much cheaper then the UK and some so much more expensive.

[jonosg]

Thanks for the useful posts guys - much better than official or rip off freight forward sites.I was wondering on the best way of getting my 7K highly modded specialized epic expert up to thailand from singapore without getting fleeced by customs. Accompanied baggage in a proper bike carrying case has always worked for me in the past, glad to read it's the same in Thailand in your experience. Only place I have ever had a problem was taking a MTB Sulawesi Indonesia where we all had to pay US$100 per bike customs clearance - not sure how official that was not one of us got a receipt.