Importing Car Into Bkk

[nakhonfalung]

hello everyone,does anyone know how much it will cost my wife to import her car into bkk from the uk?she has owned the car for over to years,we are thinking of doing this because mini's are quite expensive in thailand and it seems such a shame to leave the car behind,but is it worth shipping?pls advise.cheers rick.

[Gippy]

This thread asked the same question a few days ago. Bottom line is no, don't do it.

[LivinLOS]

300% of whatever the maximum price you would bear is..

Seriously dont be tempted read the many many other threads and learn from people who lost cars and money.

[corkman]

I believe that the import tax is basically 400% of the estimated value.......

I recently moved to Bkk and asked the same questions you are asking and basically it is not worth bringing with you......

We have a Subaru Imprezza and a toyota...... believe it or not the imprezza is nearly the same price out here....... but we sold them back home for silly money, because silly money is better than no money

In my opinion (as someone thatl ikes cars), the price of cars in Thailand is one of the major draw backs of living here...... unless you want a toyota pick-up truck...... but what you will pay for say a 3 series BMW or a C class merc you could buy a 5 series or E-class back home........ and what further exasperates the problem is that "normal" cars out here such as toyotas and hondas come with a pretty crappy spec as far as safet equipment goes, and there is no option to add them...... the only exception being the range topping honda accord...... but even a camry for example only comes with front and passenger air bags......

All round, options for car out here are a big disappointment unless you have a lot of disposable income and nothing better to do with it.

[Spoonman]

If she is Thai and repatriating herself isnt there some kind of import concession available seeing as though she has beeen out of the country for a few years and has also owned the vehicle for this period ??

[nakhonfalung]

thanks everyone and i would like to thank spoonman for giving my exact next question

[LivinLOS]

Forget what the 'rules' are.. You will lose the car to customs..

We applied ALL the rules for a returning resident to have tax free importation of personal effects.. Once they got my stuff they just ransomed it back, when I started to print out the 'rules' they just said maybe they would need to crack open my 7500 usd marble speakers to 'check inside' !!

[pattayabuggy]

I am sure this can be done, if the car has been registered in her name for two years. The price of imported cars is nuts here, it really is worth checking this out.

I don't know how to do it, and as with most things here there will be enough paperwork involved to decimate a medium sized forest.

 

[Spoonman]

Forget what the 'rules' are.. You will lose the car to customs..

We applied ALL the rules for a returning resident to have tax free importation of personal effects.. Once they got my stuff they just ransomed it back, when I started to print out the 'rules' they just said maybe they would need to crack open my 7500 usd marble speakers to 'check inside' !!

So you are a Thai national and you tried to import a car you have owned OS ??

[LivinLOS]

Forget what the 'rules' are.. You will lose the car to customs..

We applied ALL the rules for a returning resident to have tax free importation of personal effects.. Once they got my stuff they just ransomed it back, when I started to print out the 'rules' they just said maybe they would need to crack open my 7500 usd marble speakers to 'check inside' !!

So you are a Thai national and you tried to import a car you have owned OS ??

My Thai wife.. Who had been out of Thailand >5 years... importing personal effects.. As per the post.

Rules say its tax free.. customs make the rules when they have your stuff..

Read the thread with the guy who was sure he had it all agreed to import his supra.. Customs got his car and just kept raising the price until he walked away.. it doesnt matter what the rules say, they make the rules, and you cant get a fixed price quote (that means anything) until they have the car and you cant re-export the car until the tax is paid once its here... EG the second they have your car your in a impossible position, of having to pay any number they dream up. Hence bye bye car time.

If your a generals son, or a senior cops son.. I am sure this loophole may exist.. If your some mia farang, returning from a stint overseas, forget it.

[pattayabuggy]

Forget what the 'rules' are.. You will lose the car to customs..

We applied ALL the rules for a returning resident to have tax free importation of personal effects.. Once they got my stuff they just ransomed it back, when I started to print out the 'rules' they just said maybe they would need to crack open my 7500 usd marble speakers to 'check inside' !!

So you are a Thai national and you tried to import a car you have owned OS ??

My Thai wife.. Who had been out of Thailand >5 years... importing personal effects.. As per the post.

Rules say its tax free.. customs make the rules when they have your stuff..

Read the thread with the guy who was sure he had it all agreed to import his supra.. Customs got his car and just kept raising the price until he walked away.. it doesnt matter what the rules say, they make the rules, and you cant get a fixed price quote (that means anything) until they have the car and you cant re-export the car until the tax is paid once its here... EG the second they have your car your in a impossible position, of having to pay any number they dream up. Hence bye bye car time.

If your a generals son, or a senior cops son.. I am sure this loophole may exist.. If your some mia farang, returning from a stint overseas, forget it.

Sadly the truth. I know on paper it can be done, I have met big shot Chinese who have imported personal Ferraris. But for mia ferang, it's not the same. I do know that even they have to own the car in their name, I believe minimum two years.

[Sophon]

If she is Thai and repatriating herself isnt there some kind of import concession available seeing as though she has beeen out of the country for a few years and has also owned the vehicle for this period ??

No.

From the Customs Deparments own home page:

Importing Used/Secondhand Household Effects

Returning Thai residents who have been abroad for one year or longer, for the purposes other than touring are eligible to bring in household effects acquired abroad free of taxes and duties. In addition, nonresidents changing their residence to Thailand may import the household effects subject to the conditions stated below without payment of import taxes duties.

The term “household effects” includes all goods which are normally necessary to equip a self-contained home e.g. furniture, carpets, books, musical instruments, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings, etc. To be eligible for tax and duty free allowance, the importers are required to have owned, possessed, and used the household effects before they return to Thailand to resume residence. It is important that the importers meet the three requirements of ownership, possession, and use. For example, if they owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be subject to regular taxes and duties.

Personal effects accompanied with the owner traveling into or out of Thailand, including any goods used or will be used commercially are not eligible as household effects cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household effects

NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this rebate.

Sophon

[WarpSpeed]

If she is Thai and repatriating herself isnt there some kind of import concession available seeing as though she has beeen out of the country for a few years and has also owned the vehicle for this period ??

Yes that was my thought too, the OP didn't mention if she was Thai or not? That DOES make a difference..

I do know of a Thai that attended school in the states and upon his return took advantage of that law and imported himself a Porsche 911 which he still owns..

This was some years ago so maybe that was when the laws were being more evenly enforced so who really knows? They also seem to be able to bring in cars from HK on a regular basis too..

[fred007]

I believe that the import tax is basically 400% of the estimated value.......

I recently moved to Bkk and asked the same questions you are asking and basically it is not worth bringing with you......

We have a Subaru Imprezza and a toyota...... believe it or not the imprezza is nearly the same price out here....... but we sold them back home for silly money, because silly money is better than no money

In my opinion (as someone thatl ikes cars), the price of cars in Thailand is one of the major draw backs of living here...... unless you want a toyota pick-up truck...... but what you will pay for say a 3 series BMW or a C class merc you could buy a 5 series or E-class back home........ and what further exasperates the problem is that "normal" cars out here such as toyotas and hondas come with a pretty crappy spec as far as safet equipment goes, and there is no option to add them...... the only exception being the range topping honda accord...... but even a camry for example only comes with front and passenger air bags......

All round, options for car out here are a big disappointment unless you have a lot of disposable income and nothing better to do with it.

If home is Australia? I agree with you 100% I would like to bring a Malloo ute or FG turbo ute .I would pick a wild colour to show Thais That Colour will brighten your day instead of the grey and black colours of cars in smog ridden Bangkok................

[LivinLOS]

From the Customs Deparments own home page:

NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this rebate.

Sophon

While I agree that motor vehicles are excluded from the personal effects system, I have read a customs page that claims this for cars, but again what you read as the law, and what they impose on the ground, being 2 totally different things.

[samran]

I believe that the import tax is basically 400% of the estimated value.......

I recently moved to Bkk and asked the same questions you are asking and basically it is not worth bringing with you......

We have a Subaru Imprezza and a toyota...... believe it or not the imprezza is nearly the same price out here....... but we sold them back home for silly money, because silly money is better than no money

In my opinion (as someone thatl ikes cars), the price of cars in Thailand is one of the major draw backs of living here...... unless you want a toyota pick-up truck...... but what you will pay for say a 3 series BMW or a C class merc you could buy a 5 series or E-class back home........ and what further exasperates the problem is that "normal" cars out here such as toyotas and hondas come with a pretty crappy spec as far as safet equipment goes, and there is no option to add them...... the only exception being the range topping honda accord...... but even a camry for example only comes with front and passenger air bags......

All round, options for car out here are a big disappointment unless you have a lot of disposable income and nothing better to do with it.

If home is Australia? I agree with you 100% I would like to bring a Malloo ute or FG turbo ute .I would pick a wild colour to show Thais That Colour will brighten your day instead of the grey and black colours of cars in smog ridden Bangkok................

I'll never understand why ute drivers paint their cars in the same as the skivvy colours on the wiggles.

Utes - essential for tradesman - understood

Utes- auto icon for the aussie bogan - got that

...Pastel coloured utes: <deleted>?

[Wallaby]

This may be a silly question but I'll ask anyway.

What if one was to import into...say...cambodia then drive it into Thailand.

I'm sure I'll soon see the error of my thought.

[samran]

This may be a silly question but I'll ask anyway.

What if one was to import into...say...cambodia then drive it into Thailand.

I'm sure I'll soon see the error of my thought.

then you'll have to bend over twice. Once for Cambo customs, and assuming you actually get it off them, then Thai customs - all before you have any chance of having the car registered in Thailand. Different countries, you know.

Best bet if you want to import a car into Asia is to go to Malaysia, under Malaysia my second home programme. Problem is though, you'll have to live in Malaysia.