Importing A Second-Hand Car From Uk Into Thailand

[lusty]

Dear All, during a recent visit to London I was amazed by how cheap second-hand cars were, in comparison to Italy (not to mention Thailand). Hence, the idea of importing one to Thailand. I've browsed previous posts and I've understood that:

1. the total for taxes/paperwork/agents/bribes amounts to 300% of the cost of the car + shipping;

2. there is a certain % of deduction for every year of age of the vehicle.

So just as an example if a 1995 Jaguar costs 3500 GBP and shipping is 500 GBP, the amount to pay would be 12000 GBP minus the deduction for each of its 16 years.

Is this assessment correct? How much is the per-year discount?

Many thanks in advance for your feedback.

Cheers,

Lusty

[MoonRiverOasis]

800K Baht gets you into an onld mid-90's Jag np here:

http://one2car.com/search/search_result.aspx?Brand=B0023&Year1=1994&Year2=1996

[transam]

800K Baht gets you into an old mid-90's Jag np here:

http://one2car.com/s...1994&Year2=1996

Yes, forget it.

[kartman]

Reality check required

[lusty]

Pls read the thread and focus on the questions before sharing your wisdom: I wanted to know how much is the deduction per year; I didn't want to know where to buy a cheap old Jaguar. It was just an example...

Thanks anyway.

[thaicbr]

Lusty. Unfortunately what is required is a kind of future telepathy in as much as the Customs can and do assign the FINAL costings. I also believe that you need to own the car for a certain mount of months before it can be a personal import.

There are posts on here were the person followed the rules only to find the rules had been ..ummm massaged to suit the Customs. You need to do A LOT of research before you try it. Good luck. If you decide to import a car please keep us informed.

[MoonRiverOasis]

Pls read the thread and focus on the questions before sharing your wisdom: I wanted to know how much is the deduction per year; I didn't want to know where to buy a cheap old Jaguar. It was just an example...

Thanks anyway.

Here are the two relevant pages published by Thai customs (both pretty much the same info):

http://www.customs.g...Nme=PersonalPer

http://www.customscl...mid=167〈=en

The kicker is that while "CIF" normally means "Cost + Insurance + Freight" in the true, documented sense of the words, in Thailand the "Cost" is not necessarily what you actually paid, but rather what customs decides to value it at once they lay eyes on the car and you.

In some 15 years in Thailand, I've never once seen or heard of a single person successfully managing a personal vehicle import without either losing the car, or paying way, way more than what was expected.

The bottom line is, whatever it is you want to own, there's no way you could import one cheaper than what it already sells for on the Thai used market. - anything that seems worthwhile bringing in from the UK was also imported here at one stage, and at that age, under a much, much more lenient customs and excise tax structure. And, if it's something that's never been imported here, you can almost guarantee it'll draw too much attention when coming in.

And, apologies for the short reply before - I was simply cutting to the chase

[Crossy]

The deductions are somewhere on the customs website, what is important is that the value that is used to determine the tax payable is NOT what you paid for the vehicle in the UK, it is the PERCEIVED value of the vehicle once in Thailand. It is the customs department (probably the single most corrupt government outfit in the known universe) who determine the value and therefore the tax.

It really, really isn't worth the hassle and headache when at the end of the day you will certainly end up paying more in total that you would simply buying a vehicle here.

EDIT MRO beat me to it

[Cuban]

The customs duty is based on what they think the car is worth to you.

Forget any idea of what your guide price or purchase price is.

From conversations with people that have done it have done so because they loved their cars so much, customs will either take your car or your money - you will not save money by doing this.

You will learn a lot about Thai bureaucracy, you will learn after the event what are the appropriate "tea money" payments are and that you have over paid. Then you will be paying for lots of paperwork to get your Blue Book. Once issued the Blue Book will be stamped with a notice that the car may not be sold (transferred to another owner) for three years from the date of import.

Buy a car in Thailand - there is a reason that are that price accept it.

....or prove us all wrong.

[ignis]

Your example of a 1996 Jag...

I believe they go on Thailand prices when new for import tax.. a new XJ 3.2 in 1996 here was around 4 million baht. about GBP 85,000..

No idea what the price was in the UK back in 1996, but nothing like that maybe 1/3 this figure........ in 1970 they were a little over 2,300 GBP brand new

[katabeachbum]

In reality customs base their calculation on any value they seem fit. Purchase price in TH new 15 years ago, or today, or secondhand value in TH, be assure they would ignore your invoice, and the duty and thus excicetax will be accordingly. They make it difficult for you, so they can keep it.

Now if you would import a brand new Cayenne Hybrid, money can be saved, as there isnt much to discuss on the value/ taxes

[MoonRiverOasis]

Now if you would import a brand new Cayenne Hybrid, money can be saved, as there isnt much to discuss on the value/ taxes

Yep, but even then you'd have to weigh up the pros and cons of paying a little more to an established gray market importer who will warranty it for you, let you test drive first, choose the color/options you want, give you membership which provides preferential parking at selected venues etc. The better gray market importers have nicer showrooms, better service bays, and better perks than the official importers in some cases..

[katabeachbum]

Now if you would import a brand new Cayenne Hybrid, money can be saved, as there isnt much to discuss on the value/ taxes

Yep, but even then you'd have to weigh up the pros and cons of paying a little more to an established gray market importer who will warranty it for you, let you test drive first, choose the color/options you want, give you membership which provides preferential parking at selected venues etc. The better gray market importers have nicer showrooms, better service bays, and better perks than the official importers in some cases..

ad time spendt on purchase/export/import/registration, and risk of paying for a car on the dock in UK or wherever, and hoping it arrives in one piece here, list is long

I used to import US vehicles made in Canada, and prefered to remain small, never had more than 12 mill baht in the ocean at a time, to reduce risk