All Can someone tell me the possibility of doing this

I went about shipping a car to Thailand a couple of years ago but after learning about all the red tape and the potential crazy import duty I decided to forget it.

I have now heard rumors that there is a loophole, and if someone can give me a headsup I'd much appreciate it.

Here is what I heard.

If I transfer my car into my Sister in laws name ( Thai National Living in Ireland ) and leave it like this for 6 month, She then can ship the car in her name to Thailand and not incurring the exuberate import duties etc etc etc .

Can someone please let me know if this is the case or if someone has already tired this was there much hassle?

Thanks

Oh, I want to bring my Mercedes CL 55 AMG (few years old but still really nice ) no point selling it in Ireland, No market here at the moment so if I can get it to Thailand at least my family could enjoy it

She then can ship the car in her name to Thailand and not incurring the exuberate import duties etc etc etc .

Only if SHE is returning to Thailand from Ireland, will it be able to be imported duty free, and even then I am not sure if the law covers motor vehicles

Would give you a reference that I had in My Messages but it has been lost in the TV conversion

She then can ship the car in her name to Thailand and not incurring the exuberate import duties etc etc etc .

Only if SHE is returning to Thailand from Ireland, will it be able to be imported duty free, and even then I am not sure if the law covers motor vehicles

Would give you a reference that I had in My Messages but it has been lost in the TV conversion

It does not. Motor vehicles are specificaly excluded from the duty free import of household goods for a returning Thai citizen.

From www2.customs.go.th:

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

Thank you Sophon

DAM so my Plan is NO MORE

Thanks for your feedback.

maybe someone would know of another way to import without paying such huge dutys

Thanks again

DAM so my Plan is NO MORE

Thanks for your feedback.

maybe someone would know of another way to import without paying such huge dutys

Thanks again

Forget it.

She then can ship the car in her name to Thailand and not incurring the exuberate import duties etc etc etc .

Only if SHE is returning to Thailand from Ireland, will it be able to be imported duty free, and even then I am not sure if the law covers motor vehicles

Would give you a reference that I had in My Messages but it has been lost in the TV conversion

It does not. Motor vehicles are specificaly excluded from the duty free import of household goods for a returning Thai citizen.

From www2.customs.go.th:

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

Just a question...does "Thai residents" mean the same as "Thai nationals" ?...farang can have a "resident" status....maybe there is different rules for Thai born ??

There was an article in a recent Phuket Gazette where a related question was asked, and the response from the customs official was that a farang moving to Thailand can import a personal vehicle without paying duty provided the car was >1.5yrs old and registered to the person for the same period.

I might have lost some of the detail, but could be worth investigating?

There was an article in a recent Phuket Gazette where a related question was asked, and the response from the customs official was that a farang moving to Thailand can import a personal vehicle without paying duty provided the car was >1.5yrs old and registered to the person for the same period.

I might have lost some of the detail, but could be worth investigating?

Nope

but you will be granted a temp import limited to 180 days. it takes a bond or bank deposit equal to cars value in TH

so for Op, if you want your car here, ship it to KL or Singapore, drive it here, temp import and out when expired usually 3-6 months and never longer than your permit to stay. repeat at another border crossing. until they say NO