I guess that this has been asked about many times, but I cant seem to find the few exact details that I need...

I live in Malaysia (Im from UK), but will move to Thailand early next year. I have a job to move to so will be getting a work permit and would love to take my car thus avoiding all of the hassle of selling, repurchasing etc.

It says in the customs website that with a one year work permit I can import one car - but is this tax free? I am presuming not though... but one can live in hope.

I can find all of the calculations on how much tax needs to be paid, but where can I find the CIF value that everything is based on?

Thanks for any info you can share

Mr S

I've red some of the posts before,in numerous topics,as you probably too...do you consider yourself lucky....?!

it can be done in principle BUT in practice it is easier and cheaper to sell and buy another car here.. it is not just the import but the registration to think about... you do not say what car it is?

Sell yours, come here and get a 100,000 baht Peugeot.

Better yet. Sell yours, save the money and just get a taxi.

Edited October 31, 201213 yr by thaicruze

Its a BMW 728 (e38) 1997, Ive had it for 2.5 years - an old car but a great car

It cost me a small fortune here in Malaysia, yes I can sell it and still make 90% of my buying price but I suppose I am being lazy - they impose 200% import tax here so cars maintain their value very well.

Good idea thaicruze, that taxi sounds like a better option... can enjoy a beer at the same time !

See you in the pub... seems I need to find a new local pub too !

Mr Smith, why don't you look at the Thai customs website. Many foreigners and Thais have brought in foreign registered vehicles and then had them registered in Thailand. Thailand is surprisingly generous when it comes to allowing vehicle imports compared to its neighbors - in fact, even left hand drive vehicles can be registered, which are now illegal in Cambodia (for right hand drive vehicles) and it's absolutely impossible to import a right hand drive vehicle into Vietnam for example. Laos does not allow imports of secondhand vehicles anymore either.

I'm not sure about tax-free imports though, unless you will be working as a diplomat.

Its a BMW 728 (e38) 1997, Ive had it for 2.5 years - an old car but a great car

It cost me a small fortune here in Malaysia, yes I can sell it and still make 90% of my buying price but I suppose I am being lazy - they impose 200% import tax here so cars maintain their value very well.

A friend of mine brought his car in from Malaysia and still has it...but it's been two years and the paperwork is still not a 100% done. As for import price/tax they have their own books to look values up...when they were trying to value his (Austin Healey) they even looked on the internet.

So yes, it can be done...but is it worth the hassle?

Its a BMW 728 (e38) 1997, Ive had it for 2.5 years - an old car but a great car

It cost me a small fortune here in Malaysia, yes I can sell it and still make 90% of my buying price but I suppose I am being lazy - they impose 200% import tax here so cars maintain their value very well.

Good idea thaicruze, that taxi sounds like a better option... can enjoy a beer at the same time !

See you in the pub... seems I need to find a new local pub too !

200% is a bargain, expect to be taxed in Thailand around 280%

Don't get confused with the the import taxes published on the customs site, as they calculate taxes on taxes etc.

Just to close this one out, I did some extensive research and it turns out it is possible to get the car in reasonably cheapy (ie a small payment of sorts), but its just not possible to get it legally into the Thai system without the proper import payments and huge hassle... its really just not worth it.

So I sold the car here, time to look for another when we move there soon.

Thanks all

Mr S