Current Information On Tax Rates For Used Cars Shipped Into Thailand For Personal Use

[Hanuman76]

We live 6 months each year in Thailand and 6 months in the US. We are considering shipping a 13 year old Toyota RAV4 from Texas to Thailand.......against the advice of most of our friends. Before discounting the idea entirely I would like to find out the total cost. We have a quote of $2500 to ship the vehicle from Houston to Bangkok. Can anyone provide an estimate of the taxes we will incur when "bringing" the vehicle into Thailand and information on the process.

[roadrunner300]

There are some disadvantages its alowed to drive with a steering on the other side

but will be less relaxed to drive.

Another thing is you need to produce a receipt what you payed in the past ,based on this you need to pay the tax here.

Then we come to the transport office because you need it registrated in you provence and get thai license plates to.

Im almost sure your budget is short for the hole thing.

It will be taxed as luxury car because its a 4 doors its under 3000 cc what makes its not the highest tax class .

here is what I found.

If you look at the excise tax structure, the policy enables the most
commonly used vehicles by Thais such as motorbikes and working pickups (single and extended cab pickups under 3250cc)
to carry negligible tax of 3% (effectively 3.1%) because luxury
imported cars carry the most tax; Pickups over 3250cc or greater, E20
compatible and all other cars over 3000cc or >= 220HP are taxed 50%
(effectively 111.1%).

[Jitar]

There are many previous threads and various web sites in this topic. Start with checking the status of the ban on importing used cars & parts reported in the media last year, see:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/548685-thai-cabinet-approves-ban-on-imports-of-used-vehicles/

If importing is possible tax rates are described at:

http://www2.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/PersonalVehiclesPermanent/PermanentImport.jsp?menuNme=PersonalPer

One point to keep in mind is, although the web site says otherwise, Customs can assign what ever value they like to base taxes on. This asigned value can be based on their estimation of the local value of the vehicle and this can be much higher than the actual CIF value.

The short answer is, if you are allowed to import, taxes amount to around 200% of what ever value customs assign.

The Rav 4 was sold in LOS 13 years ago. Used ones are advertised around 500,000 baht. Is it worth the hassle to import?

[transam]

Forget it.

[naboo]

Go on, do it! And make sure you keep us all up to date with your experience of it all.

I like a good laugh at others' expense.

Alternatively, buy a brand new Fortuna for less money.

[IMHO]

Current information = same story it's been for living memory

You will pay 30-80% import duty on whatever customs deem your car to be worth. You will then pay excise tax and interior tax on top, and once all that's calculated, another 7% VAT. Then you have the hassle/expense of registering the car, and the extreme danger of driving an LHD car around Thailand, ongoing hassles with parts/servicing, and a car that no-one wants to buy when it's time to move on..

Oh, and the time you'll lose in the red tape jungle - if you value time

As everyone else has suggested (except for naboo who wants to read your future diatribe on how it all went wrong ), just buy a car here.

[Nowhereman60]

Why would you want to spend all that money on shipping and custom duties on a 13 year old vehicle is beyond me. Just buy a used vehicle and say yourself a lot of money and headaches.

[roadrunner300]

Current information = same story it's been for living memory

You will pay 30-80% import duty on whatever customs deem your car to be worth. You will then pay excise tax and interior tax on top, and once all that's calculated, another 7% VAT. Then you have the hassle/expense of registering the car, and the extreme danger of driving an LHD car around Thailand, ongoing hassles with parts/servicing, and a car that no-one wants to buy when it's time to move on..

Oh, and the time you'll lose in the red tape jungle - if you value time

As everyone else has suggested (except for naboo who wants to read your future diatribe on how it all went wrong ), just buy a car here.

Apart from al the money for tax and time and frustrations

Comming from a rightside driving country driving your old lhd car you will still have the idea on crossings turning left or right to take the wrong lane because thats where you make the mistakes ,only this is reason enough not to do this.

[arthurwait]

I believe the shipping costs and agents fees are also taxed.

If you actually get a true value of a secondhand Rav4 here you will be looking at 200% of 500k Baht + $2500

2* 575000 = 1.15 MB. or about the price of a new RHD equivilent which will be resellable unlike the LHD Rav4.

If you don't get a true value then good luck.

[Langsuan Man]

..against the advice of most of our friends.

Listen to your friends.........