Border crossing to Malaysia with Thai-registered car

[Quero]

I'm planning to drive to Malaysia in a few weeks' time, and I'd like to confirm what the formalities are. Below is what I understand I need to do--is it all correct? Am I missing anything?

Get my vehicle registration translated from Thai to English by an official translator.

Buy Malaysian insurance for the car; this can be done at the border.

Buy the translated number-plate letters and name of province to paste over my Thailand number plates; this can be done at the border as well.

Are there times of day to cross or not to cross?

Thanks for any insights!

[harrry]

Make sure your window tinting is within limits.

[Quero]

Thanks. What are the limits? When I bought the car I had them put the minimum tinting on since I really detest the super dark windows for night driving.

[harrry]

Thanks. What are the limits? When I bought the car I had them put the minimum tinting on since I really detest the super dark windows for night driving.

Minimum may be just about right....not sure but I think someone said 22%

not guaranteed but

Malaysia's Road Transport Department's (JPJ) website states that the front windscreen must let in at least 70 per cent of light. The side and rear windows have to let in at least 50 per cent of light.

[Quero]

I'll see if I can find the paperwork for the window tint. That's very helpful. Thank you!

[Thailand J]

You can get the translation at the Vehicle Registration Office near Regents school for less then 40B, don't go to any language schools.

The insurance company is open everyday but not 24 hours so you better arrive during normal business hours. I paid 800B for my Fortuner.

Toyota dealership on west side of Sukhumvit near Soi 16/1 can re tint windows for 5500B, 3M films on all sides except the front, including labor to rip out the old. If you can't find your paperwork I am sure they can take a look and able to tell. In Thailand 60% tint means only 40% light can enter, so you can have up to 50%

tint on the sides and the rear. The 40% tint at most shops in Thailand are actually 50% if you check the manufacturer's info.

You list do not include the road permit from Malaysian JPJ, i hope you know that you need it. It's free at the small JPJ office next to the mall where the insurance company is.

Have fun.

[Quero]

Thanks TJ. I assume some of those places such as the vehicle registration office near Regents School you're talking about are in Bangkok? I am on Phuket island. I'm getting my paralegal to have the paperwork translated, and I'll have the dealership tell me about the window tinting, so no worries about that. But for the Malaysia road permit, is that at the border? Meaning I need to get three things at the border: road permit, insurance, English lettering for the number plate. Correct?

[phuketrichard]

Max tint for malaysia is 50%.

I drove down in March from Phuket, Takes about 9 1/2 hours from Phuket to Penang with border an food/gas stops

Make sure u have Malaysain money as there are tolls.

u get the letter from the transport office , take ur cars book,( must be in ur name) ur passport and copies of ur front page an visa page

Once you arrive in Malaysia, on the right hand side is where u purchase Insurance, ( there are 2 shops) and also get 2 stickers which are the english translation of ur thai plate,

I paid 800 baht for 1 month insurance and 100 baht for the stickers.

50 meters down the road is the office where u obtain the malaysian paperwork and give them ur english paper. Office open 8-5

He told me i could not go as my car windows were too tinted.

took his little hand held meter out to the car an showed me ( mine were 60%)

i told him i would take off, he said ok, went back inside an waited, he said u take off, I said yes.

he then let me go into Malaysia.

I did not take off :-)

[Quero]

Thanks phuketrichard. How long was the drive to the border? Did you stop overnight someplace?

[phuketrichard]

its about 2 hours from Border to Penang.

nope

we drove straight down,( just stops for gas and food) its an easy drive.was in Penang by 7 as u pick up an hour on the way down ( Malay is one hour earlier than Thailand)

stopped on the way back in Hat yai as u get ur visa back at noon if u use the agent i used

[Quero]

And the drive from Phuket takes how long?

[phuketrichard]

9 1/2- 2 hours = 7 1/2 hours which included lunch, gas, border stops

[sunshine51]

Quero...

Don't cover your Thai plates with the English letters, put the lettering just above the plates (front & rear) on the car's

bumper. I have mine just to the left of the plates. All else has been said in the thread. Have a good trip!

[ikbenhet]

And don't forget gasoline is much cheaper in Malaysia.

Make sure you stop for petrol before entering Thailand again.

[Quero]

Thank you all very much. Extremely helpful replies!

[perconrad]

Hi phuketrichard,

What bordercrossing are You refering to?

Conrad

[BuriramRes]

Thanks TJ. I assume some of those places such as the vehicle registration office near Regents School you're talking about are in Bangkok? I am on Phuket island. I'm getting my paralegal to have the paperwork translated, and I'll have the dealership tell me about the window tinting, so no worries about that. But for the Malaysia road permit, is that at the border? Meaning I need to get three things at the border: road permit, insurance, English lettering for the number plate. Correct?

Don't you need to get a Thai vehicle passport to take your vehicle out of Thailand?

[Quero]

Don't you need to get a Thai vehicle passport to take your vehicle out of Thailand?

Vehicle passport? What's that? I've got the blue book, which is being translated to English for the purposes of the border crossing....

[Quero]

oops. double post.

[harrry]

The vehicle passport is effectively a translation of your registration into english which you need to go to Laos. I am not sure if you need it to go to ;Malasia. To get it go to the transport office (same place as drivers licences wiht copies of your passport,the blue book and your work permit if you have one or a certificate of residencde from immigration.

It costs a minimal fee and should not take too long to get.

[Quero]

Okay, well the "passport" thing is already in the works, then. The blue book is getting translated now. They do require a translation for Malaysia since they can't read Thai script.

[Thailand J]

The first time I took my car into Malaysia I had a translated car title from a language school haha..Malaysian JPJ told me that was not acceptable, it has to come from the Vehicle Registration Office where you go to renew your car registration. Luckily they let me in since i had the original title with me.

A translated title is needed but not the car passport to go into Malaysia.

I had 80% tint on the sides and rear windows. They made me rip out the front sides and issued a warning before letting me in.

The second time I had completely forgotten about the warning. I think they had it on their computer system. A different official issued a "last warning" and let me in. When I return to Thailand I had my car re tinted to 50%.

Malaysian gas stations sell 95 and 97 gasoline. 95 is only 190B/L but a car with foreign plate can only buy 97 gasoline at 270B/L. You may find some gas stations that may sell you 95 if you get off the highway.

[AloisAmrein]

May be you need a temporary export permit for the Thai registered car, we needed that when we drove to Laos. If the car is not registered in your name, you need a written and aproved permit of the owner.

[phuketrichard]

Only Laos requires the 'Purple" passport for the car

For malaysia u need the paper from the transport office as i stated.

Thailand J. too bad for ya, i just told him would take off my tint later a he let me go,

am sure u noticed there are lots of thai cars that dont stop, they seem to get a pass in Hat yai that allows them in an out often and all their cars were tinted.

Although i have had to do paperwork ( temp export) to export the car when i drive to laos and Cambodia , I did not when I went to Malaysia,nor was i asked.

Take the bridge when u go into Penang , its cool,

but take the ferry out ( its free leaving Gerogetown)