Was there ever a time when it was a simple process to bring a vehicle into Thailand?

If there was, when did it end ?

Discussion last night but no-one could come up with an answer.

Importing vehicles over a certain size was often simply banned - the current duties of about 300% are in act a liberalisation of former restrictions.

Remember too that te car market in Thailand up until the 1980s was diminutive.

Any idea when those figures came into effect. we reckoned it would have been 90's but no-one really knew.

About 2001 or 2002, can't remember exactly I was quoted well over 300% on a 3 litre and from memory it was based on the price of a new model of the car, at the time, not the value of the 2nd hand model I had. Obviously I just sold the car at home and bought a car here.

Back couple of years mid to late 2000s, students were allowed to bring back used cars, but taxes were still high. It was actually not a difficult process but many were discourage in fears of corrupt customs. I heard of friends friend bring it in without any problems, some had connections to speed up the process.. Grey market dealers exploited this loop hole until it got closed. I believe that was probably the easiest time.

Same goes for the time with importing half assembled cars, assembling it here and getting it re titled.

I do think at one time a car was included as household goods and could be imported when you moved to Thailand but that was a long time ago. Probably in the 80s. Up until a few years ago a Thai who owned a car for at least 2 years outside the country could import it but as another poster has said the rich Thai students going to college outside of Thailand were taking advantage of this rule.

http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/individuals/importing+personal+vehicle/importingpersonalvehicle+