DLT declaration to allow foreign vehicles into Thailand taking effect in June

[webfact]

DLT declaration to allow foreign vehicles into Thailand taking effect in June

BANGKOK, 4 May 2016 (NNT) – A Department of Land Transport (DLT) declaration set to take effect at the end of this June will place regulations on foreigners who have brought their own vehicles into the Kingdom, remedying the issue of foreigners driving illegally and without oversight.

DLT Director-General Sanit Phromwong has made known that the department’s declaration on regulations, conditions and guidelines for bringing a foreign vehicle for operation in Thailand has been announced in the Royal Gazette and will take effect in 60 days, or in late June.

The declaration allows the department to authorize foreigners to enter the Kingdom with their own vehicles, inclusive of vehicles from countries without any formal agreements on the matter with Thailand.

Travelers who wish to bring vehicles must make their intention known 10 days prior to the transport office in the province they will be entering. Approvals will last no more than 30 days at a time and the vehicles must remain in Thailand for no more than a total 60 days in a row. They will only be allowed in border provinces and drivers will have to adhere to all Thai traffic laws while driving in the nation.


-- NNT 2016-05-04

[bark]

So before, you could not drive your car into Thailand ? Strange.

[tso310]

I thought the Chinese had been bringing their SUVs into Thailand for some time.

[Tomtomtom69]

I thought the Chinese had been bringing their SUVs into Thailand for some time.

They have been, but as of June 27th or so, they will be restricted.

The new law has been published in the Royal Gazette as of April 28 and 60 days after elapsing means June 27th will be the first date of the new rule being in effect.

[ezzra]

Thailand has the most stringent and archaic vehicles importations laws on their books, but that doesn't stop

grey market and the well connected people to bring in what ever they like as long as A. they know the

right people B. they're willing to pay for that.... cars in the UK and the US cost like less than half than here,

but where are they going to get the billions being wasted and squandered by the government every year

if not taxing cars?.......

[Tomtomtom69]

So before, you could not drive your car into Thailand ? Strange.

What? No! Where did you read that?

Up until now, there haven't been any regulations. A foreigner could bring in a vehicle, of any type, from virtually any country and drive around the country, without restrictions for a measly 200 Baht fee paid to customs upon arrival (and third party insurance that many tourists, especially Chinese didn't bother to purchase) with the only real restrictions being for Burmese cars who have always been restricted to the border town entered. Everyone else could drive around for 30 days then extend their vehicle's permits for free up to 6 months, followed by a border run they could come back and repeat the same process almost indefinitely.

Meanwhile Thais wanting to drive their vehicles to some neighboring countries would find themselves facing some heavy restrictions, which really hasn't been fair.

The new rules will regulate the flow of foreign registered vehicles coming into Thailand, except those from neighboring countries with which Thailand already has reciprocal agreements (including Laos, Malaysia and Singapore). Vehicles from Myanmar and Cambodia will continue to be allowed in, but not beyond the border province entered. This might change if the governments of those countries finally sign an agreement with Thailand on the exchange of traffic rights for private vehicles. In the absence of an agreement, they'll be restricted.

Vehicles from third countries like China will require advance permission to enter, at least 10 business days in advance. Travel itineraries, a photo of the car, photocopies of the vehicle registration, drivers licences and the drivers passport will also need to be submitted to a Thai tourism operator, who will request permission on behalf of the driver, through the local Land Transport Department office. An entry fee is payable and a special plate will need to be placed in the vehicle throughout the time the car is in Thailand. Chinese drivers (as well as those from other countries who do not possess an appropriate driver's licence valid for driving in Thailand) will also be required to undergo a 1-hour traffic orientation and apply for a temporary Thai driver's licence at the nearest Land Transport Department office before being permitted to drive in Thailand.

Driving permission will only be allowed for the border province entered, for example Chiang Rai. Vehicles must be driven back across the same border entered. Permission to change some of the conditions (for example, driving to a different province and exiting elsewhere) requires applications to be submitted at least 30 days in advance for consideration by customs officials.

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

Thailand has the most stringent and archaic vehicles importations laws on their books, but that doesn't stop

grey market and the well connected people to bring in what ever they like as long as A. they know the

right people B. they're willing to pay for that.... cars in the UK and the US cost like less than half than here,

but where are they going to get the billions being wasted and squandered by the government every year

if not taxing cars?.......

This law won't change that very much and isn't intended to. This law is all about putting in place some kind of system to regulate the entry of foreign registered vehicles being driven in temporarily for the purposes of tourism. it has nothing to do with permanent importation, whether legal or on the grey market. Not sure how you came up with that conclusion.

[laolover88]

I'll be passing through the Channel Tunnel tomorrow. Have booked hotels in France, Moscow, Baluchistan, Lhasa and Kunming. Probably need a few more. I have no concerns about my personal safety from Daesh, Bandits and other drug runners. However when arriving in Thailand I will probably be murdered by a drunk youth without a driving licence somewhere north of Chiang Mai

[CantSpell]

I thought the Chinese had been bringing their SUVs into Thailand for some time.

They have been, but as of June 27th or so, they will be restricted.

The new law has been published in the Royal Gazette as of April 28 and 60 days after elapsing means June 27th will be the first date of the new rule being in effect.

I am not sure but i think they are already restricting them as the border in the north...

Agencies that specialized in Karavan from China have been completely out of a job since march.

I think the new law will allow them back but under certain conditions as opposed to near to total ban right now

Edited May 4, 2016 by CantSpell

[Tomtomtom69]

I thought the Chinese had been bringing their SUVs into Thailand for some time.

They have been, but as of June 27th or so, they will be restricted.

The new law has been published in the Royal Gazette as of April 28 and 60 days after elapsing means June 27th will be the first date of the new rule being in effect.

I am not sure but i think they are already restricting them as the border in the north...

Agencies that specialized in Karavan from China have been completely out of a job since march.

I think the new law will allow them back but under certain conditions as opposed to near to total ban right now

I knew that they weren't coming much anymore as I drive regularly for work as we have a project up in northern Thailand and compared to February or March, when I would count dozens of Chinese cars driving on the Asia highway, especially north of Nakorn Sawan, I haven't spotted a single Chinese car since roughly mid-March. I did however spot one single Chinese car parked at the Bangkok City Suites Hotel on Petchaburi road on April 13. That was a bit of an anomaly but just over a month earlier there probably would have been dozens driving around the tourist areas of Bangkok, despite a police warning that foreign registered vehicles driving in Bangkok were illegal.

I was always curious what would happen in the meantime before the law goes into effect. It doesn't surprise me if they're restricted altogether for now though I would have thought the old rules apply until the new ones take over.

Another guy over on the Chiang Mai forum however claimed he was still spotting Chinese cars regularly in Chiang Mai, but without being very specific about when. He was unable to tell me precisely if he was still seeing them in April when I commented on that thread. If he was referring to earlier in March then that doesn't tell me anything because these new regulations have been debated throughout February and March and were confirmed as final on March 30. During this time, there was also a lot of talk about banning Chinese campervans and motorhomes, as there are no facilities for them and Chinese tourists could often be seen washing their clothes, doing their cooking and even throwing out their garbage in public places, wherever they desired to park overnight.

Caravan operators will need to apply for permission for cars to be driven into Thailand from China. They will probably have MORE business in future rather than less, because previously Chinese could drive in freely by themselves, without needing to give one Baht to Thai based caravan operators. Now they will need them, especially if they want to drive outside the border province entered.

I have read the new rules in detail and while some previous news reports suggested that 2 or more vehicles coming in simultaneously would require an escort, this has not been mentioned in the new rules. However, it does seem likely that the Thai authorities don't want 10 car self-guided caravans to be driving around Thailand anymore.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Tomtomtom69

[Beats56]

Not trying to be off topic but can i buy a kit car say a 32 ford and drop a crate engine it? All proper safety standards met. Don't see any of these types in Thailand. It would be a nice progect. I doubt it would be allowed but that is why I asked.

[CantSpell]

Haven't seen a single Chinese blue plate in a month in the north so i suspect they stopped allowing them until the law is in effect.

Tho, referring to karavan, i would estimate them to be safer than the random single Chinese car.

They usually had an escort, always drive with the warning lights on and are (were!!) pretty easy to spot with even the numbers on the cars...

Edited May 4, 2016 by CantSpell

[Thomas33399]

Do not fix the problem. Just bury your head in the sand with unworkable legislation. How can any tourist stay in just one province? Why apply 30 days in advance? These are not holiday conditions they are unworkable ridiculous restrictions on people attempting to come here for a holiday. These people are retarded. This is a kindergarten country.

Why not do the same as any other country? Ohhhh no this is Thailand!

[marcusd]

I thought the Chinese had been bringing their SUVs into Thailand for some time.

They have been, but as of June 27th or so, they will be restricted.

The new law has been published in the Royal Gazette as of April 28 and 60 days after elapsing means June 27th will be the first date of the new rule being in effect.

I am not sure but i think they are already restricting them as the border in the north...

Agencies that specialized in Karavan from China have been completely out of a job since march.

I think the new law will allow them back but under certain conditions as opposed to near to total ban right now

I knew that they weren't coming much anymore as I drive regularly for work as we have a project up in northern Thailand and compared to February or March, when I would count dozens of Chinese cars driving on the Asia highway, especially north of Nakorn Sawan, I haven't spotted a single Chinese car since roughly mid-March. I did however spot one single Chinese car parked at the Bangkok City Suites Hotel on Petchaburi road on April 13. That was a bit of an anomaly but just over a month earlier there probably would have been dozens driving around the tourist areas of Bangkok, despite a police warning that foreign registered vehicles driving in Bangkok were illegal.

I was always curious what would happen in the meantime before the law goes into effect. It doesn't surprise me if they're restricted altogether for now though I would have thought the old rules apply until the new ones take over.

Another guy over on the Chiang Mai forum however claimed he was still spotting Chinese cars regularly in Chiang Mai, but without being very specific about when. He was unable to tell me precisely if he was still seeing them in April when I commented on that thread. If he was referring to earlier in March then that doesn't tell me anything because these new regulations have been debated throughout February and March and were confirmed as final on March 30. During this time, there was also a lot of talk about banning Chinese campervans and motorhomes, as there are no facilities for them and Chinese tourists could often be seen washing their clothes, doing their cooking and even throwing out their garbage in public places, wherever they desired to park overnight.

Caravan operators will need to apply for permission for cars to be driven into Thailand from China. They will probably have MORE business in future rather than less, because previously Chinese could drive in freely by themselves, without needing to give one Baht to Thai based caravan operators. Now they will need them, especially if they want to drive outside the border province entered.

I have read the new rules in detail and while some previous news reports suggested that 2 or more vehicles coming in simultaneously would require an escort, this has not been mentioned in the new rules. However, it does seem likely that the Thai authorities don't want 10 car self-guided caravans to be driving around Thailand anymore.

I live i Chiang Mai and can tell you today I saw at least 10 cars with Blue Chinese writing plates and ugly fat asian men driving - Chinese perhaps as the cars were not small Makes like those driven in Thailand and the writing looked very CHINESE to me.

My BF said they were Chinese cars so I trust him.

[JAG]

Haven't seen a single Chinese blue plate in a month in the north so i suspect they stopped allowing them until the law is in effect.

Tho, referring to karavan, i would estimate them to be safer than the random single Chinese car.

They usually had an escort, always drive with the warning lights on and are (were!!) pretty easy to spot with even the numbers on the cars...

I recently saw such a convoy hurtling through rural Chiang Rai at near terminal velocity. Certainly within the last couple of weeks.

[tuanku]

remedying the issue of foreigners driving illegally and without oversight.

(These are occupations reserved for Thai citizens)

[anto]

Do not fix the problem. Just bury your head in the sand with unworkable legislation. How can any tourist stay in just one province? Why apply 30 days in advance? These are not holiday conditions they are unworkable ridiculous restrictions on people attempting to come here for a holiday. These people are retarded. This is a kindergarten country.

Why not do the same as any other country? Ohhhh no this is Thailand!

These rules were brought in because of the erratic style driving of many Chinese .Also China makes it almost impossible for a Thai to drive /take his car (easier on a motorcycle but still a lot of paperwork ) into China .Before people say Chinese can not be worse than Thai drivers ,a friend who has lived in China says that they are a lot worse .Many cars in China driving around with multiple dents on the bodywork he says .

[Foexie]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

Tom,

are you sure about that?

Last year i was in Sonkhla and there was a French family driving around with a, right hand driven, Unimog mobilhome look al like. A big square box on wheels. This was certain a truck and weighted over 3;5 ton with no Thai plate.

[anto]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

Tom,

are you sure about that?

Last year i was in Sonkhla and there was a French family driving around with a, right hand driven, Unimog mobilhome look al like. A big square box on wheels. This was certain a truck and weighted over 3;5 ton with no Thai plate.

That was last year ,this is now .

[zakk9]

"... drivers will have to adhere to all Thai traffic laws while driving in the nation."

That's a new one. Will that be enforced for Thai drivers as well or is this some novel idea for alien vehicles only?

[Tomtomtom69]

Do not fix the problem. Just bury your head in the sand with unworkable legislation. How can any tourist stay in just one province? Why apply 30 days in advance? These are not holiday conditions they are unworkable ridiculous restrictions on people attempting to come here for a holiday. These people are retarded. This is a kindergarten country.

Why not do the same as any other country? Ohhhh no this is Thailand!

Had to laugh at your rant. Let me address some of your points here:

Q: How can any tourist stay in just one province? A: The VEHICLE can only stay in one province, if attempting to leave the province, the police at the nearest checkpoint will prevent them from leaving. How hard is that?

Q: Why apply 30 days in advance? It's 10 days in advance for driving permission under the new rules, 30 days only if you want to request an exemption on one or more of the requirements. Why? So they can control who comes in that's why!

Q: These are not holiday conditions they are unworkable ridiculous restrictions. Why not do they same as any other country?

A: ACTUALLY, Thailand IS doing the same as any other country in the region and many others around the world. Ever tried getting a car into China? China has the world's strictest rules on the entry of foreign registered vehicles for tourism. Not only must one apply up to 3 MONTHS in advance through a Chinese tour operator, except for Sipsongbanna (the border region near Laos and Myanmar that only requires 15 days advance notice for Thai cars and 30 days for the rest of Yunnan) but you have to deposit 50,000 Yuan (around 270,000 Baht) at the border, which you will only get back after departing the country with your car. You also require a temporary Chinese driver's licence, vehicle inspection and a guide with you the whole time you are there. If you don't follow your itinerary strictly, your car could be SEIZED. Driving permission for Tibet is considered separate and even stricter.

Myanmar requires 1 month advance notice (used to be much longer) and a government guide with you. Must also follow your itinerary and make arrangements in ADVANCE via a Myanmar based travel operator (though Thai based caravan tour operators tend to be more reliable and are easier to deal with as they have previous experience and can handle the Myanmar permissions themselves). Typical costs for a one week itinerary are around 40,000-50,000 Baht all inclusive.

Vietnam also requires advance permission. Nowadays the lead time required has been substantially reduced to only a few days (reportedly) but it's probably best to err on the side of caution and allow a month or more. Also, a LEAD VEHICLE must accompany the tour at all times. For multiple vehicles, a police escort is required.

Cambodia officially requires advance permission and a carnet to enter, in practice this is only the case if attempting to enter through Poipet, Ban Laem/Daung or other checkpoints which don't normally allow private vehicles through (although some local vehicles get through unchecked). Generally speaking it is possible to avoid this by entering at one of two checkpoints and telling the border guards you won't drive very far inside the country. Once inside, nobody checks and you can travel where you want and leave at any crossing with Thailand and reportedly even the one with Laos. However, this system is unofficial and you don't have any insurance, hence you will be fully responsible should something happen.

Malaysia requires a police escort if travelling in a convoy.

Laos requires a tour operator to be notified if 6 or more motorcycles travel in convoy, or at least they did until recently. Very easy to split up the group and avoid this scenario, but it is/was on the books last time I checked a year or so ago.

So in conclusion, what makes you think Thailand should be a free for all for foreigners driving here? Bringing in a foreign vehicle from a country with which Thailand has no agreement, not paying road tax is a PRIVELEGE not a right!

[Tomtomtom69]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

Tom,

are you sure about that?

Last year i was in Sonkhla and there was a French family driving around with a, right hand driven, Unimog mobilhome look al like. A big square box on wheels. This was certain a truck and weighted over 3;5 ton with no Thai plate.

That was last year ,this is now .

Foexie, read my post again carefully. The key word is WILL. The new rules will go into effect on June 27, there is some confusion as to whether they are already in effect with respect to motorhomes but they were definitely NOT in effect even a couple of months ago while the LTD and related agencies were debating the new law.

I have also seen French and European campervans in Thailand and they tended to have LEFT hand drive since Thai vehicles have RIGHT hand drive so I doubt a French family would have been driving a vehicle from their own country with the steering wheel on the wrong side for their traffic rules.

In March I saw 2 European registered motorhomes driving in Tak province. Both were driving west, in the general direction of the Myanmar border. First one was a Dutch registered vehicle on isolated and winding route 1175 from Ban Tak to Mae Ramad, a road that few Thais even know about and with at least 3 checkpoints. I can only imagine the border patrol guards there must have had their eyes popping out upon seeing that vehicle! I then saw that vehicle parked at the Mae Sot Robinson the following day.

That day as I was leaving Mae Sot and heading back to Bangkok, a Spanish registered "tank" type motorhome heading in the direction of Mae Sot on the Mae Sot-Tak road passed me, less than an hour after leaving Robinson. Clearly that vehicle must have been heading to Mae Sot to meet up with the Spanish one. It would be too much of a coincidence that these two vehicles wouldn't have known each other. I reckon they were both planning to travel onwards into Myanmar.

There was also a French motorhome that crashed in northern Thailand on it's way towards Myanmar in March, which made the news. The family had to abandon their round the world trip and fly home.

However, from next month onwards there won't be any more motorhomes allowed to enter Thailand except MAYBE with special permission requested at least a month in advance and payment of a large entry fee and a travel operator making the arrangements.

[Tomtomtom69]

I am not sure but i think they are already restricting them as the border in the north...

Agencies that specialized in Karavan from China have been completely out of a job since march.

I think the new law will allow them back but under certain conditions as opposed to near to total ban right now

I knew that they weren't coming much anymore as I drive regularly for work as we have a project up in northern Thailand and compared to February or March, when I would count dozens of Chinese cars driving on the Asia highway, especially north of Nakorn Sawan, I haven't spotted a single Chinese car since roughly mid-March. I did however spot one single Chinese car parked at the Bangkok City Suites Hotel on Petchaburi road on April 13. That was a bit of an anomaly but just over a month earlier there probably would have been dozens driving around the tourist areas of Bangkok, despite a police warning that foreign registered vehicles driving in Bangkok were illegal.

I was always curious what would happen in the meantime before the law goes into effect. It doesn't surprise me if they're restricted altogether for now though I would have thought the old rules apply until the new ones take over.

Another guy over on the Chiang Mai forum however claimed he was still spotting Chinese cars regularly in Chiang Mai, but without being very specific about when. He was unable to tell me precisely if he was still seeing them in April when I commented on that thread. If he was referring to earlier in March then that doesn't tell me anything because these new regulations have been debated throughout February and March and were confirmed as final on March 30. During this time, there was also a lot of talk about banning Chinese campervans and motorhomes, as there are no facilities for them and Chinese tourists could often be seen washing their clothes, doing their cooking and even throwing out their garbage in public places, wherever they desired to park overnight.

Caravan operators will need to apply for permission for cars to be driven into Thailand from China. They will probably have MORE business in future rather than less, because previously Chinese could drive in freely by themselves, without needing to give one Baht to Thai based caravan operators. Now they will need them, especially if they want to drive outside the border province entered.

I have read the new rules in detail and while some previous news reports suggested that 2 or more vehicles coming in simultaneously would require an escort, this has not been mentioned in the new rules. However, it does seem likely that the Thai authorities don't want 10 car self-guided caravans to be driving around Thailand anymore.

I live i Chiang Mai and can tell you today I saw at least 10 cars with Blue Chinese writing plates and ugly fat asian men driving - Chinese perhaps as the cars were not small Makes like those driven in Thailand and the writing looked very CHINESE to me.

My BF said they were Chinese cars so I trust him.

That is interesting but how difficult can it be to accurately determine if they're Chinese or not? Apart from the blue plates for cars and yellow for motorcycles, you have just one Chinese character with the rest in English. The steering wheel is on the left. Very easy to distinguish and no, you don't even need to be able to read Chinese. Most of us have been able to at least recognize Chinese writing since childhood.

Thais generally drive rather BIG cars unless they're eco cars. Many Chinese drive small cars except for SUVs. Pickup trucks that most Thais drive are VERY big cars to me. When it comes to the cars Chinese have been driving into Thailand, I've seen an equal distribution of SUVs and sedans, including some rather smallish ones. Some motorhomes too of course.

Anyway, I suspected that the Chinese would still be allowed to drive in easily prior to the new rules going into effect. However, their numbers are already substantially down compared to just a few weeks ago and it is fitting that they are now only being spotted in the one city most popular with Chinese which is Chiang Mai. 10 vehicles however is still a lot - when I was in Chiang Mai for a quick dinner with friends on one evening during the height of CNY, I spotted a total of 12 though of course I didn't drive all over the city and if I did I probably would have counted as many as 50 or more.

In the last few weeks I've always had to look twice when seeing a light blue plate thinking it might be Chinese. However, upon closer inspection (I can read Chinese BTW) it was always an embassy/diplomatic vehicle with one Thai character. Seen quite a few of those, often being driven by Asian foreigners, like the one I saw the other day heading from Samut Songkhram to Bangkok, which was a Japanese embassy vehicle, imported tax-free into Thailand with a Thai diplomatic plate and Japanese stickers on the back tailgate driven by Japanese people. It also happened to be a model not common in Thailand. Perhaps that's what you saw too?

[Tomtomtom69]

Do not fix the problem. Just bury your head in the sand with unworkable legislation. How can any tourist stay in just one province? Why apply 30 days in advance? These are not holiday conditions they are unworkable ridiculous restrictions on people attempting to come here for a holiday. These people are retarded. This is a kindergarten country.

Why not do the same as any other country? Ohhhh no this is Thailand!

These rules were brought in because of the erratic style driving of many Chinese .Also China makes it almost impossible for a Thai to drive /take his car (easier on a motorcycle but still a lot of paperwork ) into China .Before people say Chinese can not be worse than Thai drivers ,a friend who has lived in China says that they are a lot worse .Many cars in China driving around with multiple dents on the bodywork he says .

Correct, I've pointed this out already. It turns out China has similar rules to the ones Thailand will soon impose - 15 days advance notice required for driving around Sipsongbanna (which limits you to roughly 200km from the Lao border), 30 days for the rest of Yunnan, and 3 months for the rest of the country including Tibet.

I've lived in China and I concur that Chinese drivers are even worse than Thai drivers. Thai driving has now become fairly predictable to me, but Chinese style is anything but. On Feb 15 I was driving from Lampang to Bangkok and I counted as many as 33 Chinese cars driving on Thai highways, some as far south as around 130km north of Bangkok. It was an insane number I've never seen before. There 3 car mini convoys using the newest only partially finished bypass near Nakorn Sawan, and then just south of Nakorn Sawan, 3 stupid Chinese drivers were suddenly turning on their blinkers and cutting off trucks crossing 4 lanes of traffic to stop on the side of the road, rather than heading to a petrol/gas station ahead and changing lanes more gradually. Even though they didn't cut me off directly, I had to give them a lesson by loudly beeping my horn at them to show my displeasure, something I only very rarely need to do amongst Thai drivers.

This new law has also been brought into place for a variety of other reasons. One is that the Thai authorities finally woke up to the hypocrisy that is the unequal Thai-Chinese relationship and needed to bring in a law that would level the playing field a bit. As both of us have pointed out, it's very difficult to drive a Thai car to China so quite rightly Thais were not happy about this. It doesn't matter that the demand to drive to China wouldn't be very great, that's not the point. The unfair treatment is.

Secondly, accidents that have killed and injured Thai citizens, as well as a lack of insurance coverage and difficulty negotiating with Chinese drivers, few of whom speak English and even fewer who speak Thai means many Thais have had difficulty claiming in the event of an accident.

See this clip from a couple of months ago for a couple of cases:

[saorsa]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

I was thinking to ride a (UK registered) motorbike from UK to Thailand next year, is this out of the question now?

[Tomtomtom69]

"... drivers will have to adhere to all Thai traffic laws while driving in the nation."

That's a new one. Will that be enforced for Thai drivers as well or is this some novel idea for alien vehicles only?

Yes there will be a new system that cross-links immigration, customs and police records allowing foreign vehicles to be effectively tracked in case they break a traffic rule. Similarly, the system also ensures that vehicles do not overstay their stay permits.

Currently, I doubt that fixed cameras are capable of issuing fines to speeding and red light running foreign cars, hence they are able to escape across the border unpunished while Thai drivers have to pay fines that are posted to their home addresses.

On another thread in this news section, you would have probably noticed that the Thai police are apparently going to enforce 10 key traffic laws nationwide. While the verdict is still out on that one and I doubt there will be a huge change, I think in regards to foreign vehicles it doesn't seem at all unreasonable to try to enforce the same requirements as on local vehicles.

Making sure they pay their fines at the border, if implemented, will signal a major change to a currently non-existent system. Currently, Singapore already has such a system - apart from a 35 SGD per day entry fee that is considered equivalent to the cost of running a locally registered car, all foreign cars must have a transponder fitted, which deducts toll charges on expressways and city roads and any traffic fines accurred must be cleared at the border prior to the car being allowed exit. Quite a good system if you ask me.

Why should foreigners be allowed free entry with their cars and then get away with breaking traffic laws?

[GeorgesAbitbol]

I am guessing how the wealthy ones will be able to twist this one to buy their cars for less and without using the grey market

[Tomtomtom69]

I am guessing how the wealthy ones will be able to twist this one to buy their cars for less and without using the grey market

?? Not sure what that has got to do with anything. This is about bringing in foreign registered cars for tourism purposes. Unless you plan on paying a huge tax to register the car locally (and if it's got LHD it shouldn't be considered for permanent importation) then that won't be happening.

It is also illegal, in most cases, to import a used car to Thailand. Only new imported cars can be registered with the Land Transport Department except for vehicles owned by Thais that have lived overseas and are resuming residence in Thailand.

There are already other ways of bringing in brand new vehicles by dubious means. This new law does not address that nor is it in any way related. Stick to the topic please.

[Tomtomtom69]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

I was thinking to ride a (UK registered) motorbike from UK to Thailand next year, is this out o

f the question now?

Most likely yes but the new law does allow for exceptions if requested well in advance. The request must be made by a Thai based tourism operator to the land transport department office closest to where you plan to enter the country 30 business days in advance. Of course this means you will need to clearly outline what you want to do and allow more time than this as the advance notice requirement refers to when the LTD needs to receive notice not when you first contact a travel agency. You would want to contact either a major international travel agent like Diethelm or Asian Trails or otherwise a local agent in the province you intend on entering such as Chiang Rai.

I think you'll find it won't be much different to obtaining permission for driving through China, since that is the only safe way from Europe to Thailand now. Going through Turkey, Iran and Pakistan? No thanks. Even if you made it that far you would find Bangladesh difficult to enter (as well as risky) so that would mean a long detour to Indias north eastern states and then Myanmar which also requires advance permission and a guide.

Edited May 5, 2016 by Tomtomtom69

[JAG]

Oh and no motorhomes will be allowed to enter at all. No motorcycles either. Only cars and pickup trucks weighing no more than 3.5 tons GVM.

Tom,

are you sure about that?

Last year i was in Sonkhla and there was a French family driving around with a, right hand driven, Unimog mobilhome look al like. A big square box on wheels. This was certain a truck and weighted over 3;5 ton with no Thai plate.

That was last year ,this is now .

Saw a French registered motorhome in Chiang Rai yesterday!