Importing a used vehicle

[StevePIraq]

I am considering importing a used vehicle from either USA or Australia. There appear to be so many contradictory articles on this. Does anyone know of a definitive web site, process that must be followed?
I realize there is a substantial import duty to be paid, and I accept this, however once again I have seen everything from 80% to 300% stated
Would it be beneficial to use a Thai importer?

[HHTel]

The below is the customs website and all the info you require is there. 240% of the value assessed by them is quite normal.


http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connec ... nalvehicle+

[JamesWest]

the bottom line is you are not going to import a vehicle. sorry to say.

example used Porsche Boxster from Los Angeles, USA. five year sold perfect condition. Cost in USA approx. $25,000

cost to bring to Thailand. $100,000 plus dollars.

that is why you do not see any "cool" used restored cars in Thailand. i am from LA the cool car capital of the world and it makes no sense to import a car. i wanted to import a old restored jeep. totally out of the question. they want $75,000 for a $8500 vehicle.

also i think used cars are no longer allowed to be imported at all.

this is one reason why used cars hold their value in Thailand.

welcome to the land of mediocre new cars and wildly expensive (for no good reason except thai government wanting 200% of the vaule of your car) super cars.

[StevePIraq]

I have to admit James is right. I followed the above link got in touch with the authorities in BKK, sent them the quotation on the vehicle I was considering, they came back to me same day advising the minimum duty including numerous taxes, duties, fees etc will be 239.3%, however this cannot be conformed until the vehicle lands and is inspected, then a valuation will be made and the total fee could go higher based on their assessment for which there is no negotiation.

I previously looked at new cars in LOS however the prices I are stupid, but what can one do. Even locally purchasing a new import is ridiculous. A while back I purchased in the Middle East a new top of the range V8 land cruiser for US$48k, in Thailand Fortuna costs 45k plus.

[Bristolian]

If you are looking at a Land Cruiser there appear to be "grey imports" as used, directly from Japan at higher prices but still do not reflect the duty that should apply!!

I live BKK in a condo overlooking one of the major toll roads. There appears to be an increasing number of Japanese cars with sun roofs, and who wants a sun roof in Thailand?, these are models that are not manufactured in Thailand. Probably worth looking for a dealer that specialises in these almost new imports from Japan.

I'm not sure if it's legal or on the fringe that the authorities ignore. I would be interested if anyone can explain how this works.

[VincentD]

Beware grey market cars as the local service centers will not entertain you when it comes to servicing. Lots of interesting models in the secondhand market if you poke around enough. Euro cars do not hold their value here so lots of bargains to be had.

[Terry]

..............There appears to be an increasing number of Japanese cars with sun roofs, and who wants a sun roof in Thailand?, these are models that are not manufactured in Thailand. Probably worth looking for a dealer that specialises in these almost new imports from Japan..................

I have a sunroof on the Accord 2.4 Tec which I bought 2 years ago. It's standard on that model. There are many other cars now available here with sun roofs.

I agree, during the heat of the day it's useless and you would cook, but I always retract the blind when driving at night and will often 'tilt' it at dusk or early morning.

Quite pleasant.

[STEVE G]

I previously looked at new cars in LOS however the prices I are stupid, but what can one do. Even locally purchasing a new import is ridiculous. A while back I purchased in the Middle East a new top of the range V8 land cruiser for US$48k, in Thailand Fortuna costs 45k plus.

That's why I bought a Thai built pick-up truck, they're about the only vehicles that are cheaper in Thailand than they are in Europe and look like a reasonable deal. A four door, 4WD costs about a million baht in Thailand and 25,000 GBP/30,000E+ in Europe. Everything else looks a bit silly in comparison.

[Spitfire]

^ Agree with SteveG. By far and away the best deal on a vehicle here are the Jap or Ford pickups.

Might as well just buy one of these raised up Japanese pickup trucks available here for 700-900k baht (4WD plus all the other trimmings 1 million as said above). All of them are OK rough & tough wise plus last for a long time if taken care of properly. Brand new, just less than 20k UK pounds (US $30k). I bought a new 4 door manual Mitsubishi Triton with lots of extras and video screen etc for 850k baht (17-18k UK pounds).....bargain really.

Most of the new cars here are expensive imo for what you get and they get chewed up/fronts scraped to bits because the roads still aren't good enough for many of them, plus the ramps and inclines.

A good pickup is the way forward. Servicing cheap as you like, parts everywhere, cope with the roads nicely and they hold their price reasonably well.

[REEM]

There are ways of bringing cars in, but you need good reliable well connected local contacts, the nerves of a high rolling poker player and balls of steel.

The car is imported with "prior arrangement" with the customs department, you "refuse" to pay the duty asked, again with the "cooperation" of your contact in the customs department and the car is put into one of the frequent public auctions that are held in the customs department grounds in Khlong Toey, Bangkok for impounded and confiscated vehicles.

Again, by "prior arrangement" and with fingers crossed, you bid for your car which, again by "prior arrangement" will be sold to you for a price considerably lower than that originally asked by the customs department.

[Spitfire]

Blimey, bit of a long shot there man. What could go wrong? lol

[Takiap]

I might be wrong but I have heard that quite often the Japanese imports are shipped/imported in the form of secondhand parts and then reassemble here in Thailand.

Interestingly, I came across a place in Bangkok that specialises in import secondhand bikes from Japan, but they only sell to overseas buyer. Basically, if you buy a bike from them you have to provide an address outside of Thailand, and they will then ship to that address only. I suspect that this is a legal operation which effectively allows the import and export of the bikes without the dealership having to pay import duties.

I wonder how if there is a way you could simply arrive in Thailand by road, driving your own "import" vehicle. Surely there are many Malaysians and etc that drive across the border in Thailand?

[STEVE G]

Blimey, bit of a long shot there man. What could go wrong? lol

Yes, it seems a ridiculous amount of bother just to get a bit of transport.

[Nereus]

I might be wrong but I have heard that quite often the Japanese imports are shipped/imported in the form of secondhand parts and then reassemble here in Thailand.

The following is a Jap import from 4 or 5 years ago. We opened up the V8 engine and it looked like it had just come off the factory assembly line.
But you may have your time cut out trying to reassseble this one!

DSC01341.JPG (83.28 KiB) Viewed 1085 times

DSC01342.JPG (88.03 KiB) Viewed 1085 times

[HHTel]

I wonder how if there is a way you could simply arrive in Thailand by road, driving your own "import" vehicle. Surely there are many Malaysians and etc that drive across the border in Thailand?

That comes under the label of 'Temporary Import'. You are allowed to use it in Thailand for a limited time (I think it's 90 days but I could be wrong). After that time it must be 'exported' out of the country.