Thread: Import Tax on Wife Owned Car

The restrictive prices of cars in Thailand is a downside to living there IMHO.

Originally Posted by Travelmate

Same goes for JJ who actually have not done it yet.

You're right. Wasn't worth it. Flogged it to a mate for a decent price. Atlas commercial in Darwin. Speak to Joe, he's a good bloke.

Shame really cos it was a good old truck and seen very good service all over Aus.

Never mind, we've got the old hilux, should last a while.

Here is link for Thai Customs info on car import.

>> Thai Customs <<

Unless you get one from your wife the customs Officer

You guys ought to get out the bars and wed a cop/immigration or customs lady

Originally Posted by sabang

I sent all our stuff here via container, in my wifes name as a returning Thai- and it was a doddle.
Wish I'd known then what I know now, I would have brought the car too, as well as a quad bike, some kayaks, and other good stuff I left behind out of fear of the infamous Thai customs people.

personal items is a different issue and there is no tax involved, very easy to do

importing a car under the same rules is another issue altogether, I looked at this at every corner and talked to different agents, and they all said the same thing, you are going to get squeeze

Too right your gonna get fucked, when the retail price for a European motor is marked up at Luxury Tax 250%

Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii

Too right your gonna get fucked, when the retail price for a European motor is marked up at Luxury Tax 250%

It would have been 135% in this case. Minus 26.67% for owning the car for 24 months, so a 108.33% tax would have been payable.

It could still be worth it though. We'll see.

You need to know someone in a high position to take that risk

They've got you by the short and curlies as soon as you try and enter

How you getting it here ?

Surely there'll be a Toyota, Mitsubishi or Lexus equivalent that will be far more viable ?

Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii

You need to know someone in a high position to take that risk

They've got you by the short and curlies as soon as you try and enter

exactly, it's not like they don't know those laws already, they are like honey traps for the poor idiots to fall into

The Thai customs are unpredictable to say the least, and the people who work in that department are most certainly a law unto themselves.

Originally Posted by English Noodles

The Thai customs are unpredictable to say the least, and the people who work in that department are most certainly a law unto themselves.

you got it, and that basically summarize the whole situation, it's impossible to do under normal conditions

Guess I will have to try and create unusual conditions then.

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Guess I will have to try and create unusual conditions then

that's basically how it's played, if you have contacts there, use them and there will be no problem, otherwise, be prepared to be fucked

keep us posed

I am currently going through this nightmare process, it has now been dragging on for 3 month's! In order for a Thai national to bring a vehicle into Thailand the following applies: (1) They must have owned the vehicle for 18 months in the respective country, (2) They must have held a full Driving licence in that country for over 18 months, (3) They must have stayed in that country for over 18 months since owning the vehicle, (4) The vehicle must NOT leave the country that it is in, before the Import Permit is issued.

In order to obtain an Import permit the Thai National must visit the Thai Ministry of Commerce as well as the Port Authority, both in Bangkok. They will need to see photo's of the vehicle (engine number, chassis number, registration plate, preferably with the owner in, on or beside the vehicle), all the logbooks, driving licences, passports etc etc. They even check all the stamps in their passport to check that they have not returned to Thailand before the 18 months!!! This is just to obtain an Import Permit, let alone the nightmare once the vehicle reaches the docks.

As previously stated by other posters/members, unless the vehicle is extremely rare, of huge sentimental value or you are prepared for a nightmare and are prepared to spend an enormous amount of money, don't do it.

prepared to spend an enormous amount of money, don't do it.

these threads come up every few months, someone wants to bring in a bling motor and think they can beat the thai customs department.

why on earth anyone would want an audi tt in thailand is beyond me, euro sport cars become uncomfortable boneshakers here, the suspension settings are not right for thai streets, the little posemobile would have its suspension all but destroyed within 3 months, that is if it didnt disappear into a pothole first.

i went to a customs department car auction recently, went with a thai friend who collects jags, they sell off all their impounded cars every so often. the yard was full of jags, bentleys, minis, beemers and benzes. they mostly sold below market price, but not much below. what i learnt there was that private car importation is a very risky undertaking and the customs department are a law unto themselves.

go to the customs dept. website and check out the next auction. you may find what you are looking for there, and if you buy there, they register and legalise the vehicle for you.

^
Have you got a link for that ?

I thought they stopped posting the auctions on their website years ago

Originally Posted by taxexile

i went to a customs department car auction recently, went with a thai friend who collects jags, they sell off all their impounded cars every so often. the yard was full of jags, bentleys, minis, beemers and benzes. they mostly sold below market price, but not much below. what i learnt there was that private car importation is a very risky undertaking and the customs department are a law unto themselves. go to the customs dept. website and check out the next auction. you may find what you are looking for there, and if you buy there, they register and legalise the vehicle for you.

Interesting post.

Have you got a link for that ?

I thought they stopped posting the auctions on their website years ago

you may be correct, their website doesnt list any auctions.

Welcome to www.customs.go.th


heres the link to the car importation info.

Customs English

and i came across this interesting thai classic car forum


http://www.thaiclassiccar.com/forum/index.php

What kind of bender wants to sit in the passenger seat of a TT

Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii

What kind of bender wants to sit in the passenger seat of a TT

No idea. What sort of idiot would get in the car with their wife driving?

Are you one of those guys who has to control what kind of car their wife drives, what kind of clothes she can wear, and where she can go with her friends?

Originally Posted by sabang

^ Not really. Sure, a 'bribe' is the norm, but they don't stop you bringing your stuff in.
I sent all our stuff here via container, in my wifes name as a returning Thai- and it was a doddle.
Wish I'd known then what I know now, I would have brought the car too, as well as a quad bike, some kayaks, and other good stuff I left behind out of fear of the infamous Thai customs people.

Sabang, motor vehicles are not looked on the same as household goods in Thai customs. Anything with a motor will be slapped with a healthy "bribe." There are many different stories on this topic because each officer has their own way of doing things. The law states one thing and the customs department say something completely different. We have all experienced this phenomenon when dealing with anyone of authority in Thailand. Yes, the law says it can be done, but in reality, it is a crap shoot. I would love to get a couple of motorcycles over here and am currently working on that, but at the end of the day, it is still a risk.

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Are you one of those guys who has to control what kind of car their wife drives, what kind of clothes she can wear, and where she can go with her friends?

No, I'm a pussy like that, but there's nothing worse than having to buy one of these, when the Mercs in for a service

What would be the second hand value after 2 years? Do they base the tax on the new price

Originally Posted by English Noodles

The Thai customs are unpredictable to say the least, and the people who work in that department are most certainly a law unto themselves.

Use your connections... you know, like human traffickers, cheap tattoo 'artists' and the such.