Importing your car to Thailand

[Wayne Kerr]

Hoping one of you gang might have some current info on the taxes and duty involved in importing a second hand car (~ 6 years old) to Thailand. Spoke to some old contacts who advised today that tax would likely be 228% on the value of the vehicle + duty – hoping they didn’t mean 22.8%. Only considering the hassle as I may have space in a container for it on our return home plus I'll miss the old girl. Cheers old mates.

Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2010

[AntRobertson]

I don't really know the specifics but apparently there's a concession for Thai nationals to import a car at either a reduced duty or duty free. There are a few caveats though such as they have to have owned it for at least X number of years (I want to say two).

So if you're married to a Thai and the vehicle is in her name it might be worthwhile checking out. If not, absolutely no fucking help whatsoever.

[toslti]

This may be of assistance.

Customs English

[Luigi]

Thankfully it's an experience I have never been put through.

3L engine or over.... Luxury Tax bracket that is in the hundreds of %.

Plus extortion, theft and lies and other criminal acts by the officers as standard...

[Luigi]

Though you could import it as a 'gray' import by disassembling it into 3 separate parts - engine, chassis and body, import them separately and avoid the 300% luxury import tax, then assemble it here again and pay some dodgy Somchai to get a fake blue book.

Or sell it/give it away and buy one here.

[VocalNeal]

Spoke to some old contacts who advised today that tax would likely be 228% on the value of the vehicle

I'm not expert by far but just by reading and using a calculator if it has the 2.7l engine you will pay 146% total of it's value including the freight. If the engine is larger than 3l you will pay 196% of the new value including the freight or whatever they say the value is!

Everything has to be done before the vehicle enters Thailand, do not simply put it in a container and expect to sort it all out when it gets here.

Otherwise standard advice. Sell it and buy something with the money when you get here.

Siam Motor World maybe able to advise.

[Bettyboo]

If you do it, Wayne, then please do a detailed thread here on TD.

I suspect you'd be entering a world of pain if you attempted such a mission, but I have never tried it meself, so cannot be sure (I would not try it meself).

[Wayne Kerr]

Thanks all, especially tolsti for the link to customs page ... seems it is 200+% on value+insurance+freight cost ... combined with the inevitable anal probing by officials certainly not worth the hassle

[toslti]

You're welcome.