Importing a private car to LOS...

[Guest]

Hope this is the right forum! Moving to LOS 2009 (first need to find a decent job, teaching) Living in S.Korea pesently, where cars are very cheap compared to LOS.
When I have my job and visa etc can I import my own car from Korea and what charges will I have to pay? Import duty for instance and any others.
Tried the net but could not get any info in English.
Thank you for your time.

[mardhi]

You have next to no chance of importing a car unless your very well connected. And if your very well connected just look at the Thai customs website selling cars from people who thought they were well connected. Its a total crap shoot - just accept it and buy at a Thai Price.

Cheers
Mardhi

[stogie bear]

Hi Thays...

You got the right forum, mate!

Mardhi is right... You'd be better moving Thailand to your car!

New vehicles of all types not yet registered abroad are allowed to be imported without applying for an import permit from the Ministry of Commerce. However, for the vehicles with the weight less than 3500 Kgs., an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute, telephone number 02-2023331.

But in your case used/secondhand vehicles need to obtain an import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce, telephone 02-5474804.

For the vehicles with the weight less than 3500 Kgs., an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute as well!

Now, if you're SURE you want to do this here's some more info...  

Warning...

For the importation of used/secondhand vehicles, an importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce before the arrival of the vehicles; otherwise he/she shall be liable to a fine equal to 10 percent of the price of vehicle but not less than 1,000 Thai Baht, or exceeding 20,000 Thai Baht.

Criteria for a Permanent Import of Used/Secondhand Vehicles...

[1] An importer is eligible to import only ONE used/ secondhand vehicles for personal use.

[2] In case where the importer is a nonresident, he/she is required to stay in Thailand for at least ONE year and present a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Bureau, the National Police Office together with a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare at the time of importation.

[3] In case where an importer is a Thai resident marrying a foreigner, he/she is required to present documentary evidence of marriage and proof of changing residence to Thailand. Also the importer has to own and possess the imported vehicle for at least one and a half year while staying abroad, from the date of transferring the ownership to the date of arrival into Thailand.

[4] In case where an importer is a Thai resident, he/she is allowed to import a vehicle only when such vehicle is accompanied the owner on the change of residence and he/she has owned and possessed the imported vehicle together with the valid driving license for at least one and a half year while staying abroad.

Documentation...

[1] General Documentation:

€¢ An Import Goods Declaration and 3 duplicates;
€¢ A Bill of Lading or Air Waybill;
€¢ Proof of vehicle purchase (if any);
€¢ A Release Order (Kor Sor Kor 100/1);
€¢ An insurance premium invoice; and
€¢ Other relevant documents (if any) e.g. a power of attorney.

[2] Additional Documentation for the used/secondhand personal vehicles:
 
€¢ A House Certificate and an Identification Card;
€¢ A passport in case of changing residence;
€¢ A Vehicle Registration Certificate indicating that the imported vehicle was used abroad;
€¢ An import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce

Import Clearance Procedures...

[1] An importer/agent submits an Import Goods Declaration together with all supporting documents to the Customs office/house at the port of entry;
[2] Customs verifies the documents, allocates a Goods Declaration number and calculates liable taxes and duties;
[3] The importer/agent pays liable taxes and duties at a Cashier Office; and
[4] The importer/agent presents the receipt issued by the Cashier Office to a Customs Inspection Office to bring the imported vehicles from Customs custody.

Tax and Duty Assessment...

The Customs value of the imported vehicles is determined on the basis of the CIF value (Cost & Insurance & Freight)
[1] Customs Value

€¢ Purchase prices of new vehicles imported or exported by an authorized dealer.
€¢ If the purchase price in 4.1.1 is not available, the price listed in the Parkers Car Price Guide, Japanese Car and What Car ?
€¢ Costs of any modification or improvement of parts or accessories done on the vehicle are also taken into account.
€¢ In case where the vehicle is damaged by any incidents other than normal use e.g car accidents, fire, etc. the price of the vehicle is discounted as appropriate.

And after that it's piss easy...

Welcome to Thailand!    

[pacman]

I don't know what to make of this do you think they mightn't want private cars imported ??

Hmmmmm, it's a hard one ....

[Guest]

Looks like I'll be riding a moped!

[SamplerDoc]

New cars in LOS can be had for just 1-2 million THB, about the norm in most countries.
If you buy a car second hand (pre-owned) save a ton more.

[stogie bear]

I'm guessing you've never bought a used car in Thailand, right?

[Road Runner]

(stogie bear @ Jul. 27 2008,01:39)  I'm guessing you've never bought a used car in Thailand, right?  

You got there before me SB!

Until they get to be about 4-5 years old secondhand car prices in Thailand are nearly the same as new!

Add to that the Thais do not look after their cars very well.

I can only recommend buying new.

RR.

[SamplerDoc]

Okay...I will add the keyword...COULD

[rossco]

As Mardhi pointed out importing a car is a lottery.

When I relocated here I asked my shipping agents about shipping a 2nd hand car - they said I could be liable for up to 200% import duty! Based on their (customs) valuation.

Interesting that when my container arrived the clearing agent (Asian Tigers) called me and said that customs had 'offered' not to open my container for a fee of 25,000 baht. I paid the 25,000 - I should have put the car in the bloody container as well!

Once the car is here you then need to get it registered for the road - more paperwork and greasing of palms.

A new car here is well advised as cars only depreciate by about 10% per annum (quote from Toyota).

The most common vehicle here is a pick up.

Isuzu, Toyota, Mazda all do a 2 wheel drive (x4 is more and not worth it) 4 door, Automatic pick up for 850,000 on the road.

These 4 door versions are pretty much like a car inside but have the pick up bay for beach trips or for your Thai relatives - just ask them not to BBQ when driving!

[manarak]

one question: are cars with the driving wheel on the left side (european continental cars) allowed to drive in Thailand?

[Road Runner]

I have seen one of two but they are rare.

Proably because of the difficulties of importing them.

RR.

[hardpaolo]

Certain makes of car are very expensive in Thailand (asia) because they are not manufactured in the region. If you buy a car that is made in the region you will pay a normal price ie Toyota or Mazda however if you want a BMW, Merc or Mini etc you will pretty much be paying double the Uk price as an example.

[mardhi]

Thats actually only partly correct - the exclusive marques charge a premium purely because they can. Both BMW and Benz assemble cars in Thailand - so get around most of the tax, however they still elect to charge more and the stupid public assume it must be worth double the price and then buy it.

Reality is that the said brands could sell for much lower prices, but choose not to. Mini is a classic case of marketing to the Asians - should feature as part of an MBA programme - they have been able to sell loads of these cars at 3-4 times the price they would sell for for example in the UK. Considering the UK has 17.5% VAT included - makes you wonder how much money BMW are making on every car they sell. Sure they are not selling as many as in other markets, but even so, its a classic case of good marketing baloney over substance of what the product is really worth. Honda are probably staggered at how a Mini sells for 5 times as much as a Jazz, despite not really being much different.

Cheers
mardhi

[Road Runner]

(mardhi @ Jul. 28 2008,12:51) Honda are probably staggered at how a Mini sells for 5 times as much as a Jazz, despite not really being much different.

I'm staggered too!      

I've driven a Jazz and it's a brilliant little car  -  never tried the new Mini.

However I have seen something like 5 or 6 Minis broken down at the side of the road in the UK  -  admittedly mostly shortly after they were first introduced  -  though I did see another one very recently.

How many broken down Jazzs have I seen  -  NONE!

RR.