Importing a Foreign Vehicle
The information you need if importing a new or used car vehicle to Thailand...
Foreign vehicles that have been moved permanently to Thailand need to be officially registered with the authorities. The Customs Information Service Center Tel: 1164 is on hand to deal with inquiries.
Importing a Foreign Vehicle
There are to ways in which a vehicle can be imported into Thailand:
- Temporary importation
- Permanent importation
Temporary Importation
The website of the Thai Customs Department has comprehensive information indicating exactly what is
required for the temporary importation of a vehicle (including motorcycles,
yachts and boats).
- For full details
of temporary
importation procedures
Taxes and import duty are not payable by those
who import a vehicle for a short visit (up to six months) with the
intention of taking the vehicle out of Thailand at the end of the visit.
However, a cash deposit or bank guarantee that covers the amount of liable
taxes and duties is required. This will be forfeited if the vehicle is not
exported within the time indicated on the temporary import papers.
Required Documents:
- The temporary import
declaration form, plus five copies
- The vehicle's
registration certificate
- The passport or
identification card of the vehicle's owner
- An application form for
the temporary import of the vehicle
- A proforma invoice or
invoice
- A certificate of legal
entity
- A re-export contract
- If the car is to be
driven by someone other than the owner, proof of power of attorney is
required
All fittings and accessories such as stereo
systems and DVD players must be declared at the time of importation. Failure to
declare these may result in the importer being fined, or even the seizure of
the vehicle.
Procedure
At the point of entry into Thailand, the
importer or agent must submit the temporary import declaration form. Once the
form and relevant documents have been checked, the importer or agent must
deposit the bank guarantee with the Cashier Division of the Thai Customs
Department. Once the vehicle has been checked, the importer or agent will
receive one copy of the form to keep, which they must return to the Thai
Customs Department when leaving the country.
The relevant forms can be obtained from the
Thai Customs Department at any point of entry into Thailand, or by contacting
the department directly.
- Tel: 02 667 7000 ext. 20-5523, 20-7638 or 20-5539
- Call centre: 1164
Note: There are agents that can assist with the entire process of temporarily
importing a vehicle into Thailand.
A temporary import permit may be extended up
to a maximum of two months in exceptional circumstances, such as an accident or
broken engine. Anyone wishing to do this must inform the Customs Department in
writing, indicating the exceptional reasons. If a vehicle is not taken out of
Thailand within the time-limit, a 100-Baht fine per day will be issued.
A person wishing to permanently import a car
that only has a temporary import paper must write to the Customs Department
that issued the temporary import papers. It will then levy the full amount due
for taxes and duties as shown in the re-export contract.
A temporarily imported vehicle does not
require registration but must leave the
country within the allocated time, or else become liable for high taxes and
fines.
Permanent
Importation
A person with a non-immigrant visa and a work
permit valid for at least one year may import one new
or used vehicle for personal use.
Note: New or used vehicles permanently imported into Thailand are
generally subject to very high taxes and duties (often around 200 percent of
the vehicle's value).
- The Thai Customs
Department has comprehensive information indicating exactly what is required
for the permanent
importation of a vehicle into Thailand (scroll down
to Permanent Import of Personal Vehicles)
Any prospective importer is required to have
an import permit from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Attempts to import without the correct permit will
result in the vehicle's seizure and the imposition of large fines. The
information and forms on the Ministry of Commerce website are in Thai only, and
owing to the complicated nature of importing a car permanently into Thailand,
it is advisable to use a Thai-speaking agent. The import permit must be issued
before the vehicle's arrival in Thailand.
Required Documents:
The following documents are required for the
permanent import of a new vehicle:
- A valid non-immigrant
visa
- A work permit valid for
at least one year
- An import declaration
form
- A bill of loading or air
waybill
- Sale documents
- The Delivery Order
(Customs Form No. 100/1)
- Foreign Transaction Form
2 in cases where the CIF value of the imported vehicles exceeds 500,000
Baht
- An insurance premium
invoice
Used or second hand vehicles will also require
the following documents:
- House registration
certificate (Tabien
Baan), land title (Chanote)
or condo title deed
- Passport
- A vehicle registration
certificate indicating that the imported vehicle was used abroad for at
least 18 months
- An import permit from
the Ministry of Commerce
Procedure
At the port of entry into Thailand, the importer or agent must submit the relevant documents. Once the Customs Department has assessed the taxes and duties necessary and the importer has paid them, the importer must present the receipt issued by the Cashier Division to the Customs Department. After this, the vehicle will be released by the Customs Department.