PLEASE NOTE: SIAM Shipping no longer offers car import services in Thailand. Only diplomats' vehicles can be imported as they are exempted from customs duties.

In this article, we will be exploring the process of importing a car into Thailand. With the rise in popularity of foreign vehicles, many individuals are choosing to import a car instead of purchasing one locally. This can be a complex process, but with the right information and preparation, it can be a smooth and successful experience. We will be covering everything from selecting a car, to customs regulations and taxes, to the final steps of registering your imported car in Thailand. Whether you are a resident or just visiting, this article will provide you with the information you need to import a car in Thailand with ease.

How to Import a car to Thailand?

Importing a vehicle in Thailand is anything except an easy task to accomplish. You will have to achieve a sizable paperwork, no matter of the type of vehicle and purpose of this import. Depending on the time you need your vehicle to stay in the territory of Thailand, you can be dutiable to pay zero to 200% of the value of your vehicle.

Also, because of the import taxes policy, you must know that the prices of foreign new cars in the Thai dealership are almost doubled comparing to their place of origin. For example, a new Mercedes E Class costs 46ย 850 โ‚ฌ in Germany, while in Thailand it costs 92ย 691 โ‚ฌ.

Now that you have a global idea of the Thai legislation in terms of vehicle importation, letโ€™s study your personal case precisely, to see what is needed to be done.

 

Temporary Import of Personal Vehicle

If your vehicle (motor vehicle, motorcycle, yacht, sports boat, fishing boatโ€ฆ) is aiming to stay for a period of 1-2 months, but not exceeding 6 months, you will not have to pay any duty.

The necessary documents are the following:

  • A Special Goods Declaration and 5 copies of it
  • A Vehicle Registration Certificate
  • The international driving license, the passport and the ID card of the pilot of the vehicle
  • If the pilot and the owner of the vehicle are two different persons, a Letter of Attorney should be provided
  • The well-completed application form
  • A proforma invoice to testify the purchase of the vehicle
  • A Certificate of Legal Entity
  • A re-export Contract
  • Any other applicable documents

 

Clearance processย 

  • Your agent / The importer transmits all the record to the Customs office at the port of entry. Furthermore, passengers, luggage, vehicleโ€™s accessories must be declared simultaneously at the Customs.
  • Customs checks the record, assigns a Declaration number, and then implements a bank guarantee or a cash deposit that covers the duties and responsibilities.
  • Your agent / The importer positions the money or bank guarantee in a cashier desk.

 

Deposit of Guarantee

There are two forms of deposit of guarantee, a bank guarantee or a cash deposit. The amount of money evaluated by Customs is based on all duties and taxes to be paid to Customs. The agent/importer should provide Customs with a document testifying that the guarantee is deposited.

An exception is made for motorcycles imported via the Suvarnabhumi International Airport Cargo Clearance Customs Office or the Bangkok Port Customs Office. In that situation, the importer can position himself as a guarantee. In this objective, the importer must ask his Embassy to provide Customs with a letter approving its self-guarantee.

Procedures for exporting back the vehicles

  • The agent/exporter returns the duplicate of the Simplified Goods Declaration to the Customs desk at the port of exit.
  • The belongings and vehicle are inspected again and recorded for the exportation.
  • The import registration is suppressed, and the bank guarantee/cash deposit is given back to the agent/exporter.
  • If the exportation within the deadline established in the bond and security paper is failed, the total amount of bank guarantee/cash deposit will be fully imposed by Customs.

 

Imposition of Guarantee

The full amount of guarantee deposited will be imposed by customs if the time-limit is exceeded, or if the importer testifies that he doesnโ€™t wish to export back the vehicle.

If the importer is wanting to extend the staying of his vehicle, Customs may allow an up to six months-time-limit extensions. For all exceptional occurrence, like engine accident or breakageโ€ฆ an extension of 6 to 8 months from the date of importation may be attributed. All this should be made at a Customs office.

import your car in thailand

Permanent Import of Personal Vehicle

All categories of new vehicles that arenโ€™t yet registered overseas can be imported without an import permit issued by the Ministry of Commerce. If the vehicle is weighing less than 3500 Kgs, an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute is required.ย 

Requirements for a Used/Second hand Vehicle Permanent Import

  • Only one second hand/used vehicle can be imported by the importer for personal purpose.
  • If he or she is a non-resident, the importer must stay in Thailand for one year minimum, and present work-permit and a non-immigrant visa.
  • If he or she is a Thai resident marrying a foreigner, the importer must provide documents testifying of marriage and change of residence to Thailand. He also must possess the imported vehicle for minimum one year and a half before the arrival date in Thailand.
  • If he or she is a Thai resident, the importer can import a vehicle only at the same time of the change of residence. He also must own the vehicle for a year and a half at minimum, before moving to Thailand.

 

Documents required

General documentation:

  • An Import Goods Declaration and 3 copies;
  • An Airway Bill or Bill of Lading
  • An evidence of the vehicle purchase
  • A Release Order (Kor Sor Kor 100/1)
  • An insurance premium invoice
  • Any other valuable documents

 

Further documentation for second hand/used personal vehicles:

  • ID Card and Certificate of residence
  • If itโ€™s a change of residence, a Passport
  • A Vehicle Registration Certificate
  • An Import Permit

 

Import Clearance Procedures

  1. The agent/importer provides to the Customs desk at the port of entry the Import Goods Declaration with all the necessary documents
  2. All the documents are checked, a Goods Declaration number is given, the Customs evaluates the applying duties and taxes
  3. The agent/importer pays the taxes and duties at a Cashier Office
  4. The agent/importer provides the receipt of the deposit to a Customs office
  5. The vehicle is freed from the Customs warehouse

 

Duty and Tax Calculation

  • The considered value of the vehicles imported are their CIF value
  • In case that the purchase price remains undetermined, a 25% devaluation on the โ€œParkers Car Price Guide and Japanese Carโ€ prices are occurred as a FOB value
  • Any enhancement or modification on the vehicle is well-noted to calculate its value
  • If any occurrence has damaged the vehicle, it will be considered in the vehicleโ€™s value calculation

For second hand/used vehicles the value is devaluated according to this method shown below:

 

Discount Rates for Second Hand/Used Vehicles
1 Registration Period Not exceeding โ€“ 2 months But not exceeding โ€“ โ€“ 2.5 % Discount
2 Registration Period Exceeding โ€“ 2 months But not exceeding โ€“ 4 months 5 % Discount
3 Registration Period Exceeding โ€“ 4 months But not exceeding โ€“ 6 months 7.5 % Discount
4 Registration Period Exceeding โ€“ 6 months But not exceeding โ€“ 8 months 10 % Discount
5 Registration Period Exceeding โ€“ 8 months But not exceeding โ€“ 10 months
12.50 % Discount
6 Registration Period Exceeding โ€“ 10 months But not exceeding 1 year โ€“
15.00 % Discount
7 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year โ€“ But not exceeding 1 year 2 months
16.67 % Discount
8 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year 2 months But not exceeding 1 year 4 months
18.33 % Discount
9 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year 4 months But not exceeding 1 year 6 months
20.00 % Discount
10 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year 6 months But not exceeding 1 year 8 months
21.67 % Discount
11 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year 8 months But not exceeding 1 year 10 months
23.33 % Discount
12 Registration Period Exceeding 1 year 10 months But not exceeding 2 years โ€“
25.00 % Discount
13 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years โ€“ But not exceeding 2 years 2 months
26.67 % Discount
14 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years 2 months But not exceeding 2 years 4 months
28.33 % Discount
15 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years 4 months But not exceeding 2 years 6 months
30.00 % Discount
16 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years 6 months But not exceeding 2 years 8 months
31.67 % Discount
17 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years 8 months But not exceeding 2 years 10 months
33.33 % Discount
18 Registration Period Exceeding 2 years 10 months But not exceeding 3 years โ€“
35.00 % Discount
19 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years โ€“ But not exceeding 3 years 2 months
36.67 % Discount
20 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years 2 months But not exceeding 3 years 4 months
38.33 % Discount
21 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years 4 months But not exceeding 3 years 6 months
40.00 % Discount
22 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years 6 months But not exceeding 3 years 8 months
41.67 % Discount
23 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years 8 months But not exceeding 3 years 10 months
43.33 % Discount
24 Registration Period Exceeding 3 years 10 months But not exceeding 4 years โ€“
45.00 % Discount
25 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years โ€“ But not exceeding 4 years 2 months
46.67 % Discount
26 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years 2 months But not exceeding 4 years 4 months
48.33 % Discount
27 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years 4 months But not exceeding 4 years 6 months
50.00 % Discount
28 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years 6 months But not exceeding 4 years 8 months
51.67 % Discount
29 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years 8 months But not exceeding 4 years 10 months
53.33 % Discount
30 Registration Period Exceeding 4 years 10 months But not exceeding 5 years โ€“
55.00 % Discount
31 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years โ€“ But not exceeding 5 years 2 months
55.83 % Discount
32 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years 2 months But not exceeding 5 years 4 months
56.67 % Discount
33 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years 4 months But not exceeding 5 years 6 months
57.50 % Discount
34 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years 6 months But not exceeding 5 years 8 months
58.33 % Discount
35 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years 8 months But not exceeding 5 years 10 months
59.17 % Discount
36 Registration Period Exceeding 5 years 10 months But not exceeding 6 years โ€“
60.00 % Discount
37 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years โ€“ But not exceeding 6 years 2 months
60.50 % Discount
38 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years 2 months But not exceeding 6 years 4 months
61.00 % Discount
39 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years 4 months But not exceeding 6 years 6 months
61.50 % Discount
40 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years 6 months But not exceeding 6 years 8 months
62.00 % Discount
41 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years 8 months But not exceeding 6 years 10 months
62.50 % Discount
42 Registration Period Exceeding 6 years 10 months But not exceeding 7 years โ€“
63.00 % Discount
43 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years โ€“ But not exceeding 7 years 2 months
63.50 % Discount
44 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years 2 months But not exceeding 7 years 4 months
64.00 % Discount
45 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years 4 months But not exceeding 7 years 6 months
64.50 % Discount
46 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years 6 months But not exceeding 7 years 8 months
65.00 % Discount
47 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years 8 months But not exceeding 7 years 10 months
65.50 % Discount
48 Registration Period Exceeding 7 years 10 months But not exceeding 8 years โ€“
66.00 % Discount
49 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years โ€“ But not exceeding 8 years 2 months
66.33 % Discount
50 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years 2 months But not exceeding 8 years 4 months
66.67 % Discount
51 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years 4 months But not exceeding 8 years 6 months
67.00 % Discount
52 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years 6 months But not exceeding 8 years 8 months
67.33 % Discount
53 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years 8 months But not exceeding 8 years 10 months
67.67 % Discount
54 Registration Period Exceeding 8 years 10 months But not exceeding 9 years โ€“
68.00 % Discount
55 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years โ€“ But not exceeding 9 years 2 months
68.33 % Discount
56 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years 2 months But not exceeding 9 years 4 months
68.67 % Discount
57 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years 4 months But not exceeding 9 years 6 months
69.00 % Discount
58 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years 6 months But not exceeding 9 years 8 months
69.33 % Discount
59 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years 8 months But not exceeding 9 years 10 months
69.67 % Discount
60 Registration Period Exceeding 9 years 10 months But not exceeding 10 years โ€“
70.00 % Discount
61 Registration Period Exceeding 10 years โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“
According to a condition of vehicle

Insurance Cost

  • If the insurance cost is paid before that the vehicle arrives, the same cost is applied
  • If the cost of insurance isnโ€™t available, it is evaluated at 1% of the FOB value (maybe different according to type of vehicles)

 

Transport cost

  • The most expensive cost of the same model and brand of vehicle imported in the last six months will serve as a value
  • The most expensive cost of the different model of vehicle imported in the last six months, considering the vehicle category, weight and provenance, will serve as a value
  • The higher cost is retained
  • If itโ€™s an air import, the actual transport cost is retained
  • If the transport costs detailed above are not findable, the cost is evaluated at 10% of the FOB value
  • The interior tax is evaluated at 10% of the Excise tax

 

Table of Tax and Duty Rates:

Category of Vehicle Cylinder Capacity Duty (%) Excise Tax (%) (Multiplier) Interior Tax (%)* VAT (%) Total (%)
Personal Vehicle including passenger vehicle with no more than 10 seats
Not exceeding 2000 cc. and not more than 220 horse power 80 30 (0.4477612) 10 7 187.47
2001 cc. but not exceeding 2500 cc. and not more than 220 horse power 80 35 (0.5691057) 10 7 213.171
2501 cc. or but not exceeding 3000 cc. with not more than 220 horse power 80 40 (0.7142857) 10 7 243.94
Exceeding 3000 cc. or more than 220 horse power 80 50 (1.1111111) 10 7 328

The total import duties and taxes imposed on this import are calculated as the following examples:

1. Import duty = (CIF value * Import duty rate)

= (100 * 0.8)

= 80 Thai Baht

2. Excise tax = (CIF value + import duty) * {Excise tax rate / 1- (1.1 * Excise tax rate)}

= (100 + 80) * {0.35 / 1- (1.1 * 0.35)} = 180 * 0.5691057

= 102,439 Thai Baht

3. Domestic Tax = Excise Tax * Domestic Tax Rate

= 102.439 * 0.1

= 10.2439 Thai baht

4. Basic VAT = (CIF value + import duty + excise tax + domestic tax)

= (100 + 80 + 102.439 + 10.2439)

= 292.6829 Thai baht

5. VAT = basic VAT * VAT rate

= 292.6829 * 0.07

= 20.4878 Thai baht

Total customs duties = 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 = 213.171 THB

Additional Information

Category of Vehicle Cylinder Capacity Duty (%) Total (%)
Motor Vehicle (Tariff Heading 87.03)
Not exceeding 2000 cc. 80 188
2001 cc. but not exceeding 2500 cc. 80 213
2501 cc. or but not exceeding 3000 cc. 80 244
More than 3001 cc. 80 328
Motorbike (Tariff Heading 87.11)
60 77.04
Electric Motorbike
60 72
Electric Bicycle 60 72

 

SIAM Shipping | Procurement - Quality control - Logistics

 

Alibaba, Dhgate, made-in-china... Many know of websites to get supplies in Asia, but how many have come across a scam ?! It is very risky to pay an Asian supplier halfway around the world based only on promises! DocShipper offers you complete procurement services integrating logistics needs: purchasing, quality control, customization, licensing, transport...

Communication is important, which is why we strive to discuss in the most suitable way for you!

import-car-thailand-container