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Which SUV should I own in Thailand?


Gringo_In_Dubai

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I am currently interviewing for a job based 14 km from Pattaya. The salary is a cut in pay, but that can be offset by living and working in Thailand.

 

I currently live in the UAE, so of course I have three gas guzzling SUV's. Should I import one or sell all three?

 

  1. 2008 GMC Acadia - Anthracite Grey - 100,000 KM
  2. 2009 Hummer H2 - Black - 65,000 KM
  3. 2011 Hyundai Tuscon - White - 4000 km

  • What is the cost per liter of premium gas?
  • Are there competent people or nearby dealers to service repair these vehicles? I would imagine the H2 would be tough and the Tuscon easy
  • What are the import taxes (if any) or restrictions?
  • How expensive is car insurance?

Also, what is the most popular SUV in Thailand? Here the Toyota Land Crusier is by far #1, with the Prado and Pajero at a tie for #2 and the FJ Cruiser and Pathfinders rounding out the Top 5.

 

BTW I have never ridden a motorcycle, so that does not really appeal to me. Although I may consider a 50 cc scooter for short trips.

Thanks guys!

Edited by Gringo_In_Dubai
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From Thai Customs Department

 

 

 

 

A PERMANENT IMPORT OF PERSONAL VEHICLES

 

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, Tel. 02-2023331.

 

Used / secondhand vehicles need to obtain an import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Tel. 02-5474804. For the vehicles with the weight less than 3500 Kgs., the importer needs to obtain an import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute as well.

 

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 Baht, or exceeding 20,000 Baht.

 

1. 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.

 

 

2. Documents

 

(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

 

3. 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) An importer/agent pays liable taxes and duties at a Cashier Office; and

(4) An importer/agent presents the receipt issued by the Cashier Office to a Customs Inspection Office to bring the imported vehicles from Customs custody.

 

4. Tax and Duty Assessment: The Customs value of the imported vehicles is determined on the basis of the CIF value (Cost & Insurance & Freight).

4.1 Customs Value

4.1.1 Purchase prices of new vehicles imported or exported by an authorized person

4.1.2 If the purchase price in 4.1.1 is not available, the price listed in the Parkers Car Price Guide and Japanese Car with 25% discount may be applied as the FOB value.

4.1.3 Costs of any modification or improvement of parts or accessories done on the vehicle are also be taken into account.

4.1.4 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.

4.1.5 The Customs value for used/secondhand vehicles is discounted according to the registration period as shown in the given table below:

 

 

This continues at the above link.

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.

 

Winston Churchill

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The Toyota Fortuna is a popular car here.

 

A large SUV, that has 3 rows of seats, the last row you can lay flat for extra boot space.

 

Cost of fuel, about 33 baht per litre.

 

I have heard import taxes are high.

 

Me, I would sell all 3, and buy a Toyota Fortuna locally, as Toyota has a big presence in Thailand.

 

If you google "Toyota Fortuna" you will get some details of what it looks like etc.

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BTW I have never ridden a motorcycle, so that does not really appeal to me. Although I may consider a 50 cc scooter for short trips.

 

 

Pattaya is fairly manic traffic wise, when it comes to motorbikes, They have automatic Scooters, most of them are between 110cc and 135cc.

 

There are a lot of "bad" drivers around driving Scooters, and most people have no license and no formal training.

 

Not the best place to "learn to ride", but up to you. Maybe get a car first and take a look around you at the crazy people on Scooters.

 

Best scooter for a "Gringo", the Honda PCX. (you can google and get pictures on that one as well...

 

All the best

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I noticed quite a lot of Isuzu pickup crewcabs when I was there and I think they are built in Thailand locally, I wouldn't import because Thailand drives on the left with right hand drive which would be a nuisance for a LHD car!

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Forget about importing your 2nd hand cars unless they are unique pieces.

 

Sell them and buy a local made SUV. This saves a lot for repairs and spare parts.

BEER: HELPING UGLY PEOPLE HAVE SEX SINCE 3000 B.C.

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I noticed quite a lot of Isuzu pickup crewcabs when I was there and I think they are built in Thailand locally, I wouldn't import because Thailand drives on the left with right hand drive which would be a nuisance for a LHD car!

 

Oh shit, I feel stupid now. My first trip is in about thirty days. I totally forgot it was RHD in Thailand. OK I will sell and buy something local.

 

I like the idea of the Fortuna.They have them here in the 2.7 liter version, fine off-road but wander a little on highways. Although a used 4x4 pickup would also be fine.

 

Import duties for used cars is maxed at 20,000 THB, so not much duty there. And shipping from Jebel Ali (Dubai) to Asia is pretty cheap.

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Fuck the rest get a ford F150 lighning ;)

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