Registering a Foreign Car in Thailand

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Registering a Foreign Car in Thailand

Foreign vehicles that have been moved permanently to Thailand need to be officially registered with the authorities.

Importing a Foreign Vehicle

Importing a foreign vehicle in Thailand falls under two categories:

1. Temporary importation
2. Permanent importation

Temporary Importation

• The website of the Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand has comprehensive information indicating exactly what is required for the temporary importation of a vehicle (including motorcycles, yachts and boats) into Thailand: Click here

Taxes and duty are not required for those who import a vehicle for a short visit, up to a maximum of 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 car is not exported within the time indicated on the temporary import papers.

Required Documents:

• Temporary Import Declaration Form, plus five copies
• The vehicle's registration certificate
• A passport or identification card of the vehicle's owner
• An application form for the temporary import of the vehicle
• A proforma invoice or invoice
• Certificate of Legal Entity
• 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 system, DVD players must be declared at the time of importation. Failure to declare these may result in the importer being fined or even the vehicle being seized.

Procedure

At the port of entry in Thailand with the vehicle, 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 which they must keep to return to Customs when leaving the country.

Relevant forms can be obtained from Thailand Customs at any point of entry into Thailand or by contacting the department directly.

• Tel: 02 249 0431-40

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.

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 is liable for high taxes and fines.

Permanent Importation

A person with a non-immigrant visa and a work permit valid to work in Thailand 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 Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand has comprehensive information indicating exactly what is required for the permanent importation of a vehicle into Thailand: Click here

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 being seized and hefty fines. The information and forms on the Ministry of Commerce website are in Thai only, and because of the complicated nature of importing a car permanently into Thailand, it is advisable to use a Thai-speaking agent. The Import Permit has to be issued before the vehicle's arrival in Thailand.

Required Documents:

The following documents are required for the permanent import of a new vehicle:

• Valid non-immigrant visa
• A work permit valid for at least one year
• An import declaration form
• Bill of loading or air waybill
• Sale documents
• Delivery Order (Customs Form No. 100/1)
• Foreign Transaction Form 2 in case 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) or the land title (Chanote) or the Condo title deed 
• Passport
• 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 in Thailand with the vehicle, the importer or agent must submit the relevant documents. Once the Customs Department has assessed the liable taxes and duties and the importer has paid these, they must present the receipt issued by the Cashier Division to the Customs Department in order to take the vehicle from Customs' custody.

Registering a Vehicle

Once the vehicle has been permanently imported into Thailand the owner must register it to get their registration book (Blue Book or Lem Tabian) and annual tax sticker at their local DLT office. This must be done as soon as possible as it is illegal to drive in Thailand without these unless the vehicle has been temporarily imported. A temporarily imported vehicle does not require registration but must leave the country within the allocated time or is liable for high taxes and fines.

Registration is dealt with by the local Department of Land Transport Office (DLT).

• For a list of the location of DLT offices in Thailand: Click here

To register the vehicle the following paperwork for non-Thais is required by the DLT with copies:

• Current passport
• Non-immigrant visa
• Work Permit or Certificate or Letter of Residence issued by Thai immigration or the relevant Embassy

The new owner will be issued with proof of ownership documents in the form of a registration book called the Blue Book (Lem Tabian) which includes the owner's name and address.

Car tax and insurance

All cars must display a tax sticker on the windscreen as proof that car tax has been paid. When a car is bought the tax sticker stays on the window and remains valid until it expires regardless of the owns of the car. A tax sticker is provided by the DLT; it indicates that the annual tax has been paid. This must be fixed on the vehicle's windscreen. 

Compulsory Motor Insurance (CMI) will also need to be purchased from the DLT or an insurance company. This must be renewed annually.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Insurance in Thailand

Further Information

• Thailand Ministry of Commerce
• Thailand Customs Department
• Thailand Immigration
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness in Thailand