Import Rules, Regulations, Policies & Procedures
To Import Japan Used Cars In Thailand
Check all the key points related to import rules, regulations, policies, documentations, duties and taxes, inspections, restrictions, shipping ports, etc. which you should keep in mind while importing Used Cars from Japan to Thailand
Year Restriction
No Age Limit
Destination Port
Bangkok and Laem Chabang
Time of Shipment
RoRo (14-19 Days)
Vessel Schedule
RoRo (Monthly)
Shipping Line
Thailand Star Shipping
Inspection
No Inspection Required
Used Car Import Rules & Regulations in Thailand
Right-Hand Drive Vehicles
Importation of right-hand drive vehicles is permitted in the country.A temporary import of personal vehicles for a short visit e.g. a motor vehicle, motorcycle, yacht, sports boat, or fishing vessel, etc. into Thailand by owners shall be grant tax/duty relief provided that they are to be re-exported within 1-2 months but not exceeding six months. Any persons intending to temporarily import personal vehicles e.g. a motor vehicle, motorcycle, yacht, sports boat, or fishing vessel, etc. have to closely observe the following Customs regulations and conditions.
Age Restriction
No age restriction on importation of used vehicle.
Used Cars Import Duties And Taxes In Thailand
Duties & Taxes
- The import duty of 80% applied on the CIF value.
- VAT of 7% applied on the CIF value.
- An Interior tax of 10% is applicable to the Excise tax.
Clearance procedures for a temporary import of personal vehicles
- An importer/agent submits the Declaration Form and all supporting documents to the Customs office/house at the port of entry. It is also required that all fittings and accessories of the vehicle as well as passengers and accompanying luggage are declared to Customs at the time of entry.
- Customs verifies the Declaration Form and all supporting documents, allocates the Declaration number, and then set up a cash deposit or bank guarantee covering the full amount of liable taxes and duties.
- The importer/agent places the cash deposit or bank guarantee at a Cashier Office.
Deposit of Guarantee
- An importer is allowed to deposit a guarantee in a form of either a cash deposit or a bank guarantee. However, for a temporary import of motorcycles via the Bangkok Customs Office and the Suvanabhumi International Airport Cargo Clearance Customs Office, the importer is allowed to offer himself as a guarantee.
- In case where the importer is unable to deposit a guarantee either in a form of a cash deposit or a bank guarantee, he/she may request the embassy to issue a letter to Customs for granting approval of the importers self-guarantee.
- The amount of a cash deposit and a guarantee calculated by Customs determined on the basis of all liable taxes and duties to paid to Customs.
- The importer/agent presents evidence of deposited guarantee to Customs.
- Customs inspects the vehicle and personal goods, then, returns one copy of the Simplified Goods Declaration to the importer/agent. Please note that the importer required to retain the copy of the Simplified Goods Declaration and returns it to Customs upon exportation. New vehicles of all types not yet registered abroad allowed to 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.
Criteria for a permanent import of used/secondhand vehicles
- An importer is eligible to import only ONE used/ secondhand vehicles for personal use.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Used Cars Import Documentation in Thailand
- An original certificate of registration
- Passport of the importer
- An invoice or receipt that provides proof of purchase for the vehicle and states the amount paid for it
- Insurance
- A customs declaration
- Import Good Declaration Along with 3 Copies
- Bill of Lading
- A work permit, valid for at least one year