Importing Cars from UK To Bangkok?
Discussion
As I understand importing a car incurs a 200% tax, based on what I have seen, on high end cars even with this tax the prices seem to work out far higher than in the UK.
I know someone who can ship cars over there for a reasonanble price and the cars are rhd.
Has anyone experience in selling cars over there?
Thanks in advance.
I know someone who can ship cars over there for a reasonanble price and the cars are rhd.
Has anyone experience in selling cars over there?
Thanks in advance.
Edited by Callughan on Tuesday 23 June 19:06
There is already a big market in exporting used cars from Singapore to Thailand, especially in high end cars.
This is due to the fact that Singapore has very high car taxes (130%) but also a tax rebate scheme if cars are exported (scrapped) when still new (i.e. less than 3 or 4 years old)
I think also there is some sort of tax trade agreement between Singapore and Thailand that makes this more feasable.
Remember also that your UK car will not have a suitably uprated Airconditioner for the temperatures out here, and also will have an unnecessary heater matrix (most cars out here don't have one fitted)
Pub Quiz fact, Singapore is the second largest exporter of used cars after Japan.
This is due to the fact that Singapore has very high car taxes (130%) but also a tax rebate scheme if cars are exported (scrapped) when still new (i.e. less than 3 or 4 years old)
I think also there is some sort of tax trade agreement between Singapore and Thailand that makes this more feasable.
Remember also that your UK car will not have a suitably uprated Airconditioner for the temperatures out here, and also will have an unnecessary heater matrix (most cars out here don't have one fitted)
Pub Quiz fact, Singapore is the second largest exporter of used cars after Japan.
Alternatively there could be a good business in bringing cars into Singapore, as long as they are less than 3 years old and "prestige"
Good choice cars would be
Audi A5
BMW 330 Cab/Coup
Merc CLK
Alfa Brera's
Porsches
The new Lotus Elvora will be a good seller here to i think!
Engine size here makes a difference too as the road tax bands are <1000cc, 1000 - 1600, 1600 - 2000, 2000 - 3000, >3000
For example a Nissan 370z costs about GBP1500 a year in road tax
Good choice cars would be
Audi A5
BMW 330 Cab/Coup
Merc CLK
Alfa Brera's
Porsches
The new Lotus Elvora will be a good seller here to i think!
Engine size here makes a difference too as the road tax bands are <1000cc, 1000 - 1600, 1600 - 2000, 2000 - 3000, >3000
For example a Nissan 370z costs about GBP1500 a year in road tax
My track car was shipped from Harwich to Port Klang (Malaysia) by Merask Shipping Line, cost me 900 pounds for the ship in 2005, had an exclusive 20 ft container, could have been cheaper if I shared a 40ft container, or I could have had mezzanine deck made in the container and stacked another car on top, but not much cheaper as I had to pay to build the deck.
My car was in car storage near Heathrow, and I used to pick it up when I was back in UK, they delivered the car to a depot at Wembely so had to pay for that, then storage at port here waiting for clearance, total shipping cost was 2,000 pounds, then the agent fees, clearance fees and of course the duty, and cost to get it to my home, as not registered.
I had a great agent, would not have attempted it myself, Ian Malaysia the forms are all in English but it is not easy to get the car in, in Thailand I’d have thought it was desperate.
Also in Malaysia I needed an Approval Permit (AP) to import the car, this is issued before the car leaves the UK, the stories in the press are that these are unobtainable, but my agent got one, and we didn’t pay coffee money.
When I was In Thailand, a Thai friend wanted to buy my wife’s 7 series in England and import it, when they looked into the complexity of it the gave up.
My car was in car storage near Heathrow, and I used to pick it up when I was back in UK, they delivered the car to a depot at Wembely so had to pay for that, then storage at port here waiting for clearance, total shipping cost was 2,000 pounds, then the agent fees, clearance fees and of course the duty, and cost to get it to my home, as not registered.
I had a great agent, would not have attempted it myself, Ian Malaysia the forms are all in English but it is not easy to get the car in, in Thailand I’d have thought it was desperate.
Also in Malaysia I needed an Approval Permit (AP) to import the car, this is issued before the car leaves the UK, the stories in the press are that these are unobtainable, but my agent got one, and we didn’t pay coffee money.
When I was In Thailand, a Thai friend wanted to buy my wife’s 7 series in England and import it, when they looked into the complexity of it the gave up.
Berw said:
I was In Thailand, a Thai friend wanted to buy my wife’s 7 series in England and import it, when they looked into the complexity of it the gave up.
... in Singapore there are companies that buy the cars in Singapore and either drive or rail freight them into Thailand (or Malaysia, Vietnam Cambodia etc) and this is all that they do. As Berw tactfully puts it, these companies have already paid the necessary coffee money to garner the necessary chops. Thanks for the info guys, the reason why I want to do it from the UK is as the cars are here. The cars we are talking about are Porsches and Ferraris but are older than three years old. By my calculations you make about 30% more by selling it over there but this is without going into the ins and outs of what needs to be done.
I will keep you posted.
I will keep you posted.
Callughan said:
Thanks for the info guys, the reason why I want to do it from the UK is as the cars are here. The cars we are talking about are Porsches and Ferraris but are older than three years old. By my calculations you make about 30% more by selling it over there but this is without going into the ins and outs of what needs to be done.
I will keep you posted.
Perhaps see if you can find a company that can act as your broker? I will keep you posted.
the main singapore car websites that may give you contacts are
http://www.onemotoring.com.sg
http://www.sgcarmart.com.sg
Berw said:
My track car was shipped from Harwich to Port Klang (Malaysia) by Merask Shipping Line, cost me 900 pounds for the ship in 2005, had an exclusive 20 ft container, could have been cheaper if I shared a 40ft container, or I could have had mezzanine deck made in the container and stacked another car on top, but not much cheaper as I had to pay to build the deck.
My car was in car storage near Heathrow, and I used to pick it up when I was back in UK, they delivered the car to a depot at Wembely so had to pay for that, then storage at port here waiting for clearance, total shipping cost was 2,000 pounds, then the agent fees, clearance fees and of course the duty, and cost to get it to my home, as not registered.
I had a great agent, would not have attempted it myself, Ian Malaysia the forms are all in English but it is not easy to get the car in, in Thailand I’d have thought it was desperate.
Also in Malaysia I needed an Approval Permit (AP) to import the car, this is issued before the car leaves the UK, the stories in the press are that these are unobtainable, but my agent got one, and we didn’t pay coffee money.
When I was In Thailand, a Thai friend wanted to buy my wife’s 7 series in England and import it, when they looked into the complexity of it the gave up.
Berw, how much did the AP cost you, and what was the duty on the car? I have always toyed with the idea of dropping some cash on a cheaper motor whilst in the UK (something like an AMG barge would suit me fine) and then shipping the thing over here. But I always (probably correctly assumed) that the duties and charges would be crippling. If it was cheap, everyone would be doing it - correct? Do you get exemptions if you are a foreigner?My car was in car storage near Heathrow, and I used to pick it up when I was back in UK, they delivered the car to a depot at Wembely so had to pay for that, then storage at port here waiting for clearance, total shipping cost was 2,000 pounds, then the agent fees, clearance fees and of course the duty, and cost to get it to my home, as not registered.
I had a great agent, would not have attempted it myself, Ian Malaysia the forms are all in English but it is not easy to get the car in, in Thailand I’d have thought it was desperate.
Also in Malaysia I needed an Approval Permit (AP) to import the car, this is issued before the car leaves the UK, the stories in the press are that these are unobtainable, but my agent got one, and we didn’t pay coffee money.
When I was In Thailand, a Thai friend wanted to buy my wife’s 7 series in England and import it, when they looked into the complexity of it the gave up.
getting ideas are we Deadlock? 
Always getting ideas, and most of them illegal!
That CLS is nice. You got a newer one yet? I was also looking at the W220 S600, which though has not had the AMG breath of life, packs a 500bhp biturbo V12. Yummmmm...
Or an E46 M3, or E39 M5... the options are endless! Keep being drawn back to that V12 though. Just because it's a V12!
That CLS is nice. You got a newer one yet? I was also looking at the W220 S600, which though has not had the AMG breath of life, packs a 500bhp biturbo V12. Yummmmm...
Or an E46 M3, or E39 M5... the options are endless! Keep being drawn back to that V12 though. Just because it's a V12!
That would be spectacular!
Imagine them highway-munchers in their blaring boxers (oo er) as they zip up the artery, and from the distance behind there inches in this behemoth of Kraut engineering; silver, debadged, discreet, and most insultingly, on Malaysian plates. Said little colonialists then attempt to show the tree-dweller the wonders of their gold wheels and huge scoops, only to find themselves in the wake of a shockwave of blown V12 assaulting their sense of reality. When the dust settles, only the submissive whisper of "wah lau" breaks the cold silence, and Singapore is once again reminded they are nothing more than a tiny squirt of rock.
Perfection. It's almost worth the cost of maintaining the beast.
God bless Singaporeans.
Imagine them highway-munchers in their blaring boxers (oo er) as they zip up the artery, and from the distance behind there inches in this behemoth of Kraut engineering; silver, debadged, discreet, and most insultingly, on Malaysian plates. Said little colonialists then attempt to show the tree-dweller the wonders of their gold wheels and huge scoops, only to find themselves in the wake of a shockwave of blown V12 assaulting their sense of reality. When the dust settles, only the submissive whisper of "wah lau" breaks the cold silence, and Singapore is once again reminded they are nothing more than a tiny squirt of rock.
Perfection. It's almost worth the cost of maintaining the beast.
God bless Singaporeans.
Further to the qustion the AP cost me 300Rm, which is the actual fee, I did not pay coffee money.
I shipped in a Lotus Sunbeam 1980, they accepted the valuation in classic car etc, and I paid 50% of that as duty.
The car was very highly modified, and I was happy with valueing it at the top value, I'd owned he car 17 years when it was shipped, so it was a bit special.
I'v looked at shipping cars form the UK and I can't see any way you could make money, not in Malysia, you can get some geat bargins here for cash and my experience is that second hand cars here are in much better condition than UK ones no salt.'
I shipped in a Lotus Sunbeam 1980, they accepted the valuation in classic car etc, and I paid 50% of that as duty.
The car was very highly modified, and I was happy with valueing it at the top value, I'd owned he car 17 years when it was shipped, so it was a bit special.
I'v looked at shipping cars form the UK and I can't see any way you could make money, not in Malysia, you can get some geat bargins here for cash and my experience is that second hand cars here are in much better condition than UK ones no salt.'
As a car nut living in Thailand I can only say one word regarding importing a car into Thailand, DON'T! there is the tax etc but you will never see the car, someone in customs will ike it, it will get impounded and then you have the choice of either paying the tax (outrageous level) or just walking away. I have heard plenty of these horror stories and they can't all be made up.
This is the reason my 16 year old 1.8GL Impreza is worth over 15K GBP.
This is the reason my 16 year old 1.8GL Impreza is worth over 15K GBP.
nickphuket said:
As a car nut living in Thailand I can only say one word regarding importing a car into Thailand, DON'T! there is the tax etc but you will never see the car, someone in customs will ike it, it will get impounded and then you have the choice of either paying the tax (outrageous level) or just walking away. I have heard plenty of these horror stories and they can't all be made up.
This is the reason my 16 year old 1.8GL Impreza is worth over 15K GBP.
I heard the same things too, I was looking into all the angles of importing from the Uk, but then saw the light when trying to send a jacket to my family in the Uk via UPS. The fThis is the reason my 16 year old 1.8GL Impreza is worth over 15K GBP.
kers charged 7k to send then now reckon they've lost it along with other paperwork I was sending!Yes it worked out expensive to buy the M3 here, but hassle wise, it was a bargain.
I looked into it, as I thought i could make a fortune. Not so.
A mini cooper s is over 50 grand new in Thailand, i thought i could import ours and sell it. the taxes are tremendous at 200 percent of the cars new price.
best to buy a pick up or something manafactured in Thailand, otherwise its going to cost.
For instance, a knackered old Civic i wouldnt give 200 quid for is over 2 grand.
With the exchange rate so bad its not a good time to buy anyway.
I only holiday as I stay in the UK so I just hire.
A mini cooper s is over 50 grand new in Thailand, i thought i could import ours and sell it. the taxes are tremendous at 200 percent of the cars new price.
best to buy a pick up or something manafactured in Thailand, otherwise its going to cost.
For instance, a knackered old Civic i wouldnt give 200 quid for is over 2 grand.
With the exchange rate so bad its not a good time to buy anyway.
I only holiday as I stay in the UK so I just hire.
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