Thai custom rules have changed dramatically a few weeks ago. No more easy "white paper", but a complex set of rules including a bank-garantee that will be lost if the vehicle is not exported in 6 months.
I am not sure how and when this will be implemented, but keep your ears open.

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maartensworld.com
beyond-anywhere.com

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:

• Documents: The minimum documents required for a temporary import of personal vehicles consist of:

• A Special Goods Declaration and 5 duplicates;
• A Vehicle Registration Certificate;
• An Identification card and passport of the master of the vehicle, including an international driving license;
• A Letter of Attorney, in case where the master of the vehicle does not own the vehicle;
• An application form for the temporary import of personal vehicles;
• Evidence of purchase e.g. a proforma invoice, invoice, etc;
• A Certificate of Legal Entity;
• A Re-Export Contract; and
• Other relevant documents (if any).

• 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 cash deposit or a bank guarantee. However, for a temporary import of motorcycles via the Bangkok Port 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 granting approval of the importer’s self-guarantee.
      • The amount of a cash deposit and a guarantee calculated by Customs is determined on the basis of all liable taxes and duties to be paid to Customs.
      • The importer/agent presents evidence of deposited guarantee to Customs.
      • Customs inspects the vehicle and personal belongings, then, returns one copy of the Simplified Goods Declaration to the importer/agent. Please note that the importer is required to retain the copy of the Simplified Goods Declaration and return it to Customs upon exportation.

• Clearance Procedures for a Temporary Export of Personal Vehicles

• • • An exporter/agent submits the copy of the Simplified Goods Declaration issued by Customs upon importation to the Customs office/house at the port of exit; and
    • Customs inspects the vehicle and personal belongings, records the re-exported vehicle, writes off the import registration electronically, then, discharges the cash deposit or bank guarantee posted at the time of importation to the exporter/agent.

• Failure to Re-Export the Vehicle within the Time-Limit

• • • In case where the importer fails to re-export the vehicle within the time-limit as set out in the bond and security paper, Customs will impose the full amount of a cash deposit or bank guarantee posted at the time of importation without any reduction.

Imposition of Guarantee:

• When the temporary time-limit set in the bond and security paper is due, or an importer provides a written notice to Customs that he does not wish to re-export the vehicles temporarily imported, Customs will impose the full amount of liable taxes and duties as indicated without any reduction.
• In case where motor vehicles or motorcycles are temporarily imported into Thailand for a short visit via the border points and to be re-exported at the conclusion of the visit, but the importer fails to do so within the time-limit as indicated in the bond and security paper, provided he/she does not intend to violate the regulations, a 100-Baht fine per day, but not exceeding1,000 Baht in total, shall be charged from the due date of the Contract.
• In case where boats/vessels are temporarily brought into Thailand and to be re-exported at the conclusion of the visit, but the importer fails to do so within the time-limit as indicated in the bond and security paper, provided he/she does not intend to violate the regulations, a 500-Baht fine per day, but not exceeding 5,000 Baht in total, shall be charged from the due date of the Contract.

The term “yacht/ sports boat” means any boat used solely for pleasure or sports; but excluding those imported for commercial, military, and scientific research purposes. A master of a yacht/sports boat or fishing vessel from abroad is required to make an arrival and departure reports of such boat or vessel to Customs upon the arrival or departure, as the case may be.

(2) In case where an importer wants to extend the temporary allowance as set out in the bond and security paper, Customs may extend the time-limit to allow the vehicle to remain in Thailand for up to six months. In exceptional circumstances e.g. a broken engine, car accident, etc., the time-limit may be extended to more than six months but not exceeding eight months from the date of importation. The extension of the temporary allowance can be applied at a Customs House.

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maartensworld.com
beyond-anywhere.com

Hi,

I just hope that the Thais don't try to impliment the above at land crossings, if they do the borders will just grind to a halt until they have build new border crossing as they do not have the buildings or staff to cope with all the extra work, Maybe it would not take a lot of doing at the port of Laem Chabang or even Bangkok airport as these are very modern but not at the land crossings.
I will be making a journey to the Thai border at Trat (sometimes spelt Trad on maps) with Cambodia to exit Thailand and return back into Thailand to renew the 6 month stay for our truck in May so I will post my findings here.

Dave
www.Plodd.net - A Trip of a Lifetime[/url]
www.overlandersthailand.

I visited Malaysia a few months ago twice. I entered Malaysia from Thailand and carnet was not needed. I went to Singapore (almost, since my bike was not allowed in and I had to turn back) and got back to Malaysia and my carnet was stamped because I wanted to use it. I was told earlier that it would be easier to export my bike from Malaysia if I had a carnet. So both are possible.

The reason I could not take my bike to Singapore was that I did not have an International Circulation Permit issued by the automobile association of Singapore. No one had told me about that paper and it was not possible to get it on the border as was the case in Malaysia. I promised never to come back to Singapore.

LL

Hi,

Well we have had a change of plan, we have decided to leave Thailand next Sunday (8th May) crossing into Laos at the southern border with Thailand. The idea is to cross in to Laos stop one night in Laos then return 24 hours later, so fingers crossed that the Thai customs will allow us back in to Thailand and give us another 6 months for our vehicle. The real problem is we don't have a plan B other than setting fire to the truck (only joking).

Dave
Overlanders - Stellplatz stop over and tour Pattaya, Thailand
Plodd - A Trip of a Lifetime

Setting your vehicle on fire would be a great thing to do if youre not allowed into Thailand because of new rules or idiotic interpration of old rules. Get a lot of attention from media and first of course and as much publicity as possible and explain why youre doing it... Maybe the thai authorities will think twice...

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Well put away the fire extinguishers we did the Thai/Laos border out and in with the identical paper work as every other time we have entered, no new papers to fill in,we completed in about 1 hour, we are getting quite expert at it now. We decided that Lesley would stay Thailand side and I would drive Plodd in and out without actually going into Laos, anyway it was all going great until the Thai customs officer said to me where are your Laos stamps in your Passport and where have you come from, so I had to say Thailand, then he said you must go in to Laos (leaving our vehicle at the Thai side)and get my passport stamped in then get stamped out (that meant I had to buy a Visa (Bt1500) anyway that was simple enough and then I return back to Thailand to collect Lesley and we are now on our way home, stopping off a couple of nights in hotels on the way.

There was absolutely no question of us not being allowed in to Thailand with our vehicle, the only thing the customs officer did ask for was a certificate of insurance, however, I am sure you can buy the Thai government insurance at the border, just ask the customs officer where you can buy insurance, the only thing with the government insurance it is the absolute minimum insurance and covers you for very little other than being able to show the Thai police the certificate should they stop you for any reason.

So all in the Bangkok Post just does not make any sense.

I hope this information helps anybody thinking of entering Thailand and gives you piece of mind.

Good luck to all entering Thailand

Dave
www.plodd.net
www.overlandersthailand.com