Shipping Bike from UK to Thailand
 

Has anyone done this recently?
Thinking of shipping my bike from UK to Thailand end of 2023. I remember reading posts years ago with people saying there were problems getting bikes released from Customs in Bangkok, is this still the situation?
Any other advice I might need?

Speak to Motofreight.com - they're the experts.

thanks Tomkat, I'm planning to contact a few freight companies for advice and prices but not sure how honest they'll be regarding potential problems.
I'm hoping to hear from travellers who have recent experience of this. I'm planning on six weeks in the country and want to avoid having to spend too much time waiting for customs clearance.

Thailand introduced mandatory guide and permits laws and regulations for foreign vehicles in 2016. Although these laws were very haphazardly enforced. But I remember stories from travellers that shipped their bikes into Thailand and who havent organised guides and permits in advance - were more or less forced to ship their bikes back without ever riding those bikes an inch in Thailand. However now post-covid it seems these guide/permit rules are not enforced at all. But this is Thailand and you never know whats gonna happen there next week….

If you only plan to ride 6 weeks in Thailand - I would have rented a bike there. Or even bought a bike there. Heaps of great bikes for rent and for sale there.

That's my concern Snakeboy. I know everything in Thailand changes so quickly now and I don't want to have a wasted trip dealing with bureaucracy. Previously I've flown in, rented in Chiang Mai, even bought and sold a bike once with no issues. Just thought it'd be good to ride my own bike. The military government are extracting money from tourists any way they can.

entering thailand by car
 

I entered thailand from Malaysia on 17th december, with my car after shipping it from Mumbai to Malaysia, and had no issues at all, they do know the carnet system now, and had no problem at all, entered from malaysia and exited at cambodian side. No question asked, carnet stamped in and out, they dont know how to do, but if i explained them they were happy with it. They are a little curious about a LHD-car as they knever saw one at Hat Yai-border crossing with Malaysia, nobody asked about guides !!

[QUOTE=dommiek;633678]Has anyone done this recently?
Thinking of shipping my bike from UK to Thailand end of 2023. I remember reading posts years ago with people saying there were problems getting bikes released from Customs in Bangkok, is this still the situation?
Any other advice I might need?[/QUOTE

Hello friend, I am traveling by motorcycle now in Kathmandu and I want to fly with the motorcycle by plane to Bangkok to visit Thailand. I would like to know if I can do it freely or is it necessary to hire a guide in Thailand. Other travelers recommend flying to Kualalumpur and traveling through Malaysia to Thailand and entering there without a guide. I await your news, thank you. My whtasapp 0034609110317 I am Óscar Perez from Spain

[QUOTE=OSCAR PEREZ GARCIA;634561]Hi Oscar,
I'm not sure of the current situation, wish I could give you an answer. From what Roadtophnompenh says it seems to be possible but I'm getting the impression it's luck as to whether you can cross the border.

Does this link help at all?
 

This seems to be an offical Thai Government website detailing the details regulations. My quick reading is that :

Guides are necessary
Thai insurance is necessary
Max 30 days per visit and max 60 days per year.

https://fvp.dlt.go.th/Manual2#

It’s possible that Thai gov websites are well out of date though.

I’d previously ridden Singapore registered motorcycles all over Thailand south of Bangkok (via Malaysia). So had no idea about these requirements and was on the verge of a trip there with an Australian registered bike and assumed I would just breeze in and out so long as my tourist visa was kept valid by extension or a border run.

Does this link help at all?
 

This seems to be an offical Thai Government website detailing the details regulations. My quick reading is that :

Guides are necessary
Thai insurance is necessary
Max 30 days per visit and max 60 days per year.

https://fvp.dlt.go.th/Manual2#

It’s possible that Thai gov websites are well out of date though.

I’d previously ridden Singapore registered motorcycles all over Thailand south of Bangkok (via Malaysia). So had no idea about these requirements and was on the verge of a trip there with an Australian registered bike and assumed I would just breeze in and out so long as my tourist visa was kept valid by extension or a border run.

Thats the thing about Thailand and the enforcing of the different laws - its often totally random and far beyond understandable for a person of western origin.

Before Covid this law were partly enforced, some bordercrossings always enforced, some bordercrossings sometimes enforced and sometimes not. Other bordercrossings never enforced, well until they started enforcing them.

Post-Covid it seems that all overland travellers have been able to enter Thailand without guides and permits. But you never know, maybe one day they start to enforce this law again…?

Time for your vehicle in Thailand. Usually you got 30 days TIP and those 30 days could be extended up to 180 days, extensions 30 days at a time. However this was always up to the discretion of the local custom officer. In Chiang Mai they did it - albeit a little bored of it, in Udon Thani no way, in Ranong they were very happy to give me an extension and actually gave me a few days extra to align with my visa and they also gave me coffee and biscuits while the paperwork was done. So all I can say is that it usually works out. Be polite and respectful and boast a little of how much you like the country and its people, food and scenery and it will boost your chance to get an TIP exstension….