Shipping a Car to Thailand:
Is It Worth It?

Every year, a handful of expats arrive in Phuket determined to bring their beloved car from home. Usually it's the BMW, the classic Land Rover, or the campervan they've put years into. And every year, most of them quietly give up after the first conversation with a customs agent.

The short answer: importing a car to Thailand is possible but almost never financially sensible unless you're bringing a genuinely rare or classic vehicle that simply cannot be replaced locally. Here's the full picture.

Why the Duty Is So High

Thailand protects its domestic auto industry — Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi all manufacture locally. As a result, the import tariff structure is designed to make foreign vehicles uncompetitive. Here's how the taxes stack:

Run a real example: you own a 2022 Volkswagen Golf worth £18,000 (roughly THB 830,000). Shipping it to Phuket adds THB 100,000 in freight costs, so your CIF value is THB 930,000. After 80% import duty (THB 744,000), then excise tax, then VAT, your total clearance cost comes to somewhere around THB 2.1–2.4 million — for a car you can buy new in Bangkok for THB 1.1 million.

The Temporary Import Permit (TIP) Option

If you're not committing to staying permanently, the Temporary Import Permit allows you to drive your foreign-registered car in Thailand for up to 6 months without paying full import duty. This is the option used by overlanders and people doing extended road trips through Southeast Asia.

How it works for Phuket arrivals:

• Apply at the Thai Customs Department at Phuket Port (Ranong Road, Phuket Town) or at a land border crossing
• Pay a customs deposit of roughly 150–200% of estimated import duty (refunded when the car leaves Thailand)
• Initial permit: 30 days, extendable to 6 months maximum
• Car must depart Thailand before permit expires — or the deposit is forfeited and penalties apply

The Full-Import Process, Step by Step

If you're determined to go ahead with a full permanent import, here's what the process actually looks like:

1. Export your car legally from your home country — get an export certificate and de-register it
2. Book an international car shipper — RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) is cheaper; container shipping is safer for valuable cars
3. Arrange arrival at Laem Chabang Port (Bangkok) — Phuket doesn't handle international vehicle imports directly; most arrive via Bangkok or Songkhla
4. Hire a Thai customs broker — essential, not optional. Expect to pay THB 15,000–30,000 in agent fees
5. Pay duties and taxes — expect 4–8 weeks and multiple customs inspections
6. Get Thai vehicle registration at the Phuket Land Transport Office on Krabi Road
7. Obtain Thai insurance — your home policy won't cover you here

What Phuket Expats Actually Do

In six years of living in Phuket and talking to hundreds of expats through various Facebook groups and meetups, here's what the realistic breakdown looks like:

• Most long-term expats buy a second-hand car or motorbike locally. A decent Honda Jazz or Toyota Vios can be had for THB 200,000–350,000. A used Honda PCX scooter goes for THB 40,000–65,000.
• Some couples share a car and rent motorbikes for daily errands — works well outside Patong and Phuket Town
• Nobody imports the family SUV — the duties genuinely are that prohibitive
• A few classic car enthusiasts do import, but they're fully aware they're paying a premium for the sentiment

Buying a Car Locally in Phuket: The Smarter Option

The second-hand car market in Phuket is decent and improving. You're looking at a few reliable avenues:

• Toyota or Honda dealerships — both have main branches on Phuket Town's Chaofa Road. New Yaris Cross from THB 649,000; Civic starts at THB 1.08m
• One2Car.com — Thailand's largest used car platform. Filter by Phuket-registered vehicles
• Expat Facebook groups — "Phuket Buy Sell Exchange" and "Phuket Expat Community" regularly have expat-owned cars for sale, often with full service history and English-speaking sellers
• Thai dealers around Bypass Road — dozens of small second-hand lots between Central Festival and Chalong. Prices are negotiable; have a Thai-speaking friend help if you can

When Importing a Car to Thailand Might Make Sense

There are niche cases where importing genuinely makes sense:

• Classic or rare vehicles — if you own a 1970s Land Rover Series III or a classic Porsche that has no Thai equivalent, bringing it may be worthwhile despite the duties
• Overlanders arriving by road — if you've driven from Europe through Central Asia and into Southeast Asia, your car is already here under a TIP. Some overlanders do settle in Phuket after such trips
• Diplomatic or international organization staff — some categories of visa and employment allow reduced or waived duties (check with your employer's HR or a specialist agent)
• Electric vehicles — Thailand has been reducing EV import duties as part of the government's 30/30 EV push. By 2026, some EV categories have lower effective rates — worth checking current rules if you're bringing a Tesla or Rivian

Money Transfer When Shipping and Buying

Whether you're paying an international shipper, clearing customs duties, or buying a car locally, you'll likely need to move money from your home currency to Thai Baht. Your bank's international wire transfer fees can add 3–5% to every transaction.

Vehicle Registration in Phuket

Once a car is imported and duties paid (or if you buy locally), Thai registration is handled at the Phuket Land Transport Office (DLT) on Krabi Road in Phuket Town. You'll need:

• Your passport and Non-Immigrant visa
• Proof of Phuket address (rental contract or utility bill)
• Vehicle inspection certificate (can be done at DLT)
• Insurance documents (at minimum, third-party compulsory insurance)

Annual re-registration ("ต่อภาษี" or "tor phasee") is required each year and costs around THB 400–1,200 depending on engine size. You'll see lines forming outside the DLT on Krabi Road in the weeks before and after the annual deadline — early morning visits (before 8:30am) are noticeably shorter.

Driving Licence Requirements

To legally drive an imported or locally-purchased car, you'll need either a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) or a Thai driving licence. An IDP is only valid for 90 days after entry — after that you need a Thai licence. The process isn't complicated: see our full guide at How to Get a Thai Driving Licence in Phuket.

The Bottom Line

For 95% of people moving to Phuket, importing a car from home is a financial mistake. The taxes are designed to be prohibitive. Instead, sell or store the car at home, transfer the funds cleanly using a service like Wise, and buy something locally once you've settled in and know which area of Phuket you're actually going to live in.

Rawai residents tend to want something that can handle gravel roads. Bang Tao families often want a proper SUV. Phuket Town locals can often survive with a motorbike and occasional Grab rides. You'll make a much better car decision after 3 months on the island than you will before you arrive.

For more on getting settled, see our first 30 days guide and our overview of moving to Phuket.