Storing a foreign reg motorbike more than 6 months

KTMphil

Senior member
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bikes
2007 KTM 990 Adventure Suzuki DRZ 400
Storing a foreign registered motorbike in Asia more than 6 months

This has come up a lot lately, especially with off-shore workers that reside in Thailand with foreign motorcycles that are here on Thai temporary import.

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/red-tape-border-crossing-requirements/92-temp-importing-foriegn-reg-mbike-into-thailand.html



If you have a foreign registered motorcycle in Thailand on temporary import, Thai customs will usually issue you initially with a 30 day temporary import. On the Thai customs, simplified customs declaration agreement, that they issue to you on your arrival in Thailand, bottom right on the document, there is a huge fine amount that scares most people, as they think this is due if you overstay the 30 days temporary import that has been granted to you --NOT SO.

You can go to most Thai customs offices just before the end of the 30 days of temporary import issuance & they will extend your temporary import another 30 days if you immigration visa is valid for the same period. You can continue this process up to a maximum of 6 months in total of temporary import for the bike.


More info on this in the link below:

ext-customs-temp-import-of-foreign-reg-bike-in-chiang-mai-t88.html


Then comes the problem of what do you do if you have to leave Thailand for an extended period with the bike still in Asia.

Currently the best option seems to be to take the motorcycle to Cambodia and store it there. When you enter Cambodia through Aranya Prathet/ Poi Pet border crossing, there is no need to visit Cambodian customs on your entry, just Cambodian immigration. So the clock isnt ticking for a temporary import in Cambodia.

file.php



Several people have stored their foreign registered bikes at long time, respected motorcycle repair shops in Phonm Penh, Cambodia with this problem and it seems to work well.

Cambodian Immigration police office at the Aranya Prathet/ Poi Pet border crossing

179080_10150182958013345_610023344_8659465_1841247_n.jpg
 
Nice write up Phil.

What if you do not go to the Thai Custom Office at the end of every 30 days to extend the Temporary Import Documents? Where does the 2000 baht fine come into play?

Thanks,
Jim
 
JIm

There is a 2,000 bht maximum fine for overstaying your granted 30 day temporary import up to 6 months inclusive. This can be paid an any international border crossing at exit from Thailand at Thai customs.

DO NOT stay over 6 months temporary import in Thailand, many complications, if you do make sure you have a photo of the bike dis-assembled when you get to Thai customs.
 
BWG950S said:
Thanks Phil...A photo of changing the oil on the 950 should do the trick. LOL


You're not wrong there, it's got to be the stupidest bike for oil changes with those hidden oil screens.
 
Jim

As far as i'm aware from exploring this, you can only get third party insurance on a foreign registered bike temporary imported into Thailand. Cost is around 1,000 bht depending on engine capacity.


BWG950S said:
What insurance is recommended for a bike that is on Temporary Import? Costs?

Thanks,
Jim
 
KTMphil said:
JIm

There is a 2,000 bht maximum fine for overstaying your granted 30 day temporary import up to 6 months inclusive. This can be paid an any international border crossing at exit from Thailand at Thai customs.

DO NOT stay over 6 months temporary import in Thailand, many complications, if you do make sure you have a photo of the bike dis-assembled when you get to Thai customs.


Be aware that the implementation that Phil is giving, while totally accurate for Chiang Mai, depends on local interpretation.

Down south, if you have >60 days visa you can get up to 60 days on entry. You can go along to the local customs, which on Phuket is a very unusually friendly guy, and get +60 days each time.. up to the same 6 months as long as you have a visa for the time. A fair few guys on Phuket do this.

Whats very different is, while it seems up north just coming in, then 'overstaying' the bike up to 6 months, with the established max fine, is the accepted process. Down south theres the max fine but the far more troubling impounding and confiscation of the bike. Like visa overstay if you get to a border and pay the fine, its no problem, but get caught incountry and like going to the IDC for deportation, it suddenly is a problem.

If you have come in, got a 60 days, but are over the 60 days permission to stay, thats a potential large issue down there.. You have to keep going back and forth to customs and extending it, easy enough but another pain in the ass, to add to your visa issues and not to be missed. I dread to think what may happen if you have an accident in that period.

So it is all down to local implementation and understanding of that overstay issue.

I know you can get an extra month or two on the 6 months if you can show the bike to be being repaired.. I know someone who damaged a bike and got a small extension but was told it was a one off.
 
I know you can get an extra month or two on the 6 months if you can show the bike to be being repaired.. I know someone who damaged a bike and got a small extension but was told it was a one off.

So supposing I had a bike that had been in Thailand almost 6 months, overstaying the Temp Import Permit, and an engine problem so it wont run, would I go to Chiang Mai Customs at the airport and explain the situation to them?

Or would I need to take it in a truck to a border?
 
So supposing I had a bike that had been in Thailand almost 6 months, overstaying the Temp Import Permit, and an engine problem so it wont run, would I go to Chiang Mai Customs at the airport and explain the situation to them?

Or would I need to take it in a truck to a border?

Border
 
While anything can happen.. I would think border also as your already 'overstay' by then so he isnt going to assist, its the 'leave the country and pay your fine' time.

Also that new guy in the customs office there at the airport isnt easy to get on with IMO. I was going to be good and do my 30 day extensions but he made it such a hassle I thought sod it, just pay the fine.
 
Next time you enter Thailand with a foreign bike on temporary import, check the temporary import contract carefully. Someone a few weeks ago came in and had a red stamp with 1,000 bht a day overstay fine maximum 10,000 bht on their TIP! First time I've ever seen this, might mean a trip to the border or to Thailand Customs (airport etc...) every 30 days.





ForumRunner_20140306_135640.png
 
The guy at the CM airport customs said it would have to go to Chiang Kong, even though the engine is broken, and let customs there decide(if it had to leave thailand the same day),tomorrow, as 6 months is up..
Hopefully my friend can explain properly what he was saying.
 
Next time you enter Thailand with a foreign bike on temporary import, check the temporary import contract carefully. Someone a few weeks ago came in and had a red stamp with 1,000 bht a day overstay fine maximum 10,000 bht on their TIP! First time I've ever seen this, might mean a trip to the border or to Thailand Customs (airport etc...) every 30 days.

Shit. I've just checked the one they gave me at Mae Sai... 1000b a day - without a maximum amount given.

Scan.jpeg

What border crossing did he get that from, Phil?

Sefton, you were last person I know to get one from Chiang Khong - what's yours say?
 
Shit. I've just checked the one they gave me at Mae Sai... 1000b a day.

<img src="http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=27662"/>

What border crossing did he get that from, Phil?

Sefton, you were last person I know to get one from Chiang Khong - what's yours say?

Mae Sot


Chris, Chiang Rai customs at Chiang Rai airport might be able to give you a month extension, long shot but worth a try
 
I hope this isn't a national increase... What did they give you at Mae Sot, Phil?
 
Talked to them already - they say Mae Sai have to deal with it. I think Mae Sai will be OK giving monthly extensions but, if this is a national increase, apart from the hassle of visiting Customs every month, the big problem is if you're ever going to be out of Thailand for months at a time - then things could get expensive.

How many temp import bikes you got, Phil?
 
Talked to them already - they say Mae Sai have to deal with it. I think Mae Sai will be OK giving monthly extensions but, if this is a national increase, apart from the hassle of visiting Customs every month, the big problem is if you're ever going to be out of Thailand for months at a time - then things could get expensive.

How many temp import bikes you got, Phil?

2
 
No stamps or other notes on mine..

Tho it doesnt have the 2k max fine stated anywhere either.
 
Can't see any changes to the docs on Thai Customs website:

TH
http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/e44c4d54-6e54-46f5-8891-a7f16f2fddb7/1_1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=e44c4d54-6e54-46f5-8891-a7f16f2fddb7


EN
http://search.customs.go.th:8090/Customs-Eng/PersonalVehiclesTemp/carImport.pdf



Will try call Customs Call Centre tomorrow. Tel: 1164
 
Just called - apparently it's a national change to 1000b per day. Don't know when exactly it changed.

Good idea if someone double-checks...
 
That's going to put the cat among the pigeons..

Will have a shit fight over when this started and who is going to pay what.. Better to simply get excise paid on the bike and make it "disappear" from the import system.

Time to make some screen grabs and print outs of the customs site before it changes.. Not that it will change the future but it might help on that first 6 month shit fight possibly.

Also this will totally screw up those who leave bikes here a few months as a break on a tour. Or those going out of Thailand on a Thai bike also.

Wonder what Sadao are doing ??
 
Will have a shit fight over when this started and who is going to pay what.. Better to simply get excise paid on the bike and make it "disappear" from the import system.

Well, you might be able to argue your case as you're missing a stamp, but for those with a 1000b stamped, can't see there being much of an argument. Wish I'd spotted it when they gave me the form so I could have asked for an explanation at the time.

Getting the excise tax paid isn't so easy now - as they changed things for that too... Not so easy = lot more expensive - if possible at all.
 
Ohh believe me.. I WILL be arguing.. :lol:
 
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