a very good friend of mine is going back to the UK to visit his mate who does not have long to live becouse of Lukiemia. these two guys have been friends since school and so my mate is pretty sad about the whole thing.
my question is. his friend just told him out of the blue that he has sent his Triumph Motorbike to Thailand for him to have as keep sake if you like. I dont know much about bikes but this one is pretty expensive at around the 5k pounds mark, its only a couple of months old and does not have many miles on the clock. the reason he bought it is because the doctors gave him the all clear and sadly it came back in a big way. and as these two were big fans of bikes and spent much time riding around before my mate moved to Thailand his mate thought it would be great to send it to him. very nice of him I thought.
anyway, what are the chance of him just collecting the bike from Customs? I am sure it will cost something. can anyone please shed some light on this for me as I really would like to help him when he gets back from visiting his mate.
thanks
Importing A Triumph From The Uk
Started by onnut, 2008-11-17 21:58
#2
ajahnlau
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-18 04:49:39
Seriously read previous posts on importing mc's. Will likely turn into a very expensive nightmare. Keep us posted on the costs.
#3
submaniac
Jerk Posted 2008-11-18 07:00:48
I am sorry to say this, but the most likely scenario is that the bike will be impounded and confiscated by customs/some government official. The Thai customs website makes it absolutely clear that BEFORE a vehicle (car or bike) is shipped over, permission must be obtained from the Thai government. The way it is supposed to work is that an application is made to import, the government approves it, and once the vehicle arrives, customs levies the duties. The problem you have is that Customs will not tell you what the duties are before you ship, and you will only know once it arrives in Thailand. This puts you in quite a pickle, as if you can't/don't pay, vehicle is confiscated and sold (or kept by the officials). There is at least one poster that I know of on this forum who tried to ship his Toyota Supra. Got clearance before shipping, but the car was confiscated anyways. In this case, there was no application before it was shipped, which is pretty much the kiss of death. My advice would be to see if you could stop the shipping, and have it sent back before Thai customs gets a hold of it.
#4
bruceboy
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-18 07:03:39
Would love to hear out this problem works out.
#5
BigBikeBKK
Secret Soi Rider Posted 2008-11-18 09:35:55
Yes- try to contact the shipping company BEFORE the bike goes to Thai customs.
If the shipping company can keep the bike in bond and ship it right back you may be able to avoid having it confiscated. Good luck and let us know how it goes. #6
onnut
Platinum Member Posted 2008-11-18 10:12:13
wow, it looks bleak. ok, My mate is off to Blighty today and will contact the shipping Co,. when he gets there to see how to go about things.
I will keep you posted. Thanks for the replies. #7
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2008-11-18 10:26:56
2nd option.. Put it in his name in UK.. Get the v5.. And keep it as a UK registered overseas bike..
It can then come into the country as a temporary import (like a transit), get its one month entry stamps, and extend those at any customs house, for up to 6 months at a time.. the bike then visa runs to the border, and repeat.. I have mates with US bikes here on Phuket who have been doing this for years.. Total costs very little outside of the logistics. The alternative is 100's of 1000's I am sad to say. #8
submaniac
Jerk Posted 2008-11-18 11:34:16
2nd option.. Put it in his name in UK.. Get the v5.. And keep it as a UK registered overseas bike.. It can then come into the country as a temporary import (like a transit), get its one month entry stamps, and extend those at any customs house, for up to 6 months at a time.. the bike then visa runs to the border, and repeat.. I have mates with US bikes here on Phuket who have been doing this for years.. Total costs very little outside of the logistics. The alternative is 100's of 1000's I am sad to say. Just as a check...it is a viable option, but doesn't the owner (whoever it is registered to) need to BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT at the time the bike enters the country, and the registered owner is the one who has to be present on the bike's 'visa run' leaving Thailand, and entering it back in. If either the original owner, or the friend (new owner) is in England and the bike arrives, there is going to be a problem. I think there is a problem because no one did the temporary import papers before the bike was shipped either. In any event, something needs to be done IMMEDIATELY. If that bike hits customs and there's no paperwork, it is going to belong to the Thai government. #9
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2008-11-18 11:48:48
Yes thats correct.. I dont think you can delegate someone to do it for you but might with a letter and a friendly customs guy?? After all you can temporary export a Thai bike with a letter from the owner even when your not the owner. in fact thinking about it I see no reason why not as thats the rules, you need the owner or official permission from the registered owner for border crossings.
But thats why I said put the v5 in the receivers name.. The v5 is the UK ownership / registration doc and very easy to change to any name, you dont need to be present, or even have residency or be british, can just put any name on the form and back it comes. Doesn't take long either. #10
submaniac
Jerk Posted 2008-11-18 12:02:29
...might with a letter and a friendly customs guy... I so would never trust my life nor the safety of my personal property to the 'friendliness' of any Thai government official. I think the OP'S options, in order of what is preferable, should be 1) stop the bike from hitting Thai customs by whatever means necessary...this will guarantee that it is not lost to the government. If you are unable to do option number 1, then option number 2) is to register the bike in England in the POSTER'S name, and make sure that the OP is present when the bike arrives at the dock. If you can't get the bike sent back, I would at least try the second option. But I think that option number 2 is a bit of a 'hail Mary'. #11
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-18 12:37:31
Personal I cannot see the stress that most people express. If it was me I contacted a transport company with a bonded warehouse, probably will ask a few as prices for storage can sometimes difference a lot, then I would work on the paper work of the motorcycle.
As it is a Triumph motorcycle I would try to find out if the motorcycle was build in Thailand, or in England. WARNING, make sure that you give the transport company written confirmation that you want to them to move the bike to the by you rented bounded warehouse of the same transport company or another. It is not a bad idea to let that small detail in the letter translated into Thai language. Because if by some mistake or misunderstanding the bike ends up at the customs clearing warehouse…you probably will never see the bike again. Contact the revenue department for information on how to import this motorcycle, you can call, but the best result is if you go yourself. Dress appropriated, suit, wearing shirt with necktie is overdressed, and wearing slippers and shorts you will try to say I not want to see my bike anymore. For translations and etc you can take a Thai person with you, taking a young girl who they maybe would see as your g/f will not help that much. The trick here is the older the better, anybody who they have to call “pi” is good, of course no slippers and shorts here. If the import duty is to high, you can consider sending the motorcycle to India, import it into India and export it again to Thailand. This option works only if the motorcycle is Thai build, because England and India have a special commonwealth import duty deal and Thailand has a free trade agreement with India. It sounds maybe funny, but if the motorcycle was Thai build it would likely benefit from the India – Thai free trade agreement. All by all.. this is just my two cents… #12
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2008-11-18 15:17:39
I should also be clear.. whenever I talk about doing the temp import route, I would send it malaysia and drive it in.. Simply as I then have full control of what happens and can turn around and leave should someone get difficult with me.
#13
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-19 12:32:49
As foreigner, not even having a Malaysian address, long stay visa or tax number, importing a motorcycle into Malaysia is easier?
#14
mikethevigoman
Platinum Member Posted 2008-11-19 12:37:27
Bad move,.My advice is get it returned to the uk if possible, as its on the way you will have no lee way with customs and you will be raped,.expect quotes of 200 per cent on accessed value,they will negotiate but even at 100 per cent of THEIR ACCESSED value it would be cheaper to buy a new one here for definate, the thais HATE any imports and see it as way to crucify the importer,.yes i have had experience,.
#15
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-19 13:35:55
We import almost daily products from (Thai) bonded warehouses, mostly this involves products for which we do not know the final destination, and again it is not uncommon that the item we import is a complete assembled motorcycle. As we also send automotive products to other south-east Asian destinations we keep them in bonded warehouse storage.
It is strange that so much people have problems with Thai customs, maybe - I belief most are not aware that you can keep your products in bonded storage and sort-out your paper work before you you actual do the custom clearing. My advice is contact a professional transport company which has experience with importing goods into Thailand. This people know exactly how tings work. #16
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-19 13:46:41
@Onnut, can you try to get the VIN (vehicle Identification Number) with this you can see where the motorcycle was build, if it was build in Thailand you can contact Triumph Thailand and ask for a Certificate of Origin, which will make importing the motorcycle a bit easier....
#17
mikethevigoman
Platinum Member Posted 2008-11-19 14:00:40
We import almost daily products from (Thai) bonded warehouses, mostly this involves products for which we do not know the final destination, and again it is not uncommon that the item we import is a complete assembled motorcycle. As we also send automotive products to other south-east Asian destinations we keep them in bonded warehouse storage. It is strange that so much people have problems with Thai customs, maybe - I belief most are not aware that you can keep your products in bonded storage and sort-out your paper work before you you actual do the custom clearing. My advice is contact a professional transport company which has experience with importing goods into Thailand. This people know exactly how tings work. #18
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-19 14:22:25
There is not difference, if the bike is already on its way. It is relative easy to change the consignee for a shipment, the question is more is there an invoice and what is the value of this...etc
Paperwork is never send in advance to the authority of the port of destination. And with any import, personal or commercial you handover the paperwork at the moment you applying for importing the item. If the product hits the customs without the right papers and the owner cannot produce the right paper work in time. Custom officers will try to estimate the value, which is not a good idea. If you try to import the bike without documents like Certificate of Origin, previous registration papers and personal vehicle import license (everybody who has a visa longer then 1 year can apply for import of 1 vehicle, this will save a huge amount of import duty) #19
gobs
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-19 22:53:02
Hi friends,
I apologize in advance to say this, but it seems it's NEVER clear when talking about import a personnal bike or car... Reading here and there, some say: a lot of hassles and money and near impossible, others say: I did it and it works! What is the true TRUTH? I own a very nice and lovely BMW R90/6 in France and I miss her a lot (never can decide to sell her yet!), and sure I would like to import it here. So I already asked on TV: many cons and some pros... So I went to the import office here in CNX. Friendly people, but nothing realy clear too: you may but this, but that... GRRRRRRRR! And then don't forget the registration loops after import if you want to use it legaly here! I guess for example that my oldie can't pass the "carbon test". So if just this happens: bye-bye my bike! So much uncertainity... Please, WHO can realy give true advices? WHO realy knows? Cheers to all, Gobs #20
Richard-BKK
Motorcycle Thailand Posted 2008-11-19 23:24:27
Hi Gobs,
Best you not only talk to the customs office, better contact a transport company which does the complete import, clearing and domestic transport for you. Sure it will not be cheap, but it would not cost more then trying to do it yourself. For your old BMW R90/6, there are a few legally registered in Thailand, which means (for now) you not have to submit your motorcycle for an exhaust emission test as the model is already in the system. #21
gobs
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-20 23:25:15
Thanks Richard,
Mmmmmh, I'm going to consider what you said to me... And make my homework... Make a search for a transport company and have a go to the Registration Office, here in CNX... May anybody know some good company about bike transporting/importing/clearing? Cheers, Gobs #22
dannyboy
Newbie Posted 2008-11-23 01:55:37
2nd option.. Put it in his name in UK.. Get the v5.. And keep it as a UK registered overseas bike.. It can then come into the country as a temporary import (like a transit), get its one month entry stamps, and extend those at any customs house, for up to 6 months at a time.. the bike then visa runs to the border, and repeat.. I have mates with US bikes here on Phuket who have been doing this for years.. Total costs very little outside of the logistics. The alternative is 100's of 1000's I am sad to say. Hi - any more advice on how that "temporary import" works exactly ? i am in the UK but come over for a couple of weeks every year to see the in-laws etc & having a dirt bike over there would be really great - but the prices in thailand are astronomical ! - even for (what in the UK would be) a piece of sh** ! I could get a good 250/400/600 bike here in UK for about a grand or less & leave it over there. BTW - I am over again next week, so any options on where/how to hire a dirt bike out of BKK or environs much appreciated. Thanks to all. Ian #23
ajahnlau
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-23 06:58:02
Hi Gobs, Best you not only talk to the customs office, better contact a transport company which does the complete import, clearing and domestic transport for you. Sure it will not be cheap, but it would not cost more then trying to do it yourself. For your old BMW R90/6, there are a few legally registered in Thailand, which means (for now) you not have to submit your motorcycle for an exhaust emission test as the model is already in the system. #24
mikethevigoman
Platinum Member Posted 2008-11-23 08:48:12
Hi Gobs, Best you not only talk to the customs office, better contact a transport company which does the complete import, clearing and domestic transport for you. Sure it will not be cheap, but it would not cost more then trying to do it yourself. For your old BMW R90/6, there are a few legally registered in Thailand, which means (for now) you not have to submit your motorcycle for an exhaust emission test as the model is already in the system. #25
Netfan
Super Member Posted 2008-11-23 16:48:02
What is the true TRUTH? So much uncertainity... Please, WHO can realy give true advices? WHO realy knows? Gobs Unfortunately, the answers are: there is no "truth" here, there is no "right" answer, and no one ever "really knows"....this could apply to anything here, but it REALLY does apply to importing and registering big bikes. Yeah, you will hear of "someone" who got their bike right off the boat and in 10 minutes were riding off, but there are a lot more stories about waiting months and months and months. I was trying to register an FZ1- ended up talking to two "official" people- got completely different answers to almost every question i asked. So if the customs, land and motor vehicle people can't even agree on what the f is going on, how can there be one answer or solution? Edited by Netfan, 2008-11-23 16:58:40. |
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