Hiya everyone,

I'm going to live in Thailand next year and I'm after all the information I can gather about prices of vehicles in Thailand, Driving licenses, Taxation, Regulation, pitfalls and experience!!! Not much to ask I know!

Seriously though, any help would go a long way.

Regards,

Rob

OK, a complex subject not knowing what you're looking for, here's a VERY rough guide:

Rough prices:

Two door pickup, low suspension, circa ฿650,000
Four door pickup, high suspension, circa ฿800,000
Four door, 4WD pickup, circa ฿900,000
Basic four door saloon, circa ฿1,200,000
Nice shiny Mercedes, circa ฿3,800,000

Nail them down for as many free extras as you can and haggle on the loan rate if you're not paying cash.

Insurance:

Some vehicles come with the first 12 months free. Price wise, shop around, quotes will vary drastically. It depends on the car, but I'd budget for between ฿12,000-20,000 a year for a good policy on a not-too-expensive car. In Thailand the car is insured for anyone with a license to drive it.

Driving Licence:

Get an International License to begin with to tide you over. Getting a Thai licence shouldn't be a problem. Policies seems to vary from one year to the next and from one region to the next. In Khon Kaen, as a farang, you need a letter from Immigration confirming you live here, your UK license and the fee, no test required. However, a year is a long way off in terms of Thai policy so check with the local Driving Centre when you get here.

Car Tax/Registration Plate:

The first year will be included in the price you pay for the car and the dealer will issue you a "Red plate" for a small returnable deposit (this is a temporary license plate so everyone knows you've got a new car. ) They'll contact you when the actual one arrives about a month later. After that it's about ฿7,500 a year I seem to recall.

Regulation:

Drive on the left. Don't get stopped by the police. Seriously though, loads of little things that are different to the UK, mainly in regards to markings for parking restrictions, etc. You'll learn them as you go along.

Pitfalls:

Other Thai Drivers, Drunk Drivers, Motorbikes & Pedestrians (in any order you like)



Regards

A motorbike will drive up a road the wrong way at night so as to avoid driving up the right way for 5 minutes to the exit.

Also avoid steep hills when there has been a downpore I have yet to see that hill going into patong either way after a downpore and not see concrete or other truck upside down or completely wrecked

quote:

Originally posted by maokaang:
Basic four door saloon, circa ฿1,200,000

Really..... I got an extremely good deal on my Automatic Toyota Vios then.

A word about the Driving Licence.

An IDP (international driving permit) will be acceptable by the police if you get stopped, but it will not always be acceptable for an insurance claim should you have an accident (for not always read never)

To get a Thai licence you need.

Passport with long stay visa
Letter of Residency from Immigration
Medical certification (40Baht from almost anywhere, still breathing? you will get one)
Two small photographs (smaller than Passport size)

You do need to take a small test. This involves sitting in a chair, stamping on some buttons and pushing some buttons on a box, usually accompanied by lots of laughter.

If any test centre asks for anything else, you can either supply the requested demand for the licence or visit another one and report the first one to Immigration (direct advice from my local Immigration office)


A word about red plates.

Red plates should be supplied with a temporary log book. Every time you go outside the province where you bought the vehicle, you have to make a note of it in that book, date. time, reason for journey etc. Also, you are not allowed to use a car with red plates after nightfall (but as the BIB clock off at 4.30 it isn't usually a problem) Always go to a main dealer, small dealerships will usually issue fake red plates, which entitle you to zero legal rights if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident.

Pitfalls.

Drive defensively and expect everything else on the road to do exactly what they shouldn't do.

quote:

Really..... I got an extremely good deal on my Automatic Toyota Vios then.

I was thinking of something a bit bigger.

Colin, how do you reach the pedals?

quote:

A motorbike will drive up a road the wrong way at night so as to avoid driving up the right way for 5 minutes to the exit.

Yes, when you catch the faintest glint in your headlights and then see not only a motorbike but the sidecar stuffed full with the driver's extended family protruding well out into your lane, the adrenalin rush is terrific.

Experience of Dual carridge ways in the Trat/Chanthaburi areas.

Overtaking is done on the left or right on a dual carrigeway depending on needs.

Indicators do not generally work on Thai cars.

Watch out for cars suddenly slowing in the right lane who are just about to do a right U turn, watch out for the opposite side doing the same across you bow.

In bright sunlight you cant see the red traffic signal till your right on top of it.

Motorcycles will use any points in the central areas to cross from one carrigeway to the other side.

Drivers will undertake you and try to force themselves in front, I never let them

Road works and lane reductions will appear without prior warning.

Giving the raised middle finger should not be considered as accepatable practice if any of the above (or for any other reason).

Do get your car blessed by the local monks, messes up the head lining but hey....

A mate just bought a 97 Volvo S40 automatic, B300,000 bargained down from B340,000, just to give some idea of 2nd hand prices, which always seem rather high to me in Thailand.

quote:

Originally posted by Prenders:
Colin, how do you reach the pedals?

This is Thailand..... I'm around average height here

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
Indicators do not generally work on Thai cars.

Some vehicles will only have one working indicator light, it will be used but, gives no reference to which direction and how soon.

Flashing headlights do not mean 'after you' but 'coming, ready or not'

Wing mirrors on motorcy's are unattractive and unnecessary, remove them, who cares what is behind you.

And this one happened to me the other day.....

Driving on a single carriage way road at about 90, a pick-up screams past me doing 120, no real problem with that..... it was when he pulled in front of me, instantly slammed on the brakes and made a left turn that made me a little peeved.

I bought this last week for 649,000 baht, Brand new, with a 3 year warranty, and all the extras fitted, but I do agree with others, you have to have your wits about you , especially in the villages kids on bikes, farm trucks , the "Ekong " all never seem to use lights at night.
Just be careful

quote:

Originally posted by Thaddeus:

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
Indicators do not generally work on Thai cars.

Some vehicles will only have one working indicator light, it will be used but, gives no reference to which direction and how soon.

Flashing headlights do not mean 'after you' but 'coming, ready or not'

Wing mirrors on motorcy's are unattractive and unnecessary, remove them, who cares what is behind you.

And this one happened to me the other day.....

Driving on a single carriage way road at about 90, a pick-up screams past me doing 120, no real problem with that..... it was when he pulled in front of me, instantly slammed on the brakes and made a left turn that made me a little peeved.

It took me a while to fathom out the flashing headlights in Thailand after being used to the British way of using them to let the other guy go.

Being stuck behind a sugar cane lorry and watching the indicators flash from right to left and back again, its to tell you when to pass. Still not sure.



Bryn,

Nice pick-up, looks nice with the extras.The Isuzu, A real bargain compared to 790,000 for Honda Jazz.

I saw a great one driving into town yesterday.

A motorcy coming towards me on the other wide of the road was, let's say, weaving about a little bit.

First thought was alcohol based, but as it got closer it was easier to understand. The bike was automatic, had two on it aged about 17, boy driving, girl pillion.... both sitting side saddle so they could have a chat!!!

P.S. Prenders. Don't believe the left/right flashing indicators all the time, I trusted it once only to find that we were 30 yards away from a blind bend. The lorry in front of you isn't the best judge of whether it is safe to pass or not T.I.T

quote:

you have to have your wits about you , especially in the villages kids on bikes, farm trucks , the "Ekong " all never seem to use lights at night.
Just be careful.

Ekong also appear to love driving on the wrong side of the road.

If you are going to over take someone try and give your self space coz you never know whats going to cut across you...

This year I have learnt wot ever car you get the brakes must be good,I Have same motor as you BRYON&MOT and they do work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also remember at the end of the month MR police man has run out of money. So uses his highly trained eagle EYE's to catch you speeding.

One classic occassion I had just driven all the way from Nongpai to Phetchabun only to be told I was caught speeding in Nongpai??????? (200BHT fine) OH HUM...