Can a foreigner with a Thai bank account get a loan to buy a vehicle in Thailand?

Jul 19, 2022
2 years ago
Beau ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I have a Thai bank account will the bank lend me money to buy a vehicle
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The ability for a foreigner with a Thai bank account to secure a loan for purchasing a vehicle hinges on several factors, including proof of a stable income in Thailand, a solid credit history, and possibly a substantial down payment. Many commenters noted that having a work permit and stable employment significantly increases the likelihood of loan approval. Some banks may consider retirement income or deposits from overseas, but requirements can vary widely. Direct communication with banks regarding their specific criteria is highly recommended.
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Anderl *********
You can even buy a Villa
Mika ********
I got a car loan a few years ago to buy a used car from a bkk garage / normal interest rates , no job ,no work permit - had to deposit 30% of the car value tho - so it is certainly possible
Marty ********
I seriously doubt it.

When I arrived in Thailand, I ‘almost’ got NISSAN to finance my new NISSAN but they wanted the loan paid off in 1 year. Not quite the financing I was hoping for. I ended up paying CASH for my new car.
Chris ****
Anything is possible some possibilities less than others.
John ********
Of course as long as your credits good
Ralphy *****
Phuc no !!?
Merv ***********
They're all mostly tight
Mark ***********
Not likely. Some of the tightest banks on the planet.
Dean *******
No
Sara ******
You need work permit usually and you need to show you can pay. Same thing like your home country. I think it's same everywhere, you need income (work, pension etc) to show you can pay.
Derek ***********
You will have a better chance of being a Thai citizen 😉
Филипп **********
Филипп **********
Isn't it something u should ask your bank🏦🤔
Ashton ********
I was accepted for car finance… 1st I needed to be on a non im visa then it was just based on my Thai account having monthly overseas deposits (from my own uk account)
Aron **********
@Ashton *******
what company? finance company?
Harvey **********
@Aron *********
I borrowed 600,000 through kasikorn finance for the car but we did have to put down a 40% deposit. All in my name.
Robert *********
Try Krungsri Auto
Todd *******
555
Bob **********
No
Oliver ********
Yes IF you meet the other conditions, which normally include some combination of paying a decent deposit (+20% of purchase price), having a Thai in good financial standing act as your guarantor, and showing evidence of +6 months of consistent income (well in excess of monthly cost to service the loan).
James *****
I was told by one to bring wp visa and passport and hood to go
Andy **********
No, not to Farangs
Steve ********
A good life lesson is to never buy anything you can't afford in the first place... Safes you a lot of headache later on.
Andy ********
100% no!!!
Markus **********
So many guesses and no correct answer.
Kal *********
Maybe a better question should be

Is my good credit rating applicable in Thailand...?

Or do I have to start a new Thailand credit history?
Ken *******
Try doing a deal with the company selling the car..I bought my first car with 6x1 monthly payments to the showroom selling the car.

(Mitsubishi)
Toni *********
Establish a Thai Company, register your Thai GF/WIFE as employee for the company, pay "monthly salary" to your wife fe. 50k a month, once your wife have "worked" for you 3-6 months, she will be eligible to make the finance with bank or dedicated car financing companies, pay down payment for car, pay the monthly installments to pay off the vehicle and if you have trust issues with your spouse then create and let her sign power of attorney to transfer the vehicle to your name after the last payment.

You can also mark yourself as director/employee for this company, withdraw the salary for yourself and do the financing directly in your name but in this case you must pay the social security etc. costs for minimum 3x Thai employees.

Or use a house, condo or land as collateral (not recommended) 😅👌
Dimitri ********
@Toni ********
If you can do that you probably do not need a loan for a car.
Peter ******
Stay home buddy you be better off
Robert ******
@Peter *****
what kind of shit cunt comment is this
Peter ******
@Robert *****
hahahahaha you trying to be relevant now 💩💩💩💩
Robert ******
Doesn’t offend me.. it’s just a BS comment to make.. just highlights what a salty loser you are
Peter ******
@Robert *****
u offended 😂😂😂😂
Tony *********
I got a loan from a finance company to buy a car a few years ago but that was only because I had a Thai company. Otherwise no way as a foreigner.
Sandra ***********
Best to ask the bank as they do a case by case study. Having a Thai guarantor who has a job or a house will help.
David *********
Absolutely NOT. If you just have a retirement visa no way. To put in perspective could you get a loan from a bank in the country you are from with no permanent residency. In Thailand you can get a loan if you have a work permit.
David ***********
Roy ***********
Bought a used car for about 379,000 baht in Pattaya 6 years ago when on retirement visa. My then girlfriend co-signed. 3 years ago bought a new Toyota truck about 900,000 baht but married (to the same girlfriend). I don’t think she co-signed but could be wrong. So…there are ways to buy. Go to the dealer or used car shop and they want to sell you a car so will do what they can. If you want to borrow money from mainstream bank for car perhaps more difficult. Oh, I have a retirement income and wife is a teacher but they don’t make much money.
Philippe *****
If you have a million USD in the account, they will. Oh wait, then you wouldn't need it ...
Alexander ********
If you married have land and and house they will sure.
Charlie ******
I can answer for you and save you a headache: NO, not without a workpermit even with that its hard.
Alan *******
@Charlie *****
I have a friend who got a car loan from Mazda no problem and he’s on a marriage visa and owns a small condo
Charlie ******
@Alan ******
Then he have something to back it up with and alot of cash upfront prolly. Its a real hassle to make it go through. You sure that its not his wife on the car loan and he as a backing? 👏 Im that on my car
Alan *******
@Charlie *****
I’m not certain but his wife has no job/income/property.

I know he did put money down but it wasn’t massive as he’s paying like 13k a month for 5 years on a car that cost about 1m.

So guessing he put down about 200k.

Will have to get the details.
Charlie ******
@Alan ******
at the time I bought mine my wife had work etc. Though they wanted backing from me.

But you can just transfer 30k+ to the wifes account every month for a year and she can get a loan to buy a house, car etc. The more you transfer the bigger loan they can get 😅 Does only work for thai though 😅
Alan *******
@Charlie *****
Maybe that’s what he did. He did say he tried to do that so they could get a property mortgage in her name but they refused her since she didn’t have some documents to show employment.

Maybe for auto loans they don’t check as much.
Tim ********
If you’re living in Bangkok, you don’t need a car. 🤔👍🏼
David *********
@Tim *******
need a motorbike! BTS is 💩
Tim ********
@David ********
… motorcycle is the riskiest bet for injuries and death… how are you disappointed in BTS? If you don’t mind me asking. But then, I’m retired and time isn’t an issue… and, Taxi’s and Grab are dirt cheap.
Michael ****************
Important question is do you have good credit.
Na ****
Wanting to borrow money for a car (an asset that rapidly depreciates in value) could be seen as evidence that you probably shouldn't be borrowing money.

It is the single biggest sinkhole for the middle class globally.

Get a cheap used car, it's easy to find good mechanics in Thailand who will keep it running.
Mika ********
@Nabeel ******
you obviously don’t know the Thai market ,used cars hold their values far better than some western markets

And what nonsense is “borrowing money for a car is evidence a person probably shouldn’t borrow “ 🙄
David *********
@Nabeel ******
so very true , never borrow money to purchase a depreciating asset .
Markus **********
@Nabeel ******
so not true. The banks business model is to lend out money.
Na ****
@Markus *********
To put people in debt and charge them fees. Doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Mitch **********
Dur - ask the bank ? 🫤
Brian ********
I think if you have a income plus property you can give your deeds to the bank until the loan is paid off but I would go and talk to the bank
Kuan ******
It’s difficult even if u have a retirement income or if your income is from overseas.. I have a friend who earn USD$20,000 pm and he could not get a car loan because he was on retirement in Thailand. 🤣🤣. But if you have a work visa - you will get an auto loan even if you earn US$1,500 pm
Bill ***********
@Kuan *****
He needed a LOAN?
Kuan ******
@Bill **********
yep.. The culture in Asia is everybody gets a loan to buy car. In Singapore, a second hand car cost about Us$50,000 onwards..even in Thailand a used 7-12 years Mercedes will cost about USD$25,000 onwards. In Asia, majority of population uses auto loans to buy cars not cash. So even if you are richer, you buy cars on auto loans.

New cars on Singapore cost US$100-150,000 onwards for entry level cars like Suzuki n Nissan
Shayne **********
@Kuan *****
in 2 months the guy gets a million+ baht in 4 months he can buy any car of the 90% of the whole market of vehicles available to buy in cash outright.

You're trying to say a dealership won't take that cash for a car?
Piyawan ********************
try to ask Bangkok bank 🏦
John ***********
I belive that social security and your retirement account are considered income but i would check with the bank .

Thats if you retired there and tapped those income streams
Garrett ***********
@John **********
They aren't. You need an income in Thailand for almost all expat loans.
John ***********
@Garrett **********
well maybe he should buy a scooter and save up for the car then.
Steve **********
@Garrett **********
I was approved for an auto loan based on retirement income. (I believe it was Toyota financing and not a bank though)
Pratya ********
Yes, with proof of income. Your income should be 2-3 times higher than the monthly installment amount.
Jay ********
They won’t - u need to show up a stable revenue
Stéfan ********
You’ll need to have a job with a track record of a few years
Mika ********
@Stéfan *******
I didn’t have any job ,work permit etc and I got a loan when I bought a used car from a bkk garage - standard rates at the time also
Stéfan ********
@Mika *******
did you have a pension?
Mika ********
Stéfan ********
@Mika *******
great... so what is this Thai bank that lands to people who have no job or money?
Mika ********
@Stéfan *******
and why did you say “no money “ ?- In my case I had to deposit slightly over 30%
Mika ********
BMW Leasing Thailand
Stéfan ********
@Mika *******
good for you 👍
Brandon ************
@Stéfan *******
a job in Thailand*
Stéfan ********
@Brandon ***********
sorry... yes. You’re correct
Giorgio ******
Andy ******
Best of luck with that
J ******************
Ask the bank would be the logical answer as there are many variables to the way Thai banks regard farangs
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