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What visa do I need to buy a car in Thailand as an expat?

Visa RequirementsCar Purchase in ThailandExpats in ThailandRetirement VisaProof of ResidenceThai Residency CertificateCar FinancingUsed Cars vs New Cars
Mar 26, 2024
8 months ago
Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good day; I have visited Thailand yearly for the last 15 years and approaching retirement in the next couple of years. I am looking to buy a new car next year cash and would appreciate any advice please- would I need to hold a particular visa for this and if so should this be in place at the same time a deposit is required? Thank you in advance

Best regards
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post inquires about the necessary visa to purchase a car in Thailand as an expat approaching retirement. The discussion reveals that while a specific visa isn't mandatory for making a deposit, having a residency certificate and passport is important when registering the vehicle. Experiences shared suggest paying cash is feasible and that car financing for expats often requires a work permit. Suggestions include negotiating car prices through trusted Thai contacts, buying used cars for better value, and potential complications with vehicle registration depending on visa status.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
John *********
I bought used and I’m happy. I am from NE USA and a 10 year old vehicle is typically too old for me to buy there, but 10 years old in Thailand looks nearly brand new
8 months ago
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Radius ******************
Don't buy new

Save and buy a newer used one

Easier and cheaper
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Radius *****************
 servicing and reliability is an issue especially when you don’t know local trustworthy people
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Local knowledge is often learned the hard way!
8 months ago
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Radius ******************
@Lee ********
 have it checked by mechanic
8 months ago
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Radius ******************
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Robert *****
2 prices in Thailand. Farang price and the Thai price. At least have a Thai friend negotiate the Thai price and you step in.
8 months ago
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John *****
If you have a Thai you trust have them call around all the dealerships(if buying new) and negotiate all the discounts and add-ons (Google your car brand for an idea) they'd rather loose a sale than give a foreigner a fair deal
8 months ago
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Rob **********
I would recommend Mitsubishi! I bought a 2015 triton I got finance on it paid it off early ! Still got it ! Very reliable and excellent dealer service at very good prices !
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob *********
 thank you 🙏
8 months ago
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Lee *********
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Craig **********
Make sure its in your name only
8 months ago
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David *******
Bought a new mitsubishi (1.56m bht) 3 mths ago using bank transfers for 20k dep & balance, no probs...providing you have a thai bank acct.

Still need passport with valid visa & residency cert.

If insuring in your name through the dealership( normally free for 1st 12mths) a valid drivers licence is also reqd
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ******
 thank you very relevant as I’m looking at a Mitsubishi
8 months ago
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David *******
@Lee ********
 if you will be based in pattaya i can introduce you to the manager of mitsu pattaya.
8 months ago
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David *******
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Marty *********
I bought a new car in Bangkok in 2022. The only deposit was 10,000 baht to secure my name on the list of customers waiting for a car to become available. At that time I waited 4 months. Once the car arrived I just transferred the full price using my banking app. I was on an OA visa and I needed a residency certificate and my passport. I think that was all there was to it. A year later I moved to Sisaket province.
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marty ********
 thank you
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
8 months ago
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Stuart ***********
@Lee ********
 I did exactly the same as Marty, so it's good advice. The only thing to add is that you might have to increase your daily limit to transfer such a large sum, but I did that on my Bangkok bank app. Good luck.
8 months ago
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Stuart ***********
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Andrew *********
My idea of retirement is on my bike to the bar 🍻
8 months ago
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John *********
@Andrew ********
 use public transport which is cheap
8 months ago
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Andrew *******
@John ********
 or walk ... Even cheaper🤣🤣👌
8 months ago
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Neil ********
@John ********
That's why so many accidents
8 months ago
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Neil ********
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John *********
In my experience, my Thai wife (and I) bought a 2013

Isuzu pickup truck (titled as a 2014, only in Thailand) in October 2022. We bought at 155km on the odometer. A used car dealer. All went well. B500k. We paid cash. We held the line at B500k because we are in the US for baseball season.

I did notice that the Isuzu truck brand is the most durable. Also, I am baffled as to why, but Toyota vehicles in the US have the look and feel of a higher quality unit as compared to the Toyotas in Thailand. I hope this helps.
8 months ago
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Nick **********
Please! Do not buy a giant SUV, or full size truck wide Xtra wide tires. They clog up the roads, impossible to pass on the Soi's, and little space to park. However, "up to you"!
8 months ago
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Martyn ***********
a deposit? your not getting finance...
8 months ago
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Ray **********
@John ********
 with 59% down a farang can get financing,I know I got financing through Isuzu
8 months ago
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Dave ***********
@John ********
 there is if you’re working here.
8 months ago
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Andy ********
@Dave **********
 But you can't work on a retirement visa.
8 months ago
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Dave ***********
@Andy *******
 I didn’t say anything about a retirement visa. I was just pointing out that farangs can get finance if working here.
8 months ago
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Dave ***********
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martyn **********
 my understanding is that as I’m not employed here my overseas income is not taken into consideration to enable me to get finance
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Cash it is then …
8 months ago
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Martyn ***********
@Lee ********
 that's right... you need a work permit I believe and the deals here on finance are generally poor.. and recently much harder to get.
8 months ago
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Martyn ***********
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Andy ********
@Martyn **********
 can a farang on retirement visa get finance??
8 months ago
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Jeffrey ************
@Andy *******
 nope...
8 months ago
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Andy ********
@Jeffrey ***********
 I didn't think so too
8 months ago
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Andy ********
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Warren *********
If you got the money go straight to an agent. No stress,bank account, license everything sorted. It will cost you but you will have peace of mind.
8 months ago
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Jeffrey **********
I've always paid cash without an issue. At some point to register it in your name they will need a copy of your passport as well as a residency certificate but it's not needed at the time of deposit
8 months ago
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Judy *******
You will need your passport and proof of residence from Immigration. I think car dealers prefer a bankers draft rather than cash as you are talking a lot of money!
8 months ago
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Rick *********
@Judy ******
 good info exactly how my purchase went. The dealer was great, he even took me to the adjacent office where they do drivers licenses. Where I got all the info and was smooth to obtain.
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rick ********
 driving licence; did you sit a test?
8 months ago
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Rick *********
@Lee ********
 No they said since I had a US DL and Motorcycle license I just did a reaction test, call out the lit three colors on a traffic light and a depth perception. Really easy. I also had to get another resident letter from the immigration office and doctor filed out a paper (physical 5 minutes) plus copies of everything. They had a copy place on site. So fee I believe under 400 baht, physical 80 baht. But I hear some places are different.
8 months ago
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Rick *********
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Judy ******
 thank you Judy; I planned to transfer the money into my Thai bank account so I guess they could be able to create a suitable draft
8 months ago
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Lee *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rick ********
 thank you
8 months ago
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Judy *******
That's how Nissan requested we pay for our cars
8 months ago
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Judy *******
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