How do you import a car from Japan to Thailand, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Thailand charges 80% import duty on a used car from Japan, plus excise (13–50% in the duty table, by engine size as a stand-in for CO2 bands), an interior tax of 10% of the excise and 7% VAT, which together add roughly 110–150% to the CIF value. Every used car needs a Department of Foreign Trade permit, issued for one personal vehicle to qualifying residents or work-permit holders.
Worked example: a 2022 Honda Civic 1.5 L costs about 1,890,000 to 1,930,000 THB (US$56,300 to US$57,300) delivered to Bangkok, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Thailand
Thailand drives on the left, so Japanese right-hand-drive cars match the road layout. The barrier is legal rather than technical. Thai Customs states that used or second-hand vehicles need an import permit from the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) at the Ministry of Commerce before they arrive, and a car that arrives without one is fined. The permit is tied to personal use. An importer may bring in only one used vehicle. A foreign national must hold a non-immigrant visa and a work permit and stay in Thailand for at least a year. A Thai resident may import a car only when moving back, and must have owned and used it abroad for at least 18 months. A car bought at a Japanese auction and shipped straight to Thailand does not meet these conditions, so the trade in used Japanese cars common elsewhere in Asia does not exist here. For those who qualify, the tax is high. Import duty alone is 80% of CIF, and excise, interior tax and VAT are added on top. Most buyers in Thailand buy locally assembled Japanese cars instead.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Thailand?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No formal age cutoff. Restriction is categorical (permit-based), not age-based. Ministry of Commerce permits required for used CBU imports are not available to general private buyers.
- Permits
- Used CBU passenger-car imports require an import permit from the Thai Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), Ministry of Commerce. Permits are not granted to general private buyers — only narrow exceptions apply (e.g. returning Thai nationals under special schemes).
- Restrictions
- Used CBU passenger-car imports are effectively prohibited for general private buyers via mandatory DFT permits and prohibitive combined duty burden exceeding 200% of CIF. No RHD ban — Thailand is a right-hand-traffic (LHD-driving) country but Japan-origin RHD cars are legal to drive.
- Special rules
- ASEAN FTA provides 0–5% import duty for ASEAN-origin vehicles (not Japan). Thailand-Japan JTEPA covers components but NOT used CBU passenger cars from Japan — MFN 80% duty applies.
- Entry ports
- Laem Chabang
How do you import a car from Japan to Thailand, step by step?
Check that you qualify
Only one used car for personal use is allowed. Foreign nationals need a non-immigrant visa, a work permit and at least a year of stay; returning Thai residents must have owned the car abroad for at least 18 months.
Apply for the DFT import permit
The Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, must issue the import permit before the car arrives. Cars under 3,500 kg also need a permit from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute.
Prepare the export papers in Japan
The Japanese export certificate shows the car was registered and used abroad. Thai Customs asks for the foreign registration certificate as proof of use.
Ship to Laem Chabang
Cars from Japan arrive at Laem Chabang, the main deep-sea port near Bangkok. The bill of lading is needed for the customs entry.
Lodge the import declaration and pay the taxes
The importer or agent lodges an Import Goods Declaration with the permit and supporting documents. Customs values the car on CIF, with a discount scale for used cars by registration period, and collects duty, excise, interior tax and VAT.
Release and registration
After payment, customs releases the car against the cashier's receipt. It is then registered with the Department of Land Transport.
Documents checklist
- DFT import permit (Ministry of Commerce), obtained before arrival
- Thai Industrial Standards Institute permit for cars under 3,500 kg
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading
- Foreign vehicle registration certificate or Japanese export certificate showing use abroad
- Passport, non-immigrant visa and work permit (foreign nationals) or house certificate and ID card (Thai residents)
- Import Goods Declaration
What import duties and taxes does Thailand charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import Duty | 80% | CIF value |
| Excise Tax (CO2-based, from Jan 2026) | 13%–50% by engine size | CIF value |
| Interior / Local Tax (10% of excise) | 3% | CIF value |
| VAT | 7% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import Duty
Rate: 80%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise Tax (CO2-based, from Jan 2026)
Rate: 13% up to 1,500 cc; 22% up to 2,000 cc; 29% up to 3,000 cc; 50% above 3,000 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
Interior / Local Tax (10% of excise)
Rate: 3%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 7%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Import duty is 80% of CIF, the standard rate for passenger cars from Japan. Since 1 January 2026 Thailand sets excise by CO2 emissions: 13% up to 100 g/km, 22% from 101 to 120, 25% from 121 to 150, 29% from 151 to 200 and 34% above 200, with a fixed 50% for engines over 3,000 cc. The duty table approximates these bands by engine size, at 13% up to 1,500 cc, 22% to 2,000 cc, 29% to 3,000 cc and 50% above, charged on CIF. An interior tax of 10% of the excise is added; the table shows it as 3% of CIF. VAT of 7% is then charged on the cumulative total; the reduced rate runs to 30 September 2027. Thai Customs values used cars on CIF and applies a discount that grows with the time since first registration.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Thailand?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Laem Chabang | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Honda Civic 1.5 L | US$25,600 | US$26,700 | US$29,300110% of CIF | THB 1,890,000 – 1,930,000US$56,300 – US$57,300 |
| 2022 Toyota Alphard 2.5 L hybrid | US$51,100 | US$52,700 | US$66,900127% of CIF | THB 4,030,000 – 4,070,000US$120,000 – US$121,000 |
| 2021 Toyota Hilux 2.4 L diesel | US$36,000 | US$37,900 | US$48,100127% of CIF | THB 2,900,000 – 2,940,000US$86,300 – US$87,600 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Bangkok. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laem Chabang | RoRo or container | 10–16 | US$1,100 |
A single personal car usually travels in a shared container or on a RoRo vessel to Laem Chabang.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Thailand?
- Models and prices
Toyota Alphard
Large MPVs are among the few Japanese cars where personal imports appear, but the 2.5-litre engine puts it in a high excise band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Hilux
Pickups dominate the Thai market and are built locally, which makes an imported example hard to justify against the 80% duty.
- Models and prices
Honda Civic
A 1.5-litre turbo sedan that falls in the lowest excise band. It is also assembled in Thailand, so parts are easy to find.
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla
A compact sedan with a 1.8-litre engine or hybrid. Locally built versions are far cheaper than an import.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Thailand?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Laem Chabang | US$70 | US$100 | 1 |
| Chiang Mai | Laem Chabang | US$220 | US$290 | 2 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- Can I import a used car from Japan to Thailand?
- Only with a Department of Foreign Trade permit, which covers one used car for personal use. Foreign nationals need a work permit and a year of stay; Thai residents must have owned the car abroad for 18 months.
- How much is import duty on a car from Japan to Thailand?
- 80% of CIF. Excise, an interior tax of 10% of the excise and 7% VAT are added, taking the total tax to roughly 110–150% of CIF in the duty table.
- Is there an age limit for imported cars in Thailand?
- No fixed age limit. The restriction is the DFT permit, which applies to every used car whatever its age.
- What happens if a used car arrives in Thailand without a permit?
- Thai Customs fines the importer 10% of the car's price, at least 1,000 baht and up to 20,000 baht, and the permit is still required.
- How is excise on cars calculated in Thailand in 2026?
- By CO2 emissions: 13% up to 100 g/km, rising to 34% above 200 g/km, and a fixed 50% for engines over 3,000 cc. The duty table approximates the bands by engine size.
- Does Thailand drive on the left?
- Yes. Thailand drives on the left, so right-hand-drive Japanese cars suit its roads. The limit on imports is the permit rule, not steering.
- Can a foreigner bring a car to Thailand?
- One used car, if the owner holds a non-immigrant visa and a work permit and stays at least a year. The DFT permit must be issued before the car arrives.
- How does Thai Customs value a used imported car?
- On CIF. For used cars Thai Customs applies a discount that grows with the time since first registration, from 2.5% within 2 months to over 60% after 6 years.
Sources
- Thai Customs — Importing personal vehicles (DFT permit, eligibility, valuation) — checked 15 October 2026
- Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce — checked 15 October 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Thailand other taxes (VAT 7%, excise, interior tax) — checked 15 October 2026
- ThaiAutoNews — CO2-based vehicle excise structure from 2026 — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Thailand
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.