Buying A Car In Chiang Mai Or Renting.

[eveningson]

I have posted here today and had good advice passed on to me including do not come to chiang mai. i also noted that one should get some sort of foil for the roof. but i think that the most consistent advice i have received relates to my need for transportation since i wish to live in a development and rent a house in the 50 000 baht range.

does any good person with a bit of time to answer this post, tell me what a car costs there and are plates and insurance complex issues there. can i own a car on a retirement visa for example. I dont mind paying a decent price for a good car but comparatively speaking, is a car a good investment or a money eater or should i simply find a car and driver for say two days per week for my town desires. my key requirement for the house is to have a quiet place where i could comfortably esconse myself and write without a great deal of disturbance and trouble.

[uptheos]

If you are willing to rent a house for 50,000 I'm not sure you need to worry about prices of cars.

[shepsel]

You can own a car in Thailand on a retirement visa. New cars cost about the same amount as they do in Canada. Used cars are expensive here in comparison with the west, but the seem to last forever, as repairs are less costly because labour is quite inexpensive. When you purchase a new car from a dealer they arrange the plates, and many of them come with first years insurance included along with a 1 to 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. Cars that are manufactured in Thailand are quite a bit of a better deal than the imported ones. Renewal first class insurance is just under 20,000 baht a year depending on the model you choose. If you purchase a used car, you really don't know if the owner has done regular servicing and oil changes, and you might be in for some repairs. The most popular cars that retain their value are Toyota and Honda.

Getting a drivers license and renewal plates is quite easy and not expensive. A five year drivers license costs around 600 baht, and plates for a new car are about 3000 baht a year on many new car models.

[eveningson]

You can own a car in Thailand on a retirement visa. New cars cost about the same amount as they do in Canada. Used cars are expensive here in comparison with the west, but the seem to last forever, as repairs are less costly because labour is quite inexpensive. When you purchase a new car from a dealer they arrange the plates, and many of them come with first years insurance included along with a 1 to 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. Cars that are manufactured in Thailand are quite a bit of a better deal than the imported ones. Renewal first class insurance is just under 20,000 baht a year depending on the model you choose. If you purchase a used car, you really don't know if the owner has done regular servicing and oil changes, and you might be in for some repairs. The most popular cars that retain their value are Toyota and Honda.

Getting a drivers license and renewal plates is quite easy and not expensive. A five year drivers license costs around 600 baht, and plates for a new car are about 3000 baht a year on many new car models.

I appreciate your comment. i will now begin to check around for a thai built new car since this seems the safest route. can i use my swiss drivers licence there or do i have to apply for a thai licence. thank you kind sir. by the way, i love dogs and my old dear has passed on. should i choose chiang mai, i might in the end find a dog. there seems to be a specific breed famous there in thailand, somewhere up in isaan i think that i might look at. have you heard of it and of its character etc. i am sorry for asking this but since your avatar is a dog, i thought you might be a dog fancier.

cheers

garry.

[shepsel]

Hondas and Toyotas are the most popular cars here. I purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer with dual fuel--compressed natural gas--and it is a real money saver when driving on the roads.

You can use your Swiss licence (if it is current) to show the motor vehicle department, and they will probably give you a one year licence with a simple oral test. If you want to drive with a licence from North America or Europe, you should get an international drivers license before coming here.

I love dogs, but am not familiar with all the breeds. The rule of thumb is that you can get anything you want here--but it might be at a hefty price. I have two dogs--one is a rescue thai dog, and the other is a shitz-poo.

Your avatar shows a Canadian flag--there are not too many of us residing here!!!!

[eveningson]

Hondas and Toyotas are the most popular cars here. I purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer with dual fuel--compressed natural gas--and it is a real money saver when driving on the roads.

You can use your Swiss licence (if it is current) to show the motor vehicle department, and they will probably give you a one year licence with a simple oral test. If you want to drive with a licence from North America or Europe, you should get an international drivers license before coming here.

I love dogs, but am not familiar with all the breeds. The rule of thumb is that you can get anything you want here--but it might be at a hefty price. I have two dogs--one is a rescue thai dog, and the other is a shitz-poo.

Your avatar shows a Canadian flag--there are not too many of us residing here!!!!

i

Happy to know you then. an alberta boy here although i spent most of my working life down east. i will try to get an international licence then. cheers and thanks for the time and the useful tips. garry.

[elektrified]

The Thai dog you refer to is the Thai Ridgeback. There is one other breed here called the Bangkaew but they are known to be aggressive. Most of them I have seen as pets are muzzled. There is a well-know Thai Ridgeback breeder here in Chiang Mai. They are very nice dogs.

[uptheos]

Happy to know you then. an alberta boy here

Beware of the Chiang Mai stampede and don't get lost in our malls, twice the size of that one in Edmonton.

[smiling mantis]

I'm wondering what the logistics would be in getting a timeshare car to work. Ideally your partners would be in the same development I guess. Make some kind of agreement where you get to drive it on Monday, Joe on Tuesdays, etc.

[nikster]

- Used cars are comparatively expensive. On the plus side, that also means new cars don't lose value as quickly as in the west

- Passenger cars are comparatively more expensive (for what you get) than Pick-ups. The reason is that there is a high tax on passenger cars, I think 50% but not sure. "People transporters" have 30% excise tax - Thai made SUVs fall in that category ; Pick-ups only 3%.

- Imported cars get taxed out the wazoo so that a Mini Cooper ends up at 2M baht.

- Thai made cars are between 600k and 2M baht new.

Either buy a car or a scooter, having a 2 day a week driver sounds like a lot of hassle... besides you will need to get out of the moo baan to go to eat, shop, etc.

[hellodolly]

<br />

<br />Happy to know you then.  an alberta boy here <br />

<br />Beware of the Chiang Mai stampede and don't get lost in our malls, twice the size of that one in Edmonton.<img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

Pay him no mind he has obviously never been to Edmonton.

As for a car if all you want it is for two days a week you can get a car and driver for under 1,000 baht a day.

Alberta is a good place to be from. I myself am from here and there both sides of the border my last 20 years were in Kelowna B C. I don't regret the change one bit. I am still new here six years so I haven't had time to develop a sense of right or wrong for the Thai's actions to me they are different and I like different.

[CMX]

I cannot agree that new cars cost about as much as they do in Canada, as Thailand taxes even more heavily. However, it is true that new car depreciation is lower. And yes, even four-door trucks have a tax advantage. Nowadays, vehicles are offered with dual fuel systems if you purchases a petrol type - and the alternative fuels, being cleaner, arrive being far less costly due to government policies.

Advice about not coming here might well relate to the month of March, our worst. Not only is it hot, it is smokey, as farmers in this nation, Burma, Laos and, it is said, China, burn their fields in preparation for new crops just then (the smoke problem extends far south in Thailand into the always hotter/humid regions); November-February are all but idyllic - others above 30 most days). As a rental property at 50,000 baht will require staff, and your transportation needs require sorting, most of us - I believe - would advise you to start out in early February, if at all possible.

You would learn quickly about prices relating to rentals, if you have not yet done so, by going to the Thai Visa Classified segment, specifying Chiang Mai, and looking at prices. 50K must always mean a large establishment.

I cannot know if you are familiar with driving to the left from visiting Britain or elsewhere. In any case, customs of driving here are different in many ways. There are, for example, no stop signs for side streets and motorbikes and sometimes cars appear suddenly from them. There are other things too that make a driving experience a learning one. So in this case, I would suggest that hiring a car at first and then making decisions about purchase after further study might be best.

But a place in the country, with air conditioning where you intend to write, would always provide a pleasant outdoors for stretching one's legs at one hour or another, and almost always outside the window, it will be appealing (No snow). If trees or leaves are nearby, screened windows open can deliver sounds as appealing as music in the rainy season.

Edited November 19, 2011 by CMX

[chiang mai]

Avis (airport) will rent you a small automatic for THB 16k per month, plus insurance, it's normally THB 20k but there seems to be an ongoing special! Whether or not they will still rent at that rent given the likely upsurge in demand from newly arrived Bangkok renters is unclear but worth a look. Always a much better idea for new arrivals to rent most large purchases for 6/12 months before buying.

[eveningson]

I cannot agree that new cars cost about as much as they do in Canada, as Thailand taxes even more heavily. However, it is true that new car depreciation is lower. And yes, even four-door trucks have a tax advantage. Nowadays, vehicles are offered with dual fuel systems if you purchases a petrol type - and the alternative fuels, being cleaner, arrive being far less costly due to government policies.

Advice about not coming here might well relate to the month of March, our worst. Not only is it hot, it is smokey, as farmers in this nation, Burma, Laos and, it is said, China, burn their fields in preparation for new crops just then (the smoke problem extends far south in Thailand into the always hotter/humid regions); November-February are all but idyllic - others above 30 most days). As a rental property at 50,000 baht will require staff, and your transportation needs require sorting, most of us - I believe - would advise you to start out in early February, if at all possible.

You would learn quickly about prices relating to rentals, if you have not yet done so, by going to the Thai Visa Classified segment, specifying Chiang Mai, and looking at prices. 50K must always mean a large establishment.

I cannot know if you are familiar with driving to the left from visiting Britain or elsewhere. In any case, customs of driving here are different in many ways. There are, for example, no stop signs for side streets and motorbikes and sometimes cars appear suddenly from them. There are other things too that make a driving experience a learning one. So in this case, I would suggest that hiring a car at first and then making decisions about purchase after further study might be best.

But a place in the country, with air conditioning where you intend to write, would always provide a pleasant outdoors for stretching one's legs at one hour or another, and almost always outside the window, it will be appealing (No snow). If trees or leaves are nearby, screened windows open can deliver sounds as appealing as music in the rainy season.

[/quote

i HAVE to thank you for your eloquent and well written response and i will certainly take your advice into consideration. i enjoy music produced by nature. I wonder if the bangkok exodus will be a short term thing and perhaps i should wait until the phenomenon wears off. another poster advises that the smoke is particularily bad in the early part of the year and this might be another reason not to focus on march. Thank you once again.

[eveningson]

Avis (airport) will rent you a small automatic for THB 16k per month, plus insurance, it's normally THB 20k but there seems to be an ongoing special! Whether or not they will still rent at that rent given the likely upsurge in demand from newly arrived Bangkok renters is unclear but worth a look. Always a much better idea for new arrivals to rent most large purchases for 6/12 months before buying.

thank you for taking the time to check this out for me. 16k for a few months might be manageable and useful in getting my feet wet, not literally i hope. someone has also recommended a house in san sai noi area. It is about midway between highway 11 and some town, i forget its name so sorry. i think the area code ends with 10. but i suspect that many areas end with the suffix.

[chiang mai]

Avis (airport) will rent you a small automatic for THB 16k per month, plus insurance, it's normally THB 20k but there seems to be an ongoing special! Whether or not they will still rent at that rent given the likely upsurge in demand from newly arrived Bangkok renters is unclear but worth a look. Always a much better idea for new arrivals to rent most large purchases for 6/12 months before buying.

thank you for taking the time to check this out for me. 16k for a few months might be manageable and useful in getting my feet wet, not literally i hope. someone has also recommended a house in san sai noi area. It is about midway between highway 11 and some town, i forget its name so sorry. i think the area code ends with 10. but i suspect that many areas end with the suffix.

Note: decent quality insurance will take that rental to THB 19.5 k per month.

Also, no area codes here, just 053 for Chiang Mai province

[weary]

Parts of San Sai Noi were flooded quite heavily a little while ago. Check for signs of flooding in the area you were recommended in case you plan to stay for a while.

With renting it is not as crucial, but if I were planning on buying something I'd probably look at something further West than the moat area, so you're clear of the river and also avoid proximity to any major streams. It is said the main reason why the Wiang Kum Kam city site was abandoned and the city of CM was founded, was due to frequent flooding.

[ludditeman]

You can get a decent pickup for 150-200 kbht (15YO)

Tax 1k

Insurance 1k

Parts, servicing, all very cheap

When you sell, you can sell it for the same price you paid.

If you have money to burn, you can pay more and get something newer.

Second hand purchase price is high, but yearly running costs is low.

Edited November 19, 2011 by ludditeman

[elektrified]

You can get a decent pickup for 150-200 kbht (15YO)

Tax 1k

Insurance 1k

Parts, servicing, all very cheap

When you sell, you can sell it for the same price you paid.

If you have money to burn, you can pay more and get something newer.

Second hand purchase price is high, but yearly running costs is low.

Insurance will cost more than that. More like 4,000 for 3rd class. You can't get first-class insurance on a car that old.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

However, it is true that new car depreciation is lower.

Used car depreciation is also lower.

Also, no area codes here, just 053 for Chiang Mai province

053 IS the area code. The area is Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.

[ludditeman]

You can get a decent pickup for 150-200 kbht (15YO)

Tax 1k

Insurance 1k

Parts, servicing, all very cheap

When you sell, you can sell it for the same price you paid.

If you have money to burn, you can pay more and get something newer.

Second hand purchase price is high, but yearly running costs is low.

Insurance will cost more than that. More like 4,000 for 3rd class. You can't get first-class insurance on a car that old.

My government compulsory insurance is 1kbht.

Why pay more?

[elektrified]

You can get a decent pickup for 150-200 kbht (15YO)

Tax 1k

Insurance 1k

Parts, servicing, all very cheap

When you sell, you can sell it for the same price you paid.

If you have money to burn, you can pay more and get something newer.

Second hand purchase price is high, but yearly running costs is low.

Insurance will cost more than that. More like 4,000 for 3rd class. You can't get first-class insurance on a car that old.

My government compulsory insurance is 1kbht.

Why pay more?

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

[ludditeman]

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

My Thai gf drives the car most of the time, she doesn't have a driving license so any insurance would be invalid anyway.

Her brother being a local police officer is all the protection we need, according to her.

[elektrified]

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

My Thai gf drives the car most of the time, she doesn't have a driving license so any insurance would be invalid anyway.

Her brother being a local police officer is all the protection we need, according to her.

So if she hits someone and there is a bad accident and let's say there is child in the other car who requires brain surgery, the g/f's brother is going to pay the medical bills and cost of long-term rehabilitation for the injured party? What if it is several million Baht? What if there is a judgement for damages handed down by the court? He will pay that too? That's what insurance is for...

[scorecard]

I cannot agree that new cars cost about as much as they do in Canada, as Thailand taxes even more heavily. However, it is true that new car depreciation is lower. And yes, even four-door trucks have a tax advantage. Nowadays, vehicles are offered with dual fuel systems if you purchases a petrol type - and the alternative fuels, being cleaner, arrive being far less costly due to government policies.

Advice about not coming here might well relate to the month of March, our worst. Not only is it hot, it is smokey, as farmers in this nation, Burma, Laos and, it is said, China, burn their fields in preparation for new crops just then (the smoke problem extends far south in Thailand into the always hotter/humid regions); November-February are all but idyllic - others above 30 most days). As a rental property at 50,000 baht will require staff, and your transportation needs require sorting, most of us - I believe - would advise you to start out in early February, if at all possible.

You would learn quickly about prices relating to rentals, if you have not yet done so, by going to the Thai Visa Classified segment, specifying Chiang Mai, and looking at prices. 50K must always mean a large establishment.

I cannot know if you are familiar with driving to the left from visiting Britain or elsewhere. In any case, customs of driving here are different in many ways. There are, for example, no stop signs for side streets and motorbikes and sometimes cars appear suddenly from them. There are other things too that make a driving experience a learning one. So in this case, I would suggest that hiring a car at first and then making decisions about purchase after further study might be best.

But a place in the country, with air conditioning where you intend to write, would always provide a pleasant outdoors for stretching one's legs at one hour or another, and almost always outside the window, it will be appealing (No snow). If trees or leaves are nearby, screened windows open can deliver sounds as appealing as music in the rainy season.

Dear OP, you mentioned 50,000Baht as a rental amount. As already shared this would be enough to rent quite a large top of scale mansion, and perhaps that's what you want, and of course that your own business.

There are plenty of 3, 4 bedroom houses, good western style kitchen etc., inside newer gated villages at half that price. Ultimately your business of course.

[personchester]

If you are willing to rent a house for 50,000 I'm not sure you need to worry about prices of cars.

Perhaps the 50,000 Bt is annual rental (not monthly) hence his concern about car costings.

[kjhbigv]

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

My Thai gf drives the car most of the time, she doesn't have a driving license so any insurance would be invalid anyway.

Her brother being a local police officer is all the protection we need, according to her.

Nice to know......so if she wipes me out.....just a quick phone call and its sorted.....nice!

[funcat]

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

My Thai gf drives the car most of the time, she doesn't have a driving license so any insurance would be invalid anyway.

Her brother being a local police officer is all the protection we need, according to her.

So if she hits someone and there is a bad accident and let's say there is child in the other car who requires brain surgery, the g/f's brother is going to pay the medical bills and cost of long-term rehabilitation for the injured party? What if it is several million Baht? What if there is a judgement for damages handed down by the court? He will pay that too? That's what insurance is for...

I'm confused here...if there is a "several" million baht claim,how much will the 3rd class insurance cover?...just asking..

[elektrified]

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

My Thai gf drives the car most of the time, she doesn't have a driving license so any insurance would be invalid anyway.

Her brother being a local police officer is all the protection we need, according to her.

So if she hits someone and there is a bad accident and let's say there is child in the other car who requires brain surgery, the g/f's brother is going to pay the medical bills and cost of long-term rehabilitation for the injured party? What if it is several million Baht? What if there is a judgement for damages handed down by the court? He will pay that too? That's what insurance is for...

I'm confused here...if there is a "several" million baht claim,how much will the 3rd class insurance cover?...just asking..

Up to 10 million Baht for bodily injury or death (after the CTPL policy pays out its policy limit of 200,000 Baht). But it will not cover the insured as it is only 3rd party liability.

Edited November 20, 2011 by elektrified

[ricardofel]

You can get a decent pickup for 150-200 kbht (15YO)

Tax 1k

Insurance 1k

Parts, servicing, all very cheap

When you sell, you can sell it for the same price you paid.

If you have money to burn, you can pay more and get something newer.

Second hand purchase price is high, but yearly running costs is low.

Insurance will cost more than that. More like 4,000 for 3rd class. You can't get first-class insurance on a car that old.

My government compulsory insurance is 1kbht.

Why pay more?

Because you can go to jail (even if you are not at fault) if another party is injured in an accident and you don't have the 200,000 Baht bond that at least 3rd-class insurance covers. Furthermore the government insurance only pays something like 25,000 Baht in medical to the other party. What if you hit someone and they require brain surgery? What if the damages are 5 million Baht? Even 3rd class pays up to 10 million in damages. I don't know about you but I don't want to be sued and lose everything I have invested here. Everyone has at least 3rd class insurance. You have to have it.

I agree completely...insipid response "why pay more". You are a farang in a 3rd world counrty and it could cost you dearly if you have an accident whether a small one or a major one.