Can I own a car in my own name?

[DesertStorm]

Can I own a car in my own name?

[BobHelm]

Yes, probably, but I think it does depend on type of visa you have as well...
Bit of paperwork to get. The registration authority will give you a form to take to Immigration for them to confirm your address/visa status. - unless you have a 'yellow book' in which case that acts as the proof of address.

[lepidoptra]

Can I own a car in my own name?

Bobs quite right on this one and from memory I think I had to have an 'O' non immigrant visa. (or equivalent).
I bought the car new in my name and believe it not they gave me credit over 4 years (i'm not a rich man you know)
Good luck

[wynnsiensheng]

i have two cars registered in my name. I have a retirement visa.

I bought a new toyota in Phuket and all I had to do was give the dealer my passport. They handled everything after that.

I bought a new Honda in Udon and they were reluctant to help me get it registered in my name, to the extent of saying it couldn't be done. I showed them the blue book for my Toyota and eventually they admitted it was possible. I recalll that I had to go to the airport immigration to get my address confirmed and my wife had to come with me with her blue property book. After that, apparently the dealer had to do some form filling at the moter registration office, but I assume that would apply to Thai and farang alike.

I have no idea about a second hand car.

Cheers

[DesertStorm]

Yes, probably, but I think it does depend on type of visa you have as well...
Bit of paperwork to get. The registration authority will give you a form to take to Immigration for them to confirm your address/visa status. - unless you have a 'yellow book' in which case that acts as the proof of address.

I'm on a Non O, have the monthly income, the million baht in a Thai bank account, and a brand new house book.

I should be good to go, is what you're saying?

I also want to do some touring when the rain has stopped.

How much does it cost to enter Laos? And can I cross over into Vietnam from there, and then up into Southern China?

[BobHelm]

Yes, should be doable. Just, like anything in Thailand will certainly involve queuing & probably blank looks along the way..

The car journey across borders is a different matter though & one that requires careful thought before undertaking.
To take a Thai registered car into Laos you need a "passport" for the car. I believe that is obtained at the same place that the car is registered in your name.
That is the legality of entering Laos, but then you have the practicality.
It is driving on the 'wrong' side of the road for the car you are in was designed for.
My undersatnding is that the road from Laos to Vietnam will not be of the highest quality, especially just after the rainy season has ended. Although the road infrastructure in Laos is improving, my understanding is that the 'speedy' improvement is on the China - Thailand route.
I have no idea if it is even possible to enter Vietnam via Laos in a Thai registered car. I imagine that you would need to contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok to get the low down on that. I am sure that it would not be as easy as just turning up at the border with you car & the Thai documentation.
The same is probably even truer of the Vietnam into China piece.
I do know of people who have done the Thai-Laos-Vietnam bit by public transport & I think fdmike might have even done it by push bike. I think doing it in a car would probably be a non starter because of the roads you are likely to encounter. Doing it by pickup might be physically possible but I think will involve you spending a lot of time talking to various Embassies before setting off - if it is even possible...

[Bandung_Dero]

I also want to do some touring when the rain has stopped.

How much does it cost to enter Laos? And can I cross over into Vietnam from there, and then up into Southern China?

IMO you need to do some very serious research before taking your vehicle on a road trip through adjoining countries. The paper work alone getting a visa for the car along with insurance, guarantees of cars return etc. etc should be enough to put you off. Then it's the road conditions and if you think Thai drivers are bad your in for a real eye opener in Laos. I know of one guy doing it and vowing never to do it again, he only went a few 100 km into Laos.

[drillpig]

Yes, probably, but I think it does depend on type of visa you have as well...
Bit of paperwork to get. The registration authority will give you a form to take to Immigration for them to confirm your address/visa status. - unless you have a 'yellow book' in which case that acts as the proof of address.

I only had a tourist visa at the time i bought my car was no problem at all getting it put in my name, also have a few friends who did the same.

[kjellsnell]

I was denied to buy a car in my own name on a touristvisa when i firsth come to Udonthani 4 years ago! In Imigration they say you must have a one year visa to buy a car ore another vehicle!

[BobHelm]

I think it is yet another of these 'at the officers' discretion' things, so depends which Office, which officer & what mood they are in. About the time you mention kjellsnell there really was only Nong Khai (or was the AEK sub office open then as well ?) and they had a bad reputation for being very awkward about almost anything. Thankfully they seem to have recovered from that.
Which office did you get your Tourist visa accepted at drillpig??

[hangsaboot]

I was denied to buy a car in my own name on a touristvisa when i firsth come to Udonthani 4 years ago! In Imigration they say you must have a one year visa to buy a car ore another vehicle!

a one year multi entry type O visa , bought at the thai consulate in england .
go to thai immigration for a proof of residence certiicate/letter , for this you need
a copy of your landlords taliban , and a letter from your landlord Stating you reside at this address .
in my case the thai immigration officer phoned landlady up for confirmation and a chat
on her location and prices , expect him soon .

it means going thru the hoops , but what idiot would pay for a car , that he does not own .
imagine your son back home doing this , buying a car in some one else name .
one , would go ape sheit , and rightley so ,, IMHO . :-"

[Prenders88]

I had no problems from Udon Honda when I bought my new car in July.

Needed Yellow book, O Visa in passport, and they asked for a Immigration certificate with photo confirming my address.
I thought it a bit strange, asking for a immigration certificate, as I have the Yellow book, and 5 year driving licence, both showing my Thai ID number.
I asked the stunning looking showroom girl why, and she said it gets processed quickly with the immigration letter.

Took a week because I had the car modded with Mugen kit.
Picked it up with red plates, which I leased for a month, got a call and recieved the white plates.

[drillpig]

Bobhelm
It was in the Krabi office, just had to get a letter from Immigration stating my address then the car dealership did the rest. Nobody even blinked an eyelid about my tourist visa.

[nkstan]

There are a lot of idiots here,especially early on!

I was one,but I was lucky!

I bought a car while I was on a tourist visa,only to find out that it could not be put into my name under that visa!

I made the ''quick decision'' to put it in my GF's name!

About a year later,we broke up and she migrated to OZ after bringing me all the paperwork ,signed off for transfer!

I never did transfer it to my name,3 years later I transferred it to my present wifes name as a security present as part of my ''incremental sharing''of my assets,over time!

[Bandung_Dero]

it means going thru the hoops , but what idiot would pay for a car , that he does not own . imagine your son back home doing this , buying a car in some one else name . one , would go ape sheit , and rightley so ,, IMHO . :-"

ME, paid cash for OUR Dmax 8 years ago, our relationship was strong as it still is today. Couldn't be tossed jumping through hoops. If something happens to me she has no problem with ownership, same with the home and she also has my Thai Bank pin numbers. TRUST TRUST TRUST.

The only idiots who buy a car in their GF/TW names are the hansom men who walk out of Soi Cowboy or where ever with star dust in their eyes, she with one hand on his dick and the other on his ATM card.

Then there are those who can't afford to pay cash and must get finance in a Thais name. Are they idiots as well!

[Khun Paul]

Simple answer is YES, if cash paid outright, when HP payments have been made, transfer is easy , does not matter what type of VISA you hold. Same for a M/cycle any Thai that tells you NO, tell them to go fly a kite,but if HP must be in Thai name until paid. OK

[BobHelm]

Paul it DOES matter what visa you hold - just read above. You might believe it does not, but if the Immigration officer believes it does, then it does.
Not strictly true that a Falang cannot own a car on HP. They can, but the bank will require a Thai of a significant standing within the community to stand as guarantor. While a Thai can have just about any other Thai with a blue book in the province the rules enforced are strict for a Falang, but not impossible.

[drillpig]

When i bought my car the saleswoman offered me a five year payment plan without me even asking, I paid cash though but she explained to me that they have many farang on payment plan as long as you can show some proof of income its no worries, must admit I was quite suprised, As for registering the vehicle in your name the immigration officer has nothing to do with it really all you need from him is proof of your address , Although I was on a tourist visa at the time and as i was staying with my wife in a rental apartment I was doing the right thing and reporting to immigration every time i came back to Thai same as the non "O" 90 day reporting. after that went to the vehicle registration place, all done very quickly no questions asked.

[DesertStorm]

Thank you people.

I've just had a very amusing telephone conversation with the Vietnamese authorities and the answer is 'extremely problematic'. They told me to not even bother contacting their Chinese counterparts.

Looks like I'll only be exloring Isarn and Laos now.

[Peterplay]

Desertstorm, I've tried to get into China with my car, but it seems impossible. If you hear of any chance entering I would like to know.
As for Laos, I've travelled in all northern parts of the country, entering is easy though a bit slow sometimes and the roads are (sort of) fine, no problem for a 2WD to go almost everywhere in the dry season. Only when taking smaller roads you need a 4x4 wit low gear in some places.
You can see many places where new roads are built, especially in the Luang Namta and the Xaignabouilli area.
Have a good trip.