Welcome to Thailandblog.nl
With 275.000 visits per month, Thailandblog is the largest Thailand community in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter and stay informed!
Newsletter
Language setting
Rate Thai Baht
Sponsor
Latest comments
- Berbod: Beautiful story Lieven and recognizable in many ways. In recent years I have been drinking coffee from the Boloven plateau in the South
- Jos Verbrugge: Dear KeesP, Would it be possible to provide the details of the visa office in Chiang Mai? Thanks in advance
- Rudolf: The distance from Khon Kaen to Udon Thani is 113 km. You don't need an HSL or airplane for that. You can do that with one
- Chris: It is a matter of long-term thinking: - petrol prices will undoubtedly continue to rise in the next 20 to
- Atlas van Puffelen: The isan is like a beautiful young woman, Clouseau, There she goes, sang a similar insight. Fantastic to walk next to it, m
- Chris: Rich elite? And if that train ticket costs the same or less than a plane ticket (because of all the extra environmental taxes).
- Eric Kuypers: Immigration and customs have to go in somewhere and get out again later, so I expect Nongkhai and Thanaleng at the stopping points. There is
- Freddy: Then unfortunately the salespeople who make a train journey so much fun will be over..
- Rob V: That's why I actually only wanted to keep Khon Kaen on my beermat, provided the train does at least 300 km to get a full stop.
- RichardJ: Sorry, Erik. You cannot dismiss a critical attitude towards these types of mega projects with a catch-all such as “setting up...
- Rudolf: The poorest are indeed coming out of the valley very slowly – at least in the village where I live. And the money usually comes from
- Sander: In Thailand too, forces will eventually come into play that will say 'take the train instead of the plane'. So oo
- Rob V: Will Lieven, as a coffee snob and with a nod to his surname, be tempted by a cup of coffee with beans that have been roasted first?
- Johnny B.G: The easiest way is of course to just shoot, but then you get the whole community all over you and in times of social m
- Be the cook: Hello Henk, It is in Jomtien Beach. You just have to ask for Dvalee hotel. From there to the right it is about a hundred. You should
Sponsor
Bangkok again
Menu
Arrivals Bangkok Airport
DOSSIERS
Learning objectives and topics
- Background
- Activities
- Advertorial
- Agenda
- Tax question
- Belgium question
- Sights
- Bizarre
- Buddhism
- Book reviews
- Column
- Corona crisis
- The Culture
- Diary
- Dating
- The week of
- Dossier
- To dive
- Economy
- A day in the life of…..
- Islands
- Food and drink
- Events and festivals
- Balloon Festival
- Bo Sang Umbrella Festival
- Buffalo races
- Chiang Mai Flower Festival
- Chinese New Year
- Full Moon Party
- Christmas
- Lotus Festival – Rub Bua
- Loy Krathong
- Naga Fireball Festival
- New Years Eve celebration
- Phi ta khon
- Phuket Vegetarian Festival
- Rocket festival – Bun Bang Fai
- Songkran – Thai New Year
- Fireworks Festival Pattaya
- Expats and retirees
- state pension
- Car insurance
- Banking
- Tax in the Netherlands
- Thailand tax
- Belgian Embassy
- Belgian tax authorities
- Proof of life
- DigiD
- emigrate
- To rent a house
- Buy a house
- In memoriam
- Income statement
- King's day
- Cost of living
- Dutch embassy
- Dutch government
- Dutch Association
- News
- Passing away
- Passport
- Retirement
- Drivers license
- Distributions
- Elections
- Insurance in general
- Visa
- work
- Hospital
- Health insurance
- Flora and fauna
- Photo of the week
- Gadgets
- Money and finance
- History
- Health
- Charities
- Hotels
- Looking at houses
- Isaan
- Khan Peter
- Koh Mook
- King Bhumibol
- Living in Thailand
- Reader Submission
- Reader call
- Reader tips
- Reader question
- Society
- marketplace
- Medical tourism
- Environment
- Nightlife
- News from the Netherlands and Belgium
- News from Thailand
- Entrepreneurs and companies
- Education
- Research
- Discover Thailand
- Opinions
- Remarkable
- Calls
- Floods 2011
- Floods 2012
- Floods 2013
- Floods 2014
- Winter prices
- Politics
- Poll
- Travel stories
- Travel
- Organizations
- Shopping
- Social media
- Spa & wellness
- Sport
- Cities
- Position of the week
- The beach
- Language
- For sale
- TEV procedure
- Thailand in general
- Thailand with children
- thai tips
- Thai massage
- Tourism
- Going out
- Currency – Thai Baht
- From the editors
- Real estate law; and
- Traffic and transport
- Visa Short Stay
- Long stay visa
- Visa question
- Flight tickets
- Question of the week
- Weather and climate
Sponsor
Disclaimer translations
Thailandblog uses machine translations in multiple languages. Use of translated information is at your own risk. We are not responsible for errors in translations.
Read our full here disclaimer.
Royalty
© Copyright Thailandblog 2024. All rights reserved. Unless stated otherwise, all rights to information (text, image, sound, video, etc.) that you find on this site rest with Thailandblog.nl and its authors (bloggers).
Whole or partial takeover, placement on other sites, reproduction in any other way and/or commercial use of this information is not permitted, unless express written permission has been granted by Thailandblog.
Linking and referring to the pages on this website is permitted.
Home » Reader question » Reader question: Buying a car with steering wheel on the left
Reader question: Buying a car with steering wheel on the left
Dear readers,
Perhaps this question has already been asked, but I would like to know the following. I live in Thailand and would like a car with left hand drive instead of right hand drive. I know that importing a second-hand car is almost impossible, but can a new one, for example, be purchased in a neighboring country where people drive on the right (Cambodia, for example) and then transferred to Thailand?
If so what is the procedure for this?
Regards,
Bob
I don't know what the procedure for this is, but a good option is to look at the second-hand market here in Thailand, where cars are regularly offered with left-hand drive, also often beautiful oldtimers that have been perfectly restored, which is how I drive with an old Chevy pickup from 1955 round with Thai license plate and left-hand drive.
Suc6, Ed.
Thank you. I keep an eye on it.
That is import, so virtually impossible in practice. You can only enter for a limited time.
I can't think of any reason to do this, but that's another discussion.
Hi Bob,
I don't have an answer to your question about the procedures, but I know from experience that driving with the steering wheel on the wrong side causes a lot of problems in traffic.
This certainly applies to driving in Thailand.
I don't know what your experience is with this, but think about overtaking a truck or other traffic, for example, you can't see if there are oncoming traffic because then you first have to go completely into the lane of the oncoming traffic.
Mirror use and view is also different and with all those dangerously swarming scooters and unexpectedly appearing scooters, it is asking for problems.
Thai traffic is an adventure in itself with a normal car and that will not make you and other road users any safer.
It is not possible to get out at a high sidewalk because your door will not open or be damaged, and paying at toll gates is also not easy.
What is your reason for wanting this?
Do you think it is easier for you to drive because you are so used to it in the Netherlands?
Vrr, Jan.
hello Jan
What you say is not too bad, I live in Nongkhai and hundreds of cars arrive from Laos every day.
here people drive on the right, just like in the Netherlands.
People from Laos come to Nongkhai to do their shopping at the Big C, Tesco Lotus, Makro or other hypermarkets.
People also go from Laos on weekends to Udonthani to go out or to the airport
from Udonthani for a long weekend flight e.g. to Phuket etc.
So you see that hundreds of right-hand drive cars drive from Laos in Thailand every day, which does not cause any problems.
Greetings Pete
Dear Pete, what you write here about hundreds of cars will certainly be correct, but then you have to add that all those addresses you mention here are located on a 6 lane highway, also up to the Udon thani airport.
They also always drive on the far right of the track so that they have a good overview of the rest of the traffic.
When it comes to going out in Udon, Laotians almost always park their vehicles around the ring road, and from there they invariably take the tuktuk.
I also drive an old left-hand drive pick-up as a hobby, but I would strongly advise against touring around Thailand for anyone without experience, to avoid a lot of misery, the risk is simply too great.
For information, see eg https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/thailand/transport/vehicle-ownership/importing-a-car
It is clear that it is not simple. Import duties on a new car can be up to 300% of the value. I also think I read somewhere - but I can't find it - that you don't get an import permit for a left-hand drive car.
Here's more information about importing a car: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/604176/how-to-import-a-foreign-car-into-thailand
It seems extremely inconvenient to me, for reasons already mentioned above, but that's not the point right now. Have you ever asked a dealer if he can deliver such a car? You can have all kinds of extras and accessories built in, so maybe what you want. At least worth a try.
-Passport or identification card of the vehicle's owner.
-Import declaration form, plus 5 copies.
-The vehicles foreign registration certificate.
Bill of Landing
-Delivery order (customs form 100/1)
-Proof of purchase (sales documents)
-Insurance premium invoice (proof of insurance)
-Import permit from the Foreign Trade Department of the ministry of commerce.
-Import permit from the Industrial Standard Institute
-House registration certificate or certificate of residence.
-Foreign Transaction Form 2
-Power of attorney (others may also drive the vehicle)
-Re-export contract, for temporary importation only.
This applies to cars that you would like to take with you, I don't know how this is with Laos
Hello Francois Nang Lae,
The above reasons are huge.
For example, if you drive a Toyota Fortuner or Mitsubitshi Pajero or any pickup truck of size,
eg Ford Ranger or Mazda bt50, these are built so high that you have no problem getting out at a high sidewalk.
The big advantage is that you can get off on the curb side.
This means you do not run the risk of being hit by passing vehicles such as motorcycles and cars.
This can be important when one gets older and is no longer as fast or probably has difficulty walking, then a left-hand drive car offers a relaxed and safe way to get out.
As well as on the road it is not too bad, as an example here in Nongkhai is a four-lane ring road with separate lanes, so no oncoming traffic.
The highway to Udonthani is a 6 lane road with separate lanes so again no oncoming traffic.
The advantage in a possible collision with a U-turn is that the impact of the collision takes place on the co-driver's side and you therefore enjoy a safer seat.
As the last in the city center you don't have to and can't overtake, so you go quietly with the traffic
and as mentioned earlier with a pickup truck or suv you look over other smaller pickup trucks and passenger cars.
So here are the advantages of a left-hand drive car.
Before the toll gate, you ask the cooperation of the person who is riding with you and so on
you can focus all your attention on driving, another advantage.
You would almost think that I promote left-hand drive cars, which is not the case as I own a right-hand drive Toyota.
Just saying that a left-hand drive car can certainly have its advantages, especially when getting out in the city, it is 100% safer as you have no chance of a motorcycle or car being hit while getting out.
Greetings Pete
It always amazes me what nonsense people can come up with. About getting out, for example, you have mirrors or are you also blind if you are old or have difficulty walking. Then you should not drive a car anymore, but let yourself be driven and then you are on the right side.
"The advantage in a possible collision with a U-turn is that the impact of the collision takes place on the co-driver's side and you therefore enjoy a safer seat."
“Before the toll gate, you ask the cooperation of the person who is riding with you and so on
you can focus all your attention on driving, another advantage.”
I don't think I would get in with you 🙂
That U-turn story doesn't seem right to me either.
I think they just now enter the co-driver when you get rammed…
So that's your side.
at Mercedes, all provisions have been made (e.g. holes provided) to easily convert for lings upright steering wheel. Maybe there are still brands, but I don't know. Regards Ludo
Dear ludo,
If you think it's easy to 'just' convert a car from right to left, I can tell you, it's so terribly difficult and a lot of work that a normal garage won't start it.
And don't forget what you need for it... completely new dashboard and probably new wiring harness... start emptying the whole car... And don't forget the buttons or handles of the seat adjustment... Moving the pedals is also handy .. good luck..
Dear Bob, you go to a Thai car dealer, and simply order a new car with a steering wheel on the left side, and have it registered in Thailand, these cars are normally also assembled for export with a steering wheel on the right and left side,
Good luck