Reader question: Buying a used car in Thailand?

Hello Arnoldus,

I only have 1 experience with buying a used car, 3 years ago, and I still enjoy driving the car. It is a Honda Accord from 1996, bought for 400.000 baht at a mileage of 65.000 km and I lose 5.000 baht annually to WA, road tax / compulsory insurance [the PRB] and MOT.

Second-hand cars are more expensive and generally have little or no service history than in NL.

My advice to you would be; buy a cheap Nissan Almera [instead of a Honda or Toyota], with manual transmission [cheaper to maintain than the CVT version], without [former] LPG tank, with as few previous owners as possible [1-2] and which mainly covers highway kilometers [less engine wear ] has made.

You can compare the prices between these 2 sites:

1- bahtsold.com with mostly private ads: https://www.bahtsold.com/quicksearch2?make=906&model=913&c=&pr_from=&pr_to=NULL&top=1&ca=2

2- taladrod.com with ads from merchants or intermediaries: https://www.taladrod.com/w40/isch/schc.aspx?fno:all+mk:34+md:664+gr:m+p2:300000+gs:x

In addition to a test drive, also ask if you can have the car checked at a garage, which will cost you no more than 2.000 baht. Be clear about what you want the garage to check. Not all traders will cooperate with the latter, then you know that one trader has something to hide.

Hi Arnoldus,

What kind of car are you looking for? I actually want to sell my car, always dealer maintained, etc. Otherwise, send me a message if you are interested.

Gr.

Looks familiar. Due to this covid hassle, many car rental companies have stopped. I also always rented, but saw rents rise rapidly last year. So decided to buy a car.
I wanted something small because that's handy here on the island. Privately bought a Mazda 2 of 3 years old with 46.000 km for about half the new price. The car is fine.

I have had second hand cars in Thailand for 25 years. Recently I bought a 70 Volvo V2004 with sunroof. everything worked and ran like a charm. Bought it from a garage for 125.000, original machine in it with 198.000 kms. I changed my future plan and I also needed a pickup and sold the Volvo for 160.000 on Marktplaats via Facebook. I have a Ford 4drs. Pickup bought from 2005 for 100.000 and own Volvo 850 from 1998 in good condition for 75.000, great to drive. 2nd hand is always a risk. Especially 2nd hand European brands are depreciated quite a lot and they are of relatively higher quality and there are specialists on Marktplaats who sell the parts new as used and also send them to you so that you can have the car repaired at a local garage. During repairs I usually stay with a bottle of drinking water to see that it is done properly. I started with an Isuzu 4 drs pickup in 2008 which was then 10 years old and cost 120.000 and I sold it for 5 100.000 years ago when during all the years of heavy use I have not spent more than 50.000 on it for maintenance. Most Thais who have a job with a contract borrow to pay for a new one and have to pay off 10.000 a month and interest and have no money left to fill up and in 5 years the car is only worth half as much. Do you see the difference? Surf the Thai Marketplace, look and compare..

Some years ago my wife and I bought a Honda Freed from an official Honda dealer in Payathai Bangkok.
Car was three years old (built in 2011) with an asking price of 630.000 B. After some haggling, we were allowed to take it for 600.000 Bath. Well run for four years.
In 2018 we wanted to sell the car because we were tired of the hassle with the child seats in the back.
Car offered for sale in the Thai marketplace. Soon a potential buyer showed up at the door. He had a helper with him and together they inspected the car from head to toe. All upholstery was detached and professionally replaced afterwards.
It turned out that it was a damage car that had been badly creased both front and back. They showed us that too. They wanted to give 200.000 Bath for the car. We thought that was too much, so the sale was cancelled.
A few days later another car buyer came to the door. He drove around in the car. Checked that all buttons and windows worked, nodded approvingly and paid us the requested 475.000 Bath. And all that within fifteen minutes.

Then I bought a new car (Honda HRV) with which they could not 'cheat' us. I've learned my lesson. Because although we drove it fine for four years with little depreciation, it felt that way.