Buying a car

Post by **charlesh** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:44 am

Any advice on buying a car? I have looked at the web and wonder what the ground rules are re: buying including
- price negotiation from asked price
- ownership papers
- registration and insurance
- condition reports/guarantees
While I feel reasonably confident in OZ I am not so sure in Thailand.
Charles H

Post by **sandman67** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:06 am

mate good luck....personally I would never buy a second hand vehicle in Thailand.....bike or car....unless I knew the owner.

check the engine and suspension carefully, as well as the electrics. If y can get underneath and check the chassis hasn't been "straightened" after a crash.

Thats the best I can advise..

..other than buy a new one.

Post by **Jockey** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:53 am

I have a 3 year old Toyota Vigo pick up, fully serviced with records at Toyota garage, 1 owner (me) lime green, 450,000 thb.

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:52 am

The problem with buying used cars in Thailand is that they are way more expensive than in the west. Anything decent is 2/3’s to ¾’s the price of a new one, so unless you know the history of the vehicle it’s not worth the risk. The bottom end of the market is even worst with vendors asking 200,000 baht for vehicles that would cost you money to scrap in Europe.
The only time I would consider buying second hand would be if it came from a Farang I could trust.

Post by **ADW** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:07 am

I bought a second hand car in Bangkok about 4 years ago.

Admitedly I went for the colour, my friend bounced on it, under the bonnet and all that technical stuff (he knows his stuff!)

Regaulary get it serviced at Toyota and not had a problem (except for the starter motor once)

Maybe I was lucky, but best buy ever.

The only problem has risen now that the car is 11 years old. Insurance. You cannot get fully comprehensive insurance on a car over 11 years old it seems. This is going to 4 companies.

I can now only get no3 insurance, which covers me and any passengers for accidents, but if the car gets nicked, I get nothing.

Post by **poosmate** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:11 am

Would you trust an estate agent to sell you a used car

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:13 am

ADW wrote: The only problem has risen now that the car is 11 years old. Insurance. You cannot get fully comprehensive insurance on a car over 11 years old it seems. This is going to 4 companies.

Have you tried Viriyah? It's the company I'm using, and my car is older than yours.

ADW wrote: I can now only get no3 insurance, which covers me and any passengers for accidents, but if the car gets nicked, I get nothing.

Isn't third party, which I think you're referring to, also called Por Ror Bor in Thai, and is a requirement by Thai law?

Post by **Nereus** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:37 am

Do not confuse "third party insurance" with compulsory, which you will have to have before you can register a vehicle. (this is the one that no longer requires a "sticker" on the windshield.

Compulsory

This is the ‘sticker’ which resides in the top left corner of your car window. It is also what the police initially look for. Most vehicles will have this insurance as it’s very obvious when it’s missing.

Voluntary

There are 4 basic types of voluntary cover, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 & Class 3+. These relate quite well to the UK’s Comprehensive, Third Party Fire & Theft & Third Party Only respectively.

Class 1 – Provides cover for all accidents, regardless whether it’s your fault or not.

Class 2 – Provides cover for accidents to third parties only and if your vehicle is damaged by fire or stolen

Class 3 – Provides cover for accidents to third parties only

Class 3+ - Provides cover accidents to third parties and a limited amount of cover for your own vehicle.

-----------

If you have had continous cover with a company they MAY elect to continue cover after your car is 10 years old.

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:55 am

Fair enough. I have class 1 insurance, and am using this company only because most of the others don't want to insure a car that is more than ten years old.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:48 pm

If you pay cash you can get the car in your name .Through Toyota anyway .

If finance you will need Thai .Some lawyers will take on for a fee of 5000 bt single one time payment .

Jockeys price for a 4 year old vigo is spot on although you may get 500k on a trade in for a higher model like a fortuner or harrier .

50% down will get you very attractive finance rates esp. considering the high trade in value of vehicles here .

The dealers will throw in quite a few extras for free and some others at very good prices .

Happy Hunting

Crazy 88

Post by **buksida** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:54 pm

Agree with the comments on used car prices here, they're ridiculous.

Also a foreigner wont get finance unless they have a Thai to guarantee the loan, at least not from Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi or Ford - don't know about the others but I suspect they're the same as they use similar finance companies.

There are a few more details here:
www.expathuahin.com/vehicles-huahin.php