Normally when you enter Thailand with a foreign vehicle you will get a 30 days temporary import paper. This allows you to keep your bike in the country for 30 days. This temporary import can be extended at a customs office for another 30 days up to 180 days. This means you have to pay a visit to a customs office every 30 days. And thus you cannot leave the bike in the country for 6-12 months.

Just recently I heard that a few persons have been able to obtain a 180 days temporary import paper at border crossings coming from Cambodia. And if one have such a paper you can of course leave your bike for up to 180 days.
But I would not count on that this is a possibility, I would rather call this a very rare exception from the 30 day rule.

The best option as I see it is to leave/store your bike in Cambodia as that country doesnt have any kind of temporary import paper nor is it a Carnet country. They simply doesnt register your vehicle at all when you cross a border into that country. So it should be possible to leave a bike there for a while without any problems.

Damn. Thank you very much for the info. Not too sure what I'll end up doing.

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If I were you I would try Cambodia. AFAIK they dont register foreign vehicles neither on the way in nor on the way out. So if you find a safe storage there that should be ok.

Wicked thank you for this info. There have been a few countries I've passed through like that. You pass the border and then you question yourself, hold on a minute did I miss a step? Then you turn around ask someone and they say don't worry, welcome to our country. No bike paperwork whatsoever...




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Just to add one step to the extension of visa exemption, I had to get an insurance for my bike before getting the temporary import permit for additional 30 days. That was done in a third office in Phuket and the cost was 650 baht. So first visa exemption at immigration, then insurance at a vehicle registration office and finally import permit at customs office.

30day extension easy!
 

Hey,
We just got a 30day extension from Phuket immigration on our 15day overland entry visa.

Took 2hours and 1900Baht. Super easy, no hassles at all.

Just bring a copy of your passport, copy of your entry stamp and departure card and a passport photo + 1900Baht.

You did not get a 15 day entry visa to Thailand. There isnt such a thing as a entry visa or visa on arrival to Thailand. What you got was a visa excemption.

But relevant to share the information that one can get a 30 days extension on a visa excemption.

Anyhow - depending on which way you came I would think it would be more conveniant to get a touristvisa - which is 60 days and can be extended with another 30 days in a neighbour country on the way to Thailand. I even think its cheaper.

Penalties
 

I'm in Myanmar now headed into Thailand. I want to leave my bike when I fly home for the holidays for about ten months. I know this is supposedly impossible but so are making border runs every 30 days while I'm working on Europe.

Can anyone tell me what the penalties are for leaving your bike past its temporary importation date? Some countries charge €1 per day.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I cant exactly remember the fine, but it has been rised significantly the later years. I think its 10000 baht and then an additional fee pr day of "overstay".
And its so much that I wouldnt even consider doing it. TIT - This Is Thailand. Every rule and regulation can be changed at any time and any rule and regulation can and will be interpreted very different by the local official on duty and will differ according to his or hers mental state of the day.

You can ask your question on GTriders.com or Rideasia.net - two of the biggest netforums for foreign bikers in Thailand for correct answer of the size of the penalties of "overstaying" with a vehicle.
Or you can wait until you pass the border - the size of the penalties will be on the temporary import paperwork that you will have to sign when you cross the border.

As I told you earlier - consider Cambodia.

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm going to post on the forums you mentioned. Unfortunately Cambodia is not an option as I don't want to fly back to move the bike from Thailand to Cambodia after the holidays. Basically if the penalty is cheaper than the plane ticket in going to give it a shot.

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