Thanks Snakeboy,

I used an agent for my first entry from Malaysia into Thaialand only because I was an idiot and arrived at Bukit Kayu Hitam with my Carnet expecting to get in. This because of information my Malaysian shipping agent gave me and due to a number of problems with MITI in Malaysia (and some unplanned neck surgery in KL) I dropped the ball and didn’t research and confirm things clearly. And because I’d ridden Singapore registered bikes many times into Thailand I thought it was basically the same..

The Thai Customs people at Bukit Kayu Hitam barred the bike (although Thai immigration let me in with a 2 month visa) so I was sent back to Malaysia until I got the TIP. HOWEVER, they gave me a piece of paper that said the TIP can ONLY be obtained with an agent’s help and gave me some contacts.

The agent reckoned he could get me in that day at the border post near Satun about 2 hoursride away (a beautiful ride by the way) for US$800 or US$300 if I was prepared to wait in Malaysia for 5 days. I chose the $800 (payable on successful entry) and headed to Satun. The Customs people gave me a notice that said TIP for Thailand ONLY be organised by an agent - not by individual foreigners

But at Satun the Thai immigration had a problem with me ( not the bike this time) because the Malalysian had not stamped me back into Malaysia at Bukit Kayu Hitam. They were so sympathetic to me being ****ed around on the other side they just gave me a cuppa and handwrote in my passport “Never Left Malaysia” - so I could keep the remainder of the 90 day visa I had for Malaysia.

Over at Satun, the Thais told me the bike was fine but I had to go back to Bukit Kayu Hitam to get a proper Mlaysian chop in my passport. (it’s 2 hours to closing time at the border post now) .Long story short the $800 Thai agent worked for almost 2 hours doing various things to get me into Thailand.

at 5;59 PM. the Thais finally give me a VOA and the bike a TIP for 30 days.

I don’t want to say the US$800 to the agent was worth it, but the original mistake was mine and technically I probably did need laws or regulations bent and the cost of going back to Malaysia and staying in a hotel for 5 days while the ‘normal’ TIP application was processed would have cost a few hundred bucks and thaty area around Bukit kayu Hitam is pretty unattractive.

So, with the free 30 day extension I subsequently secured for myself in Chiang Rai at the Friendship Bridge customs office I’m viewing the $800 as a $13 per day road tax as well as an insurance premium knowing I (possibly) have a fixer (the original agent who I later met in Chiang Mai) in case of unforseen problems down the road.


It does seem, from the following official Thai website, that an agent is absolutely necessary for organsing the approval for the first import. But after that renewals can be self managed. And the customs people in Chiang Rai informed me that multiple 30 day extensions are possible, but that in practice they generally only grant 1, but also it is entirely discretionary as there are no laws or regulations government how many may be granted.

https://fvp.dlt.go.th/Upload/FileMan...e%20ENG-V1.pdf

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There is no big deal, we have all been there and bought some services that wasnt 100 % needed but made it a good bit easier for ourselves. So no need to be sorry for that.

I still dont get it that a TIP can only be had through an agent? Thats whwre the scam lies I think. I «arrived» 3 times into Thailand from neighborogh countries and never had to do it that way. I got a document at the border and filled it out - then the thai custom official handed me over a TIP that I had to sign. And I belive thats the way it works nowadays too, unless rules have changed.

Well - on the other hand the rules/laws that came in 2016 that a thai guide is mandatory upon entering Thailand is still there, it hasnt been removed. So this - what you experienced could be a part of this….

Singapore plated vehicles can enter Thailand together with Malaysian and Laotian without much hassle as there are a bilateral agreement within those countries about vehicles.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....