Thailand into Malaysia
 

Can anyone relate a recent experience of crossing the Thai-Malaysian border, with or without carnet? Any good place to cross?

Cheers

Chris

Hi, we crossed from Thailand to Malaysia around Jan 20th, 2008, at Bukit Kayu Hitam, on the main road between Hat Yai and Ipoh/KL, with a bike registered in Finland, with carnet.

It all seemed to be very relaxed, we actually had to walk up to the building to find the right office, where they stamped the carnet (and no-one even cared to come and look at the bike, nevermind check the frame/engine numbers!)

It looked to me like you could cross without the carnet, but since I haven´t tried that, I wouldnt know for sure. There´s a chance it could bring some trouble later on, if you don´t have any temporary import permit. I think officially Malaysia is in the carnet-system (it certainly was listed on our carnet like India, Pakistan, etc.)

At the time of our visit, the westernmost areas of South Thailand neighbouring Malaysia, did have some unrest, bomb attacks, etc., and I dont know, if they still continue. The main highway was supposed to be quite safe to travel, and we experienced no problems whatsoever in South Thailand, or Peninsular Malaysia for that matter.

Pecha,

Many thanks. Malaysia will be the only country requiring carnet, but we will most likely go with it to save us from problems.

Things currently appear quiet in southern Thailand. But who knows what it will be like in December? No pain, no gain, eh?

Chris

thai-malay
 

this is e verry easy bordercrossing.i did it already 2 times without carnet . first whit a thai registerd bike .just go in the bike line it is a drive trouh . they stamp the passport and off you go . the second time whit my belgium registerd bike no prob. the bike line and go .
the qustion is what you do next . go back to thai ? ore to indo?
back to thai :no prob whitout carnet
to indo : easyer whit carnet , possible whitout 1000$ inporttax you can get it back in timmor when you leave for australia

Did you get any kind of temporary import document for your bikes, when entering Malaysia? Especially the European-registered one should get something from the customs, I think.

Crossing the border without a carnet also seemed to me like it could work, but being able to do that doesnt mean its 100% legal, so there´s no guarantee you wont get any trouble later on.

Indonesia without carnet could be much more complicated. I´ve heard reports that I think are reliable, of great troubles clearing Indonesian customs, even when someone´s had the carnet!

Not saying its impossible without it, and I know its been done, just don´t expect it to be very easy. Certain ports of entry to Indonesia, your vehicle may be refused entry, even if you have the carnet, so its well worth finding out about some other travellers recent experiences.

malay border
 

the malay border is always the same , if you dont ask anything you go whitout customs whatsoever. the export is quit something different whitout enything from inport . the belgium bike was whit carnet but i did not use it on inport in malay . i managed to get them stamp the in en export voucher in penang . so if you only stay in malay :no prob . if you export to indo : go for some kind of inport papier.stampt carnet ore tempory inport permit .
the easyest port to get in indo for now is stil penang to belawan . mr Lim and so on (you now the dril probebly )

Samson & Pecha,

Thanks for the replies.

I am thinking of buying a Minsk for my collection because of our happy times riding through Vietnam (3 occassions now; have done almost all of the North).

My plan is to ride it from Hanoi (with my partner Heather, who has accompanied me on each ride in Vietnam) to Australia. Our only issue is time. I had been thinking of shipping from Malaysia to Australia,or else leaving the bike in Malaysia for a period and then returning to ride through Indonesia before shipping to Australia from Timor or Bali???

I am not sure how easy it will be to organise a carnet and import licence in Australia for a motorcycle I will purchase in Vietnam, but will soon find out. I have a good contact in Hanoi who can pre-purchase the motorcycle for me.:mchappy: