Shipping my Car from Europe to Vietnam? HOW? WORTH or NOT?

56POSTS

10 years ago

I will be living in Vietnam for many years in near future..
I have a car in my country and it is standing there just waiting for me.
And every year, it is becoming older and older even without using

.

It would be very nice if I can arrange bringing it here by a ship.
But I don't "How is the procedure (allowed or not)" & "Is it very costly (especially tax)"
.

If somebody knows any information I would appreciate this help.

1 member reacted to this post

See also

Driving in Vietnam - Guide
Car rental in Vietnam - Business
Shipping within Vietnam - 3 Replies
Shipping a car from U.S. to Vietnam - 11 Replies
Importing my used car to Vietnam - 34 Replies
Can i ship my car to HMC just for personal use - 11 Replies
shipping from Vietnam - pls advise - 14 Replies

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

To save any hassles and money, sell the car in your home country and buy something here. You will also need a local license to drive a car, police also love to pull cars over looking for cash for the that nights beer.

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

Check this out...

If its a Lada then I wouldn't bother....

https://www.angloinfo.com/vietnam/how-t … -a-vehicle

also:
The procedure for converting a foreign driving licence in Vietnam is easier than it is to apply for a new licence. There is no need to take either a written or a driving test. The Department of Transportation is in charge of granting Vietnamese driving licences to foreigners who have valid driving licences from their home countries. They are also in charge of replacing lost driving licences and issuing licence renewals.

TalhaSami Banned

56POSTS

10 years ago

thank you very much...i will check carefully....

TalhaSami Banned

56POSTS

10 years ago

Deepsix wrote:
Check this out...
https://www.angloinfo.com/vietnam/how-t … -a-vehicle

As I see from your link, car must be maximum 5 years old..
I think it is very narrow...mine is 7 years old and I cannot bring

.
Then I should look for buying here..but I am not sure they made difficult regulations for foreigners about buying car here or not !

.
Now a days buying house is easy for foreign people,
I guess car should be easier(?)
Is it possible I can buy any second hand car here easy?

JVo18 Contributor

199POSTS

10 years ago

I would not buy a used car here in Vietnam if you can afford not to. 85% of second Hand cars here have had their odometer turned back. You simply have no idea what you're getting in a second hand vehicle. Do you need 4 or 7 passenger seating? A brand new Toyota corolla (altis) will start at around $37,000 USD. The ever so popular 7 passenger Toyota Innova starts at around $35,000 (these are base models). Audi Q7 starts at around $165,000 USD. Mercedes S500 starts at around $230,000 USD. Then you have everything in between. There's a couple cars that start off cheaper like the Chevy Spark....

I would not bring your car here. Simply not worth it. I tried bringing my M3 here from the states and they wanted to tax me $75,000. No thanks

Hope this helps

TalhaSami Banned

56POSTS

10 years ago

JVo18 wrote:
I would not buy a used car here in Vietnam

My budget today is limited for second hand..
Any tips about procedure and the ways for finding the right car will help me a lot.

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

I assume you are coming to Vietnam for work in which case you may be able to negotiate a car with driver in your contract? will you be based in HCMC? Driving here is unlike Europe and to be honest unless you are cool, calm and have more than one set of eyes I wouldn't even bother about considering to drive here!

1 member reacted to this post

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

You will need a local to help you as its in Vietnamese, if you do want to buy, don't be scared to bargain as most VN will be accepting of this. For your health and hassles, hire a driver full time, they are quite cheap and less drama if you are going to drive in Saigon. If you are going to be in the smaller cities or countryside you can drive yourself without too many dramas.

https://muaban.net/ban-o-to-ho-chi-minh-l59-c41

TalhaSami Banned

56POSTS

10 years ago

#10

I found this link as well
http://en.carmudi.vn/cars/

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

#11

Hope the car is not over 5 years old. If it is you can not import. The duties are quite high.

Budman1 ViP

1612POSTS

10 years ago

#12

Vagabondone wrote:
Hope the car is not over 5 years old. If it is you can not import. The duties are quite high.

He already know that, look at post # 5

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

#13

My bad Budman. Should have read the entire thread.

vannguyen1227 Member

3POSTS

10 years ago

#14

Hi,
I just share something, I hope it will help you.
About the procedure, you should prepare documents (make some copies, not only one) below:
- A documentation of payment for vehicle registration tax (2% valuation of the car) . you need the form of registration tax (check here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6I3M8 … 1Ra3c/edit), the certificate of vehicle registration, the document of ownership transfer(contact, invoice...). Then go toTax department (check here to find out where is close to you http://hocketoanthuchanh.com/dia-chi-ca … ai-tp-hcm/).
- A declaration of vehicle registration.
- A certificate of vehicle registration.
- A documentation of vehicle ownership transfer (contact, invoice...).
- Visa/resident card/temporary resident card in valid (at least one year).
You can go to Department of traffic police (282 Nơ Trang Long street, Bình Thạnh distric).
About the buying, it is really easy to find second-hand cars online. They show everything about the cars and their phone number there. So just call and make a meeting (but I think you should find the cars that are registered in hochiminh). And I think Vietnamese or foreigners do the same to check the cars (driving, touching, asking...and you have driven so long, so I think you know about it well. Just one thing that people really care but hard to find out is what happened to the cars and why they want to sell. Maybe accidents or something bad). If they don't speak English (you should go with Vietnamese)
So good luck

2 members reacted to this post

Budman1 ViP

1612POSTS

10 years ago

#15

vannguyen1227 wrote:
Hi,
I just share something, I hope it will help you.
About the procedure, you should prepare documents (make some copies, not only one) below:
- A documentation of payment for vehicle registration tax (2% valuation of the car) . you need the form of registration tax (check here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6I3M8 … 1Ra3c/edit), the certificate of vehicle registration, the document of ownership transfer(contact, invoice...). Then go toTax department (check here to find out where is close to you http://hocketoanthuchanh.com/dia-chi-ca … ai-tp-hcm/).
- A declaration of vehicle registration.
- A certificate of vehicle registration.
- A documentation of vehicle ownership transfer (contact, invoice...).
- Visa/resident card/temporary resident card in valid (at least one year).
You can go to Department of traffic police (282 Nơ Trang Long street, Bình Thạnh distric).
About the buying, it is really easy to find second-hand cars online. They show everything about the cars and their phone number there. So just call and make a meeting (but I think you should find the cars that are registered in hochiminh). And I think Vietnamese or foreigners do the same to check the cars (driving, touching, asking...and you have driven so long, so I think you know about it well. Just one thing that people really care but hard to find out is what happened to the cars and why they want to sell. Maybe accidents or something bad). If they don't speak English (you should go with Vietnamese)
So good luck

This guy is one of the few that's a local member, but not trying to sell anything in his post or in his profile. Just provides good information for us expats. Welcome to the site vannguyen1227.

Rick

TalhaSami Banned

56POSTS

10 years ago

#16

vannguyen1227 wrote:
Hi,
I just share something, I hope it will help you.

Thank you very much

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

#17

I have a rather good experience buying a used car in Vung Tau. In 2010 I bought a 2002 Ford Escape in Vung Tau and drove it actively for two years. I went through a used car shop. I later sold it with some loss due to run km when I finally dared to purchase a brand new vehicle.
But bringing your own car from home will be a real pain in [you know what]. Someone recommended to sell your can and buy a used one here - I agree. Just really think twice or even many more times before joining the HCM traffic! And don't try to speed. At least if you buy a used car it would not be so pitiful to scratch compared to a brand new one.

DirtyPierre Serial expat

254POSTS

10 years ago

#18

Owning and driving and more importantly trying to park a car in HCMC, you will find, is a liability, not an asset.
A private driver is a much cheaper and easier option.

1 member reacted to this post

Hans.b Active member

68POSTS

10 years ago

#19

Hello Van,
My name is Hans. I've lived in vn for several years now and was also thinking about buying a new car 700-800 million vnd but I've heard that hiring a full-time driver would be much cheaper. Can you tell me roughly what the cost of hiring a car and driver would cost monthly? Thanks in advance for your help.

vannguyen1227 Member

3POSTS

10 years ago

#20

Hi Hans,
Some guys here said that hiring full time car and driver is cheaper than buying new one. I am not sure about that (I just helped TalhaSami about the procedures). Maybe they will give you some advices. But I just asked and found out some information for you. I hope it will help you.
About hiring price, it depends on many things, old or new cars, what brands...And the price will be 1000$ (10 hours/day) for 26 days/month included driver and fuel. But they will charge extra money if using at weekend, night and extra hours. So it will be 12.000$/year, after some years (3-4 years) money will go without car. But hiring is a good choice for short living time because the driver knows traffics here well. You won't be stressful after work in traffic jam.

Why don't you think about taxi? People said that they use taxi apps like grab and uber... It is easier and cheaper. If you just go to work and sometimes go somewhere. You don't have to care about anything.
And if you have enough money, buying new one is not bad idea. Lifetime limit to 25 years. So it is a good choice for long time. It will be easy to find price and brands on Google and ask showrooms. You just add 10% registration tax for first time and 2% plate and insurance. The showrooms will take care of procedure, just bargain with them, you will discount hihi. But you need to know well about traffic law and get used to traffic jams. It won't be big deal if you live in areas for foreigners like D7, D2...
Hope you will have a good choice.
Good luck

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

#21

Hans, maybe buy a car then get yourself a private driver. If a company is paying the costs then just rent and ride it off on tax.

Hans.b Active member

68POSTS

10 years ago

#22

That's what I was thinking too. For the long term buying seems to be better. I've been doing some reading on the Trans Pacific Partnership but I'd like more information. It seems like that will reduce the car tax considerably and make buying a car much cheaper. Do you have an opinion on the TPP? Maybe I should make a post about that

Ngan Khanh Contributor

159POSTS

10 years ago

#23

I wouldn't put too much hope on TPP. When the taxes do drop, other costs will show up and replace the holes. Let's hope for cars in VN to be cheaper in.....20 years!!??

If you use cars a lot like I do ( drive around Binh Duong, Đồng Nai, etc.), you should buy yourself a car. If you only need to go around the city, UBER and GRAB will be great. My driver still not yet back from the holiday so today I booked UBER to go to D7 from Van Thanh, costs me 150,000 both ways. Love it!

rubytran Member

3POSTS

10 years ago

#24

I don't like to buy a car in Vietnam. Because the streets is often narrow and there are many vehicles here. Especially, in the traffic jam, it will be easier to drive a motorbike or a bicycle.

ben_songg Member

23POSTS

10 years ago

#25

For those who wanna get a car, there are things that you need to take into consideration; i would just name 1 and its the most important one,parking.. driving a car is hard in saigon especially in the center because its really hard to get a parking space wherever you go.. you cant just simple stop by the road and get down for a meal or drinks; parking space for your car near your residence place.. that is an extra commitment.

Buying a secondhand car is not a bad idea as the tax is cheaper, but you definately need to get it from someone trustable off course.. but again, buying a secondhand vehicle, there will be no warranty.. unless you go for secondhand that is less than 2 yrs where the warranty from the factory yet expired.

If you are thinking of living here long term, you really can consider getting a car.. you can get anywhere you wan anytime as you like. I myself i cant live without a car, thats why i got myself a car!