Documents that you need to drive to Thailand.
1) Original Registration Card ( This is the official requirement, I have seen some using photocopy as well )
2) If you are not the car owner, get the authorisation letter from the car owner.
3) Insurance ( Please read the Insurance section for more information )
Before you cross the border, you need to purchase Thai insurance to cover the 3rd party in Thailand.
There are 2 insurance here. The first one is the Insurance that you purchase at the border. That insurance cover 3rd party in Thailand but not your own vehicle. The insurance cost about RM15 for about a week coverage. This is compulsory.
In order to cover your own vehicle, you need to purchase from your local insurance company to cover your stay at Thailand.
However, this is optional if you do not think it is necessary.
The most convenient way is to purchase an extension from your existing insurance company.
For Kurnia Insurance, the insurance premium is 20% of the 1st party insurance that you pay in Malaysia for 30 days coverage. For example, if your car 1st party premium is RM1,000.00, then you need to pay additional RM200.oo for 30days coverage in Thailand. You need to inform the insurance company before you go and when you return. Multiple entry is permitted.
For MSIG insurance, coverage for less then a week is 20% of your existing premium x 1/8. Less then 1 month is 20% of your existing premium x 1/4. That means if your premium is RM1,000.00, the coverage for less then 1 week is RM25.00, less then 1 month is RMRM50.00
Please call your insurance company to find out more.
You can purchase the Thai insurance at any agency at Changlun town, usually those restaurant cum rest area along the highway after Changlun town offer this services. You can have the agent to fill up the Thai arrival card/white card at RM1 each. There are a few restaurant / rest area besides the highway after Changlun town toward Bukit Kayu Hitam like the photo below.
This is the insurance document that you will get from the agent.
After you get your Thai Arrival Card/White Card and Insurance done, proceed to Bukit Kayu Hitam Check Point.
Passing through the Malaysia custom is very simple, just drive to the available counter and hand over your passport ( Passenger does not need to get down from car ). Once its done, we proceed to Thailand border where we need to park our car at the parking area and everyone must get down from the car and proceed to the immigration office. Once the passport is stamped, the car owner must proceed to custom counter in the middle of the drive through lane to obtain a car entry permit.
All you need to do is hand over the passport and the car registration card to the officer and he/she will print out a copy of the car entry permit to you.
You must proceed to the next counter in front of you to hand in the car entry permit to another officer ( The officer will ask you to sign on the car entry permit ), once you hand over the car entry permit to the officer, you can now proceed back to your car and drive through the custom, as you pass the custom, the officer will return the car entry form that you submited early on, please have a quick check to make sure that you collect the correct car entry permit.
Please keep the car import permit safely as you need to return to copy to the custom when you return to Malaysia. Please take note that you can exit in any other checkpoint.
All done and Sawadee Khrap, welcome to Thailand.
On return, if the traffic is less, you may park your car at the counter area and return the car import permit at the custom counter, you are required to sign a log book. Please take note that you car must park in front of the custom counter when you return the document.
If the traffic is heavy, then I will suggest your go straight to the custom counter ( In the middle of the driving lane ), return the car import permit, and park you car at the car park. Then only you proceed to the immigration counter to stamp your passport. After that back to the car park and drive straight back to Malaysia.
Back to Malaysia is a simple process by hand over the passport to the immigration counter, all passenger remain in car. The custom check point is right after the immigration. Do as what the customer officer told and answer politely.
Hi Kent,
Tq for all the info you provide. It is very2 helpfull for first timer like me.
Keep up the good work : )
Hi,
Really neat information you have here. I am planning to cross border for Hat Yai late at night, between 9pm-12am. Can I get the Thai insurance during that time and what is my ETA if I passed border clearance at 10pm?
Thanks in advance :)
Hi Aizuddin,
I am not sure about the closing time but you can call the following number to find out more, there are insurance agent around the border area
Changlun Mini Tour Sdn Bhd, Lbr Utara/selatan, Bukit Kayu Hitam, 06010 Changlun, Kedah 04-924 1988
Tergad Jaya’ @ Duty Free – 049222611 / 0124772966
The border crossing will be depending on the traffic range from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours.
Happy Holiday and please do share your travel journey with the rest.
Thanks for your reply. I called both of them, Changlun Mini Tour closed at 9PM and the other one closed at 8PM. However, according to them there are several insurance agents operating until 11-12PM.
I would like to understand for the car registeration card or geran. Can this be photocopy of the geran ? If acceptable, then do we we need to certify ?
Need some advice ?
Hi Lee,
I did see someone using photocopy of the geran or so call car registration certificate without problem.
In my personal opinion, if you can get original copy is the best, else a photocopy endorsed by police station or commission of oath to avoid any disappointment.
Just imagine some officer having a bad day may give you a lot of trouble, better prepare the best you can.
Thank you for the detail information. Appreciate the effort. I have a question, as my car is still under bank loan. Would it be a problem if I cross over with this car registration cert.?
No problem if your car is under bank loan.
All you need is the car registration card stated that you are the car owner ( if the authority conduct a check ).
Officially you need to bring the original copy but I have seen some using photocopy.
I bring the original copy all the time to avoid any problem.
Hi! I’m going to drive a borrowed car (from my father). Do I need any official documents that I am allowed to drive the car (authorization or something like that)? Or maybe a simple agreement (in English) signed by my father is enough?
any document prove that the car owner allow you to use the car will be ok. that is the official requirement.
But how to prove that the letter is genueine is another matter. May be verification by police or commission of oath will be helpful.
I have not tried that but just put myslef in the authority side… how to verify the integrity of the letter.
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. Just some sharing, I’ve just called Changlun Mini Tour Sdn Bhd with regards to the authorization letter. They provide services to issue the authorization letter with the cost of RM5. We need to bring along a copy of the green card and a copy of the owner’s IC.
Hi YK,
Thanks for the sharing.
Please let us know if this is really workable and recognize by the authority after your trip.
It will be very very useful for the rest.
Thanks
Kent
Hello~~ Good day~ :)
I am planning for a trip to Koh Lipe which i think i will drive from Penang to the Pak Barra Jetty (near a place called Satun).
I just wonder is it Bukit Kayu Hitam-Sadao checkpoint is the only place for us to cross the border (custom checking etc)? Because if i use Google map – there is an alternative route for Penang to pak barra (which do not need to pass by BKH/Hatyai). But too bad it never stated whether there is a check point for that route.
Sorry if i asked a silly question.
Is it possible to bring our car and enter Thailand via Wang klian?My friends told me the line-up at Sadao border will be very long and may take hours during peak season.With my little kids with me, its tough.I’m thinking to take a long way but less congestion.
I am not sure about Wang Kilan as I usually use Sadao/Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang besar.
Beside Bukit Kayu Hitam, you may use Perlis/Padang besar as well.
I am not sure about the procedure in others check point.
Anyone can share information ?
Hi~~ Just a sharing with you all…
I just went to Koh Lipe through the Wang Kelian Check Point on last Saturday. It is definitely less crowded – even on a holiday like that. I guess, it was less than 20 people / less than 10 cars passing through it when we was there. The procedure is pretty much the same. BUT, the operation at the counter is really slow. There’s only one counter (one officer covering both Arrival and Departure). Another ONE officer issuing the car entry permit.
Btw, some source from the internet are mentioning there’s a stall selling car insurance – but the stall is not open on time (operation hour stated as 9am, but it never open until we left there at 10am). Luckily we had our car insurance done at Changlun.
Thanks JT,
Do you have more detail like how to get there and the step by step procedure so that I can upload to the blog to share with the rest ?
Also if you would like to share about Koh Lipe. How do you get there ? where to take ferry and how long does it take.
Photo will be much appreciate. You may send a word file to me DriveToThailand@gmail.com
Thanks
Kent
Hi
i plan to drive to thailand soon. Can the 3rd party insurance be done by our normal car insurance agent & not by the changlun shop?
Rgds
You have to get the insurance from the Thai Insurance Agent at the border.
Hi, would like to know what time the insurance agent will start operating?
Those that I asked start from 8am to 8pm.
Usually the restaurant that sell insurance close later at about 10pm.
Hi, thanks for reply. i just called Mini Tour company. he is open at 3am-9pm.
Hi YK,
Is the authorization letter issued by Changlun Mini Tour Sdn Bhd workable or recognize?
Im planning to drive to PakBarra by my dad’s car on this coming Nov ….
I am not very sure about that.
I asked the others agent the same question, they said they had been issue this letter at RM5.00 each without any problem.
Anybody can verify ?
Thanks for the information.
Will update the blog
Any of the insurance places open very early like 6am? I like to be at the border by 6 am…Thanks
I was looking for that as well but not available.
Anybody can help ?
Another method is to pay in advance and ask the insurance agency to courier to you.
hi admin..
i would like to know is it possible if we cross thailand via bukit kayu hitam border..and check out from thailand using Wang Kelian border…or Golok checkpoint..thanks for your infos.
admin,
FYI I just called a few companies, and yes, some do open as early as 3 am… I am planning on driving to hat yai tomorrow night…so prolly I will reach changlun around 4-5am… will do the insurance thingy there, but will go in thailand by Padang Besar… I dont like to ‘compete’ with passengers from the express buses if you know what i mean…haha
anyways, your blog is really helpful… any other advise concerning driving in thailand? i am a first timer…
Hi Lee,
Would appreciate if you can let us know which agent open at odd hours and is this apply only during peak season ?
Thanks in advance.
Kent
I checked with Thai Immigration at border, it is not a problem.
In fact I did entered at Padang Besar and exit at Bukit Kayu Hitam before.
Hi Lee,
Please do let us know who are the agent who open at odd hours.
Are they doing this during peak season ?
Kent
the agent from the first number u put earlier… they are open from 3 am…I called and ask… and another one Nudee Enterprise, opens at 5am (I called too)…
So I can ‘check in’ my car at Padang Besar and ‘check out’ at BKH?? No problem?
On a side note, my name is Leez, not Lee … LOL!!!
Admin,
Just to share something with you and your readers, I read this from a blog:
“Those intending to enter Thailand by one border point and exit by another must inform the Thai authorities of that intention. Permission to do so depends on how quickly the car’s particulars can be sent to the intended exit point.”
Not sure how necessary is it…maybe you can check?
Noted.
Please do confirm if they open everyday at the same time or just during peak season.
I did check with the Thailand custom officer.
You are allowed to enter and exit at different checkpoint.
I did that before by entering Padang Besar and exit at Bukit Kayu Hitam.
May be the article that you read is old posting where Thailand car entry system is not online yet.
Enjoy your trip Leez ( now I got it right ), do share with us your experience and do contact me if you are happen to be in KL.
Owh ok then if that’s so…I will ask them just to reconfirm if I can exit at BKH…I am still planning to enter thru PB.
I am in KL btw…
admin,
I just found out from my insurance co. that my vehicle is not covered. However, it is too late for me to ask for an extension (of cover to Thailand). According to your entry, this is optional. The Thai officials will not ask for this cover right? Only the insurance that I am going to purchase at the border? Right? Just seeking clarification.
Yes. Thailand compulsory insurance you buy at the border does not cover your vehicle.
hi all,
I just did my trip up north. Reached Changlun around 5.30AM and did my insurance thingy at Nudee Enterprise. They were already opened. Not many people there, only one family (one car) was already there when I arrived. So, not much hassle there. I took the Third Party Person and Vehicle Insurance, cost me RM60. Nudee Ent. also provides money exchange. The exch rate is much better than in KL…so I would suggest to xchange your currency at the border. You’ll get better xchange rates.
Then proceeded to Padang Besar border instead of BK Hitam. Reached PB about 7am, and waited for a while (had bfast there) for the Petronas station to open. They are opened ard 7am+. Topped up fuel to ‘F’ and proceeded to PB immigration, no queue at all there, and then to Thai Immigration and customs, also no long queues like BK Hitam, considering it was a school holiday and pub hols etc. Also no hassle at all.
Drove to Hatyai and parked my car at the hotel’s parking the whole of my stay there. Traveled with tuk tuk instead of car ard hatyai.
Came back to Malaysia again through PB. Short queue for immi but no queue at the customs to return the import declaration form for my car and signed a book.
Welcome back LeeZ…
Want to writing something to share with everyone here ?
As simple as your comment… and may be some photo of the interesting places that you visit.
Kent
Perfects guidance! Thank you author for writing up such a useful post.
I will be heading to Thailand next week, your guidance helps me alot!
Hi, will be travelling to Vietnam via Bangkok and Cambodia. Just wondering is it safe to leave my bike while staying in the hotel or sightseeing? I’m afraid the bike might get stolen or vandalised. Its going to be quite number of pittstop throughtout in Thailand. I’ve been to Hat Yai numerous times but this will be my first time riding bike via Bangkok. Is it easy to find petrol kiosk? Thanks.
Hi,
Petrol kiosk is available along all the major road.I am not sure how far per full tank can your bike goes, but I usually allow minimum buffer of 100KM for my car at any one time.
There is always risk for being stolen or vandalize, try to park at the crowded area to reduce the risk.