Thailand’s Siingapore Dubai UK New 2016 2017 Used 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 2009 2008 2007 cheapest price car pickup truck exporter Finland Europe EU Latin America Caribbean Trinidad : New 2016 2017 pickup up truck Toyota Hilux Vigo Mitsubishi L200 Triton Ford Ranger isuzu dmax mazda bt50 nissan navara used car 4×4 suv exporter Toyota Fortuner Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, caribbean : second hand & new car 4×4 asia africa americas dealer and Toyota Vigo exporter

Thailand, Dubai, Singapore and England United Kingdom top car, pickup truck, SUV, vans, minibus, trucks, bus and machinery exporter to Finland, Scandinavia, Nordic countries and RHD and LHD countries of Europe

Jim is Thailand’s top car exporter, Dubai’s top car exporter, Singapore’s top car exporter and England United Kingdom’s top car exporter and 4×4 exporter, importer and dealer of New 2016 2017 and Used 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 models of Toyota Hilux Vigo, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, Isuzu Dmax, Isuzu MU-7 and other 4×4 pickups and SUVs to Finland and to other RHD and LHD countries of the world. Jim is also Thailand’s top car exporter to Europe. We are exporting RHD vehicles to RHD countries of Europe and Left Hand Drive vehicles to LHD countries of Western, South, Central, and Eastern Europe as well as to the Balkan Peninsula.

Jim is Thailand’s top new car and 4×4 dealer, importer and exporter. We are exporting to the RHD and LHD countries of Europe including Western European countries as United Kingdom, Jersey, Gibraltar, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Austria South European countries as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, and Cyprus, Central European countries as Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland; Balkan countries as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece; as well as East European countries as Russia, Ukraine, and Romania.

Jim Autos is Thailand’s top new and used car exporter. Jim as Thailand’s oldest and largest auto exporter to the world has served its customers since our founding in 1911 as Asia’s first auto dealership outside Japan with honesty, integrity, superior customer service, price leadership and professionalism,

Thailand’s top car exporter and 4×4 exporter to the RHD and LHD countries of Europe including Finland

Jim Autos Thailand is Thailand’s, Singapore’s, England United Kingdom’s and Dubai’s top car exporter, Thailand’s top auto exporter and Thailand’s top 4×4 exporter of Right Hand Drive and Left Hand Drive vehicles to Europe. We established our dominance in export of Right Hand Drive vehicles early on but have been Asia’s top auto exporter to not only Right Hand Drive European countries but also the Left Hand Drive countries of Europe.

Among European countries United Kingdom, Jersey, Ireland, Malta, North Cyprus and Cyprus are Right Hand Drive countries. All other countries are Left Hand Drive countries. Since Thailand is a Right Hand Drive country we can send a wide selection of quality Thailand assembled Japanese and American 4×4 pickups and SUVs to RHD countries of Europe. Our selection of Left Hand Drive is limited to 2009 models of top selling original Left Hand Drive vehicles as 2009 Toyota Hilux Vigo, 2009 Toyota Fortuner, 2009 Isuzu Dmax, 2009 Toyota Camry, 2009 Mitsubishi L200 Triton and 2009 Ford Ranger. We currently only have 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV only in Right Hand Drive but hope to get LHD model soon.

Finland

Part of Fenno-Scandia (the Scandinavian Peninsula, Finland, Karelia, and the Kola Peninsula), Finland has an area of 337,030 sq km (130,128 sq mi), of which 31,560 sq km (12,185 sq mi) is inland water. Comparatively, the area occupied by Finland is slightly smaller than the state of Montana. Its length, one-third of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is 1,160 km (721 mi) N–S; its width is 540 km (336 mi) E–W.

Finland is part of Nordic Nations and Scandinavia

The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe called the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories which include the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. Scandinavia is sometimes used as a synonym for the Nordic countries,[1] although within the Nordic countries the terms are considered distinct.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Faroe Islands speak Scandinavian languages but even though Finland was greatly influenced by Swedish culture during its occupation, the Finnish language is a Uralic language.

Recently, Estonia has also projected itself as a Nordic country, although it is widely considered to be a Baltic state. Estonia has close linguistic, ethnic and cultural ties with Finland, was part of the Danish and Swedish empires for many centuries, has cultural ties with Sweden and Denmark, and most of its investment and trade is with the Nordic countries. Additionally Estonian language is related to Finnish language.

Finland is a part of the European Union

The European Union is composed of 27 independent sovereign countries which are known as member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.[22] There are three official candidate countries, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey. The western Balkan countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia are officially recognised as potential candidates.. The Faeroe Islands, Greenland, the Canary Islands, the British Channel Islands and the Åland Islands are not part of the EU customs area. They are regarded as areas outside the EU. There are also some small areas of some EU countries that do not belong to the EU customs area either. The customs rules applying to areas outside the EU are the same as those applying to countries outside the EU.

Denmark is southwest of Sweden and south of Norway. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea. The country consists of a large peninsula, Jutland (Jylland) and many islands, most notably Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn), Vendsyssel-Thy, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm as well as hundreds of minor islands often referred to as the Danish Archipelago. Denmark has long controlled the approach to the Baltic Sea, and these waters are also known as the Danish straits. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are autonomous provinces of Denmark with home rule, but are not members of the European Union. Greenlandic is, however, an official language of the union.

European Union Customs Duty

The European Union is a customs union which means that the same import duty rates are applicable in all member states.

European Union Tariff Rates

Motor vehicle imports from non-EU and non-EFTA countries are subject to common external tariffs (CET) that range from 5.3 to 22 percent.

Passenger Cars: 10%: passenger cars 12.5%: electric-motored cars
Trucks: The CET for diesel- and gas-engine trucks is either 11 or 22 percent, depending on the vehicle engine capacity.
- 11%: diesel or semi-diesel trucks with an engine capacity of 2.5 liters and below; gas-engine trucks not exceeding 2.8-liter engine capacity
- 22%: diesel or semi-diesel trucks with an engine capacity exceeding 2.5 liters; gas-engine trucks exceeding 2.8 liters
- Dump trucks are subject to either a 6 or 17 percent duty, depending on engine capacity
- 6%: dump trucks with an engine capacity of 2.5 liters and below 17%: dump trucks with an engine capacity exceeding 2.5 liters
- All trucks made specifically for the purpose of transporting highly radioactive materials are subject to a 5.3 percent CET.

EU’s Single Internal Market (“EC-92”) and the Type-Approval Directive

The EU’s single internal market became official on January 1, 1993. Part of the “EC-92” effort includes the initiative to remove technical barriers to the free movement of products within the EU. The program’s greatest impact on the automotive sector has been in the area of standards. The EU Commission has attempted to harmonize automotive technical and environmental standards between the member states. EU legislation also covers noise and particulate emissions, as well as safety. For example, as of January 1, 1993, all motor vehicles in the EU must have a catalytic converter.

In addition, the EU’s type-approval directive (EU Council Directive 92/53) eliminates the need for national type-approval requirements by establishing one set of rules for automobiles and their parts throughout the EU. This directive aims to clarify the type-approval procedure for motor vehicles, separate technical units (i.e., trailers), and components. It simplifies the documentation, designates the type-approval number on a separate technical unit as certification of conformity, and defines vehicles, separate technical unit(s), and component(s). Certificates of conformity, as specified in Annex IX of EU Directive 92/53, will be required in order for an automobile to enter into service. For component approvals, an approval issued under relevant regulations of the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is recognized as equivalent to an approval granted under comparable EU legislation.

In March 1992, the EU Council formally adopted the few remaining pieces of component-related legislation necessary to make whole-vehicle type approval a reality for passenger cars. In June 1992, EU member state officials approved the adoption of EU legislation creating a single system for certifying that passenger cars meet safety and other technical requirements. The legislation established a EU type-approval system to replace the twelve member state national schemes.

In 1996, the EU type-approval system became mandatory. Vehicles with EU type-approval can be marketed anywhere in the Community. Therefore, a vehicle need only receive type-approval certification in one EU country to be accepted in all other member countries. To receive type-approval, products may either be brought to a testing facility or manufacturers may opt to maintain their own approved, on-site equipment. Nevertheless, U.S.-and EU-origin automobiles must still be certified to this single set of rules by an authorized member state agency. A similar system was adopted for type-approval of two and three wheeled vehicles, and became effective on January 1, 1994. Should you need further information or would like to obtain these addresses, please contact the Department of Commerce: European Union Affairs Office at (202) 482-5279.

Value-added taxes (VAT)

As part of the establishment of the single internal market, the EU member states have also begun to harmonize their VAT rates into a narrow band of approximately 15 percent. Until that time, VAT rates are country-specific, and in some cases, sector-specific; the rates fluctuate between standard, reduced and luxury VAT rates. However, standard VAT rates are generally applied to vehicles throughout the EU. EU VAT rates currently range from 15 to 25 percent. VAT rates for each EU member are listed below:

VAT Rates

Country	VAT	Country	VAT	Country	VAT
Austria	20%	Greece	18%	Poland	22%
Belgium	21%	Hungary	25%	Portugal	19%
Cyprus	15%	Ireland	21%	Slovakia	19%
Czech Republic	19%	Italy	20%	Slovenia	20%
Denmark	25%	Latvia	18%	Spain	16%
Estonia	18%	Lithuania	18%	Sweden	25%
Finland	22%	Luxembourg	15%	United Kingdom	17.5%
France	19.6%	Malta	18%
Germany	16%	Netherlands	19%

Finland Custom Duty

EU-wide tariff and non-tariff barriers mentioned above
VAT: 22%
Vehicle registration tax (28%: 650 euro (petrol); 450 euro (diesel))
- Ownership tax
  1. o Passenger cars (based on time, weight)
  2. o Commercial vehicles (based on weight, axles)

Only passenger cars with catalytic converters are allowed to be imported into Finland.

In September 2002, Finland agreed to a European Court of Justice ruling to remove its 30 percent tax on imported used cars, falling into step with Europe’s drive to form a single car market. (This is expected to boost used car imports to Finland, especially from Germany.)

EU countries are – in addition to Denmark – Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvian, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenian, Sweden and Austria.

Carbon Tax applied on your vehicle

The term “CO2 emissions” refers to the carbon dioxide emissions corresponding to the combined city and road consumption of the car. Finnish Customs establishes the CO2 reading of a car to be applied in taxation from the vehicle documents or from official registers. The taxpayer must deliver documents to Finnish Customs indicating the CO2 emissions of the car or its type approval, variant and version numbers. This information can be obtained e.g. from the registration certificate of the car issued in an EU member state or in an EEA country, from the certificate of compliance (COC) or from the certificate issued by a representative of the manufacturer.

When there is not any information available on the carbon dioxide emissions of the car in accordance with the EC type approval, an estimated level of emissions is determined for the car. In these cases, the tax rate applied to the car is determined on the basis of the total mass and motive power of the car in accordance with the tax scale. Determining the estimated level of emissions concerns old and used imported cars and also such new cars which are not covered by the EC type approval procedure and the Community- level regulations on measuring emissions, e.g. cars manufactured in short-run production and individual cars manufactured outside the European Community. For taxation purposes, information on the total mass of the car can be obtained e.g. from a registration certificate issued in another EU member state or EEA country, or from other documents regarding the vehicle. When necessary, the car must be taken to a vehicle inspection station for the measurement of its total mass.

Tax rate on Carbon Emissions

The tax rate of a passenger car is graduated on the basis of the carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicle. Each gramme of carbon dioxide affects the tax rate which is increased by one percentage unit for every ten grammes of carbon dioxide. The tax rate is determined according to the formula below:

quantity of emissions (grammes per kilometre) + 4 10

The amount of the tax rate is however 10 per cent at the minimum and 40 per cent at the maximum. A minimum-level tax will be collected for a car whose carbon dioxide emissions are at most 60 g/km, and a maximum-level tax will be collected for a car whose carbon dioxide emissions are 360 g/km or higher.

Amount of tax on Carbon Emissions

The amount of car tax for a passenger car is the share of the tax rate in the taxable value of the car.

Example 1: A passenger car taken into use abroad on 1 June 2005 CO2 emissions according to the EC type approval 100 g/km

General asking price of the vehicle in Finland 2 5 000,00 €

Reduction of usual discounts (5% x 25.000 € + 750 €) 2 000,00 €

General retail value i.e. taxable value of the car 23 000,00 €

Car tax (14 % x 23.000 €) 3 220,00 €

Value added tax of the car tax 708,40 €

Total payable 3 928,40 €

Example 2: A passenger car taken into use abroad on 1 June 1996
No CO2 reading accordant with the EC type approval, or no knowledge of it
Total mass of the vehicle: 2500 kg
Motive power: diesel oil
General asking price of the vehicle in Finland 16 000,00 €
Reduction of usual discounts (5% x 16.000 € + 750 €) 1 550,00 €
General retail value i.e. taxable value of the car 14 450,00 €
Car tax (26,7 % x 14.450 €) 3 858,15 €
Value added tax collected of the car tax 848,79 €
Total payable 4 706,94 €

Example 3: A new passenger car
CO2 reading accordant with the EC type approval: 120 g/km
General asking price of the vehicle in Finland 2 5 000,00 €
Reduction of usual discounts (4% x 25.000 € + 300 €) 1 300,00 €
General retail value i.e. taxable value of the car 2 3 700,00 €
Car tax (16 % x 23.700 €) 3 792,00 €
Value added tax of the car tax 834,24 €
Total payable 4 626,24 €

Further information

Car tax information: Tel. +358 20 690 601
Webform www.tulli.fi > Customs Information Service

Bringing a Vehicle as a new Immigrant

Importation of removal goods from within the EU is free of customs duty. Irrespective of whether they come from within or from outside the EU, persons importing a vehicle must immediately at their arrival in Finland notify Customs of the importation of the vehicle as part of removal goods. The vehicle may be used in Finland only under a permit of the authorities in cases provided for by law.

Motor vehicles imported from within the EU are subject to the Finnish Value Added Tax Act and Car Tax Act. When vehicles are imported as removal goods from outside the EU, these two national Acts as well as the EU Regulation on reliefs from customs duties are applied. Before an imported taxable vehicle is registered or brought into use in Finland, car tax must be paid for it in accordance with the provisions of the Car Tax Act. Car tax must always be paid unless the vehicle is non-taxable by virtue of that Act.

Use of vehicle in Finland after removal

A person permanently resident in Finland is normally not allowed to drive a foreign-registered vehicle in Finland if the vehicle has not been taxed in Finland. A person having moved to Finland may, however, drive a vehicle on the road in Finland for 30 days on the basis of a declaration confirmed by Customs that the vehicle is taken into use, provided that the vehicle´s foreign registration is in force. If the owner of the vehicle has stayed in Finland temporarily before staying as a permanent resident, the time limit of 30 days is counted from date when virtue of the 30-day rule if a declaration of the use of the vehicle has not been submitted to Customs. It is to be noted that a vehicle which has earlier been export-registered in Finland may not be used on the road in Finland after removal to Finland. A transfer permit must be acquired for such a vehicle immediately after the removal if the vehicle is going to be used.

A vehicle may be used under the declaration of use after 30 days if the vehicle has a valid registration granted in an EEA state. Otherwise a transfer permit must be acquired.

According to the Finnish Car Tax Act, car tax is collected before the vehicle is registered or taken into use irrespective of whether the vehicle has been imported from within the EU or from outside the EU. The car tax on one taxable private motor vehicle imported by an immigrant in connection with moving to Finland is reduced by a maximum of 13 450 euros provided that

the immigrant has been abroad for an uninterrupted period of at least one year immediately before moving to Finland
the vehicle has been under the ownership of the immigrant or his married spouse, or in their possession under conditions leading to ownership, and in the use of the immigrant abroad for a period of at least six months immediately before his moving to Finland, and, l if the immigrant has earlier imported a vehicle with reduced tax or free of tax, the time limit after which that vehicle may be transferred to another person without payment of tax has expired before his moving to Finland.

Example of calculating the reduced tax

General asking price of a similar used car in Finland	60 000.00 euros
Usual discounts (5% and 750 euros) –	3 750.00 euros
General retail sale value	56 250.00 euros
Car tax (29% x general retail sale value)	16 312.50 euros
Tax reduction for importation as removal goods –	13 450.00 euros
Car tax to be paid	2 862.50 euros
VAT on car tax (22%)	629.75 euros
Car tax and VAT collected in total	3 492.25 euros

Importing Used car from outside the EU

Customs Duty and VAT on used vehicle imported from outside EU
Customs value of the vehicle	13 400.00 €
10% customs duty on the vehicle	1 340.00 €
Value on which VAT on importation is based	14 740.00 €
22% VAT on importation	3 242.80 €
Customs duty and VAT on importation in total	4 582.80 €

Car Tax Declaration

Before a vehicle is taken into use or registered in Finland, car tax must be paid for it. The customs offices giving car tax decisions are in Helsinki, Lahti, Hanko, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tornio and Mariehamn. The decision is received sooner if the car tax declaration is lodged directly with one of those offices.

In addition to the car tax declaration, a specification form concerning the vehicle must be filled out giving e.g. the chassis number, make, model and equipment of the vehicle and the number of kilometres travelled by the vehicle. A certificate of the foreign registration of the vehicle and evidence on the right of ownership, usually the purchase contract, must be annexed to the tax declaration.

The vehicle may be examined by Customs, if necessary. The odometer reading, the chassis number and the equipment are checked against the specification form completed by the customer.

As regards passenger cars, evidence on the CO2 emissions of the car, which affect the tax percentage, can also be presented.

Personal experience of a person importing a US vehicle into Finland

I decided to put this page up to inform all curious people in Finland and elsewhere about the obscurities of the Finnish car tax and registration policy.

Car prices in Finland are probably the highest compared to any other country in Europe. We are talking about big differences. For example my Jeep Grand Cherokee, the second most popular SUV in the US, costs there something like 20 000 eur (25 000 usd) when new. The price in e.g. Germany and our neighbor Sweden is only a bit higher. However, the same car costs in Finland 85 000 eur (over 100 000 usd) which is four times of that in the United States! (I am assuming that 1 usd is close to 0.80 eur as in the spring 2004).

On these grounds it is no wonder that Finns inspect eagerly for every opportunity to ship cars from other European countries and the US to Finland. Luxury taxes and bureaucracy are, however, difficult obstacles.

Some time ago the Finnish car taxes were cut because of EU pressures to a steady 29%. Ideally, it would mean that you pay 29% extra to any car you import to Finland before you can get it registered. Sounds simple. I decided to test the new system by shipping a car from California and register it in Finland.

It is worth noting that there is a tax and drivability inspection exemption system that applies when you have lived over 12 months abroad. I had shipped before in 2001 a Corvette from California with that exemption so I had some previous experience with these import things. This time I lived in California only the summer months of 2003 so I needed go through all the details. So here is my story.

Buying the car was easy enough. I ended up getting a nice Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999 with V8 and all the options for something like 9000 eur (10500 usd). There were number of factors that made me feel that would be an easy-import model: they import them officially to Finland, and the model is quite popular. Before shipping I called the importer in Finland who promised to help me with the paperwork.

I had some trouble getting the car into boat. The problem was that pink slip was with a financing company. My seller had already left the country and it turned out to be rather difficult to get the pink slip afterwards. Always get your slip when you hand money! Because all those troubles, the car stayed in California at least two months more than I had originally planned.

The months pass and the car enters eventually Finland. I pay around 5000 eur for shipping, customs and – the first surprise – the valued added tax of the purchasing price. The last one is basically the Finnish equivalent to sales tax and stands currently at 22%. The sales tax was added to the total of purchasing price + 10% customs and was around 3000 eur (3500 usd), or the majority of the first payment.

Next comes the official car tax (or luxury tax, whatever you call it). They also added sales tax to the car tax so in the end the real car tax percent was around 34 and not 29! It didn’t help that the Finnish customs had published a table saying that the official importer had paid only 25% car tax for similar cars in the the 1999 model year. Since my car _maybe_ had different configuration than those officially imported, they taxed me according to the higher figure. Of course, the tax collector is always right.

They officially valued my car to around 35 000 eur (over 40 000 usd) and ended up charging around 12 500 at this stage. I had paid a total of about 26 500 eur (over 30 000 usd) for the car, shipping, customs and taxes. Sure, it seemed like a good deal since comparable cars were sold at newspaper ads for over 40 000 eur (almost 50 000 usd).

So far so good. It had taken just two weeks to reach this far and the only real surprises were the obscure sales taxes to everything (including car taxes and customs). I was given a three month temporary driving permit and thought the rest is just conversation: I needed to change some parts like lights to make the car registrable under EU regulations. Little did I know what was to follow.

Now I contact the Finnish Car Registration Agency and ask what I need to do. I quickly learn that this information is not easy to get. Different persons give me different answers. Some say they don’t know, others give me a list of five requirements, others a list of almost 50 requirements! I finally find the right guy who seems to know enough. He says that in addition to lights, the emissions requirement is the most important. Other information would be needed as well.

I arrange the lights repair at a local shop. This ends up to be more expensive than I thought. The shop advices me to first check with a control center who does the final registration and inspect the car’s drivability in Finland. They should give me details of the changes needed. Now I do a mistake by contacting the former state run A-Katsastus. At that time I thought they could do more tests to the car if needed which later proved to be just illusion.

I check the car into the control center and get a list of little details I need to accomplish plus some additional insults (When the testguy learns the car came from the US: “I don’t think you can register this car in Finland. You need an exception from the Agency and to my knowledge that is impossible to get”. When he sees the new all season tires “Wait… do you have summer tires on it?”). I pay the man and head to the shop. The shop needs to install special lights in the front including small motors. Now I can adjust the height of the front lights! There is some obscure EU rule requiring that. The repair costs around 1500 eur (1800 usd).

Next I contacted the importer. They give me a statement saying that the car more or less fulfills necessary EU regulations. 100 eur (120 usd), thank you. Now I have a print of a detailed equipment list of my car and a comparable sold at the same time in Finland. Almost match. The only major thing they couldn’t guarantee were emissions since they thought US models may have different electronics inside the engine as compared to European models.

I submit these papers to the Registration Agency and they advice me to contact the State’s Technical Research Center for emissions inspections. They are the only ones having authority to pass cars outside of Europe from emission requirements. All right, I call the the Research Center. This is my problem, can you help?

They write me a one A4 statement quoting US Environmental Protection Agency’s tests for the same model and comparing them to EU regulations. The conclusion seems clear: they believe my car should pass the EU tests with ease so there is no need to do any additional and expensive empirical tests.

I submit that paper to the Registration Agency with an application to get exception for the rest of the EU reguirements. I start waiting. I wait and wait. Two months pass and I start calling the Registration Agency again. Finally they answer and say they cannot accept the Research Center’s paper since it leaves room for doubt: you cannot use conditional statements in that paper! So I need to do the empirical test? Just for formal reasons since the result is known beforehand. So frustrating…

I arrange a test day with the Research Center and drive the car in. It is going to be 1700 eur (over 2000 usd) for this part. Deadly frustrating… Happily enough the Center happens to be located just a five minute walk from my work and only a bit more from my home. What if I’d be living and working in northern Finland? (Actually I learn not to make any questions, just do what they ask – quickly!)

Meanwhile, I call the taxman and ask if they can extend my three-month temporary driving period since it ends tomorrow. “Actually, your temporary driving permit has ended 10 days after you paid the tax.” Well, that was two months ago! Anyway, can I get additional time? No. Great. I shouldn’t have worried about this in the first place.

Next day and back to the Research Center. Since my car has continuous four wheel drive the test couldn’t be completed. This means I save the hefty 1700 eur but don’t have any water-proof paper proving my car complies with the emission regulations. What now? The friendly guy at the Research Center writes now a three-page little study on the emissions of my car based on real tests done both for California (US) and German (EU) markets with a similar car. They conclude that whatever the case is, the evidence suggest that in no case could my car fail in the tests and add that the closest place to do a full empirical test for four wheel drives is in Germany. I submit the new statement to the Agency.

Another day and I call back. They think it will approved. But they still need authorization from some big guy. One more day passes and I call again. (They never called me back despite numerous promises.) Big news: the big guy has finally approved my emissions paper! Good. But wait: they don’t send me any exception statement before the control center checks some minor details in the car (What details? Wrong question!). They advice me to go to the control center (A-katsastus), call from there and they would then fax the exception document.

Next morning at 8.00 am I arrive at the control center. They check the lights and cross the marks. “But where is your exception document? You need to get it from the Agency. Here is your test paper, you failed. Now go and do not return before you have that paper! You know, I’m not criticizing or anything but if you bring cars from some places, like the US, it might be impossbile to register the car in Finland… bla bla blaa” I need to listen to tons of “advice” and a few more insults from some fucking motor mouth. Unfortunately they gave me an old test guy who claims he has perfect knowledge with “over 22 years of experience with these US imports”. Now, please, can I finally interrupt you. I talked with the Agency yesterday, and this car is ok with them. Got it?!

I call the Agency, they say the guys at this test center have problems. I agree. I give the phone to the fabulous guys at the control center – you talk with each other god damn it. No progress. Agency seems to be in my side but the control center thinks it’s not their job to inspect these regulations. The Agency guy calls the head of the control center. Now it gets interesting. Time passes, it is close to 12. Finally, the head guy comes out from his office: “Listen, you need to still prove that the drive protection system is effective.” What the hell, where did that come from?

Little briefing and I’m on my way to a nearby shopping center. They do me a duplicate key for 8 eur (10 usd) to check that you cannot operate the car with a such “fake” key. The key maker asks what year my car is. 1999 – and he throws the key immediately in the trash. No, I need that key. Not to operate the car but just to prove that key is useless. See, I’m importing a car from overseas. You can see smile on two faces.

Back to the test center. Hey, I got the key! (Nobody seems to care – remember not to ask anything). They check that the key works – or doesn’t work. Next, for some unknown reason, the control center decides to charge me 5 eur (6 usd) for additional paperwork before we can continue. Ok, there you go. Then I call the Agency. Ok, ok, we’ll fax you the document. But you need to wait an hour for the signature of the big guy. I wait another hour and something like 12:30 I got the exception document! Finally! Unfortunately the head of the control center is having his lunch. Boy, I’m feeling hungry too.

Its 2 pm and the head returns. Unfortunately, he explains that the exception document cannot be accepted. According to his opinion it has some dubious parts subject to interpretation. (Yes, I’ve learnt that in these ultrabureaucratic matters anything subject to interpretation has no value). The guys at the Agency cannot be contacted. I need to sit back and continue this fucking waiting. I am hungry, tired and frustrated. I decide to write this document on my Mac, call my friends and laugh at the whole story.

3 pm the head returns and gives me my registration paper. What happened in between, I don’t want to know, I don’t want to see any papers anymore. Can I just get the registration plates to my car now? “My job is done”, the head bitterly responds and vanishes back to his office.

To the cashier. “Where is your registration paper?” Ok. “You need an insurance.” I already have one. “We can sell you an insurance.” But I’ve had one for three months? “So.. have you paid your car tax?” Three months ago, here is the tax decision and here is my receipt. “This is a copy. Where is the green paper?” What green paper? This is what the taxman sent me. “It doesn’t have the stamp!” What fucking stamp? Do you think I pay 12 500 eur taxes in cash just to get some kind of stamp for you? Now here is my receipt, I paid it through online bank three months ago. Customs, post office, you name it. Everyone accepts online bank receipts these days. “You must have stamp, this paper wil be filed to our map.” Aargh…

Seven hours braking my back there, a full working day, just to get kicked in the ass!

So I have one more day to go. I quickly visit taxman to get the stamp, just in case, and head to another control center. They are much better, maybe because their staff is definitely younger. They ask for 26 eur (30 usd) and I get my plates. No questions asked.

I rush to home just to find mail from the Agency. They want 250 eur (300 usd) for the exception document. Pretty good for a state run agancy that didn’t do any inspection work but let everything to the customer – without ever promising anything. I expect there is still something similar coming from the research center.

Somehow, I’m no longer interested in their messages or documents. I get to my car and screw the plates in. I put in Led Zeppelin 3, start the engine, and browse on to Gallows Pole. The end of this story.

So how much did it cost:

Car: 9000 eur
Shipping, customs and related taxes: 5000 eur
Cartax: 12500 eur
Lights and other changes: 1500 eur
Papers from the importer, research center, agency and test center: 700 eur

Total: 28700 eur

In addition, I installled new tires in California and fixed one electronic lock in Finland. These count for something like 500 eur more.

If I now compare the price of my car to a comparable in Finland, the difference is almost 10 000 eur. The system is crazy.

However, I cannot advice anyone to start shipping cars from the US to Finland from now on. I think I managed to register my car and get through the bureaucratic hurdles mainly because:

I was active and persistent, called the guys around all the time, met many of them personally.
I learnt the rules myself and in the end knew much more about my car and the EU requirements than anyone else.
I followed all orders quickly, didn’t pose too many questions, and didn’t care too much of any negative prognoses.

To summarize, getting a US car registered in Finland is definitely possible. Any model year and any car should do it. Requirements differ but it is entirely possible to get exceptions to most of the requirements. However, the registration process is formal, not factual. It doesn’t help to know similar cars are currently driven on the Finnish roads. They don’t take imports as a representative of some “class of cars” but as individual problems.

To me, customs and the taxman were easy. Registration Agency was bad. But the control center was still the worst.

You have all been warned!

Thailand’s Top new used car 4×4 dealer importer exporter to Europe

Region	Countries	Icons
Europe
Western Europe	United Kingdom, Jersey, Gibraltar, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Austria
South Europe	Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Cyprus
Central Europe	Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
Balkan Peninsula	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece
Eastern Europe	Russia, Ukraine, Romania

We are Thailand’s top car exporter to Asia, Thailand’s top car exporter to Europe, Thailand’s top car exporter to the Americas, Thailand’s top car exporter to Africa and Thailand’s top car exporter to the Pacific. No matter where in the world you are and whether your requirement is Right Hand Drive car or 4×4 or Left Hand Drive car or 4×4, Jim Autos Thailand, its used car division Jim 4×4 Thailand and its Dubai division Jim Autos Dubai are ready to serve all your automotive needs. In our 100 years proud history we have exported to over 100 countries in the world and continue to add new customers while not forgetting old customers and old countries. We have an 80% repeat and referral business rate, a testament to our superior customer service, honesty, great quality, great selection, great pricing and great speed of delivery. Thailand’s top car dealer, Thailand top car exporter and Thailand’s top 4×4 exporter is ready to serve you from either its Thailand or Dubai offices.

Exporting from Asia can be tricky as auto exporters and car exporters are dime a dozen. The stereotype of used car salesman is universal and based on some truth. With the advent of Internet the crooks have come out of the woodworks to separate the innocent from their money, Thailand is no exception. Caveat emptor – buyer beware – maxim has been heeded by businessmen since the time of the Ancients but it is most relevant when all it takes is a DSL modem, a nerdy kit with some HTML skills to put together a website, some Images (Pics) taken at your competitor’s lots and you are in business. We have seen a parade of newbie auto exporters come in, offer great deals for a year or so perpetrating an elaborate Ponzi scheme and then disappear with millions of dollars of their customers very hard earned money. Will you trust a company that has been in business for 1 year or one that has been in business for 100 years and is well respected not only all over Asia but also beyond Asian boundaries. If someone offers you a deal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Not all new entrants are crooks but there are some who in their quest for the fast buck wants to cut corners at the expense of the customer. When you work with Jim you have the peace of mind to know that we have been voted Thailand’s most trusted dealership and Thailand’s most trusted auto exporter five years in a row and it is for this reason that we have over 80% of the auto exporting market share in Thailand.

Jim Autos Thailand, Bloomstar, Yasir, Jim 4×4 and other divisions of our parent company the Jim Group of Companies account for over 90% of Thailand auto exports to European nations.

Thailand’s top Car exporter to the world

We are not Thailand’s, Singapore’s, England UK’s and Dubai’s top car exporter because we are the oldest but because of our unwavering commitment to customer service, honesty, integrity, professionalism, great prices, great selection, great quality and quick delivery. Jim is a family-owned and family-operated dealership and we have been in business since 1911. Email us now at [email protected] to obtain your vehicle of your choice. Take a look at our selection of 4×4 vehicles to take your pick.

Thailand’s top New 2016 2017, nearly new 2011 and used 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Toyota Vigo and used 1999, 2oo0, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Toyota Hilux Tiger and used 2004, 2005, 2005, 2007 and 2008 Toyota Hilux Vigo dealer, importer and exporter

Jim Autos Thailand is Thailand’s largest auto exporter: we are Thailand’s largest Toyota Hilux Vigo exporter and export all types of vehicles from cars to sedans to pickups to SUVs to 4x2s and 4x4s to Trinidad and other parts of the Caribbean. Toyota Hilux Vigo is our largest pickup export in T&T followed by Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Isuzu DMax, Mazda BT50 among others. Our top SUV export to Trinidad is Toyota Fortuner followed by Isuzu MU-7. We ship to over 100 countries in the world. Email us now at [email protected] for your Vigo of choice. If you are looking for Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Prado, Toyota Hilux Surf, Mitsubishi Pajero and other pickups and SUVs from our Dubai office in Right Hand Drive or Left Hand Drive please email our Dubai office at [email protected] now..

Pickups are among world’s popular 4×4 vehicles and Jim Autos Thailand is Thailand’s largest and oldest pickup and SUV exporter.

Toyota Hilux Vigo remains our best selling and top selling 4×4 pickup. If you are looking for Toyota Hilux Vigo 4×2 or 4×4 or single cab Toyota Hilux Vigo, extra cab Toyota Hilux Vigoand double cab Toyota Hilux Vigo, Jim Autos Thailand is the place.

Deal only with Trustworthy companies

Jim Autos Thailand is a fully owned division of the Jim Group of Companies. We are Thailand’s oldest and largest auto exporter and we are only one of the two auto exporting companies with any automotive experience. We have been in the business for the past 100 years with a 80% repeat and referral business thanks to our expertise, honesty, high quality, low price and quick delivery among others. Please check what some of customers have to say about us in our Testimonials page and top twenty reasons our customers have cited for doing business with us.

If you are looking for a diesel pickup or sports utility vehicle then Jim Autos Thailand is the exporter of choice of thousands of dealers in Asia, Africa, Europe, Pacific and the Americas. We provide top quality 4WD and 2WD pickups and 4×4 and 4×2 pickups and SUVs direct from the manufacturer Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan.

We were the first to export Toyota Hilux Tiger out of Thailand as we were Thailand’s first auto exporter. We were also Thailand first auto exporter to export Toyota Hilux Vigo out of Thailand. Our Toyota Vigo prices can not be beaten! No one can beat our Toyota Hilux Tiger pricing, or our Mitsubishi L200 Triton, or Mitsubishi L200 Strada, Nissan Navara pricing. Our prices for all pickups and SUVs are the cheapest. We have Toyota Vigo 4WD double-cabs in stock as well as all other top selling pickups and SUVs and available for immediate shipping anywhere in the world.

Import Right Hand Drive and Left hand Drive Japanese, Thailand, Singapore, England and Dubai cars, pickup trucks, Sport Utility Vehicles, MPV, vans, minibus, trucks, buses to construction and farm machinery to Finland

Jim Group of Companies supply tax free brand New 2016 2017 cars, 4×4 pickup trucks, 4WD Suvs, MPVs, vans, trucks, bus and machinery to international construction companies, oil companies, vehicle dealers, vehicle importers, NGOs, non-profit organizations, support organizations, and diplomatic missions in Finland. We offer very high quality new and used vehicles at extremely competitive prices to the Finland and other African, Asian, European, South American and Oceanic countries..

Importing Right Hand Drive and Left hand Drive Japanese, Thailand, Singapore, England and Dubai in Finland

Jim Autos Dubai, Jim Autos Thailand, Jim 4×4 Thailand, Jim Autos Singapore and Jim Autos United Kingdom export LHD and RHD vehicles including cars, luxury vehicles, sport cars, 4×4 pick-up trucks, 4×4 SUVs, MPVs, station wagons, minibuses, vans, commercial trucks, buses and machinery to over 100 countries of the world. Different branches of Jim Group export hundreds of vehicles from some 30 brands. Toyota is our biggest seller but we sell RHD and LHD Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Isuzu, Ford, GM Chevrolet Chevy, Volkswagen, LandRover, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Infiniti and other well-known brands.

We export to not only Individuals such as locals, expats or diplomats and international traders but also small and large dealerships, distributors, local companies, international multinational companies, aid/support NGOs and governmental organizations in Finland.

Thailand top car exporter to Finland