Step by step guide on how to import your a car and save money

BY SAM MUGWERU

Every time I am in the bank at TRM making some car importation payment either the teller or a stranger enquires how to go about the process. This gave me the urge to pen down this article to help anyone else looking forward to import one.
Here are reasons why importing one on your own is always the best option and some factors to consider while doing so.

1. COST SAVING: For cars with a budget of around 800k you will save yourself not less than 100K whereas in cars of around 1.2M you save around 200k. You save much more as the value of your preferred car increases.

2. A THOUSAND OF CARS TO CHOOSE FROM. Whether Importing a Toyota Vitz or a Subaru Forester, you will have a thousand of cars to choose from in Japan. With a single click on your mouse,you have a chance to choose your colour, interior and CC and any other extra feature according to your preferences. Two months ago I was mad at a sales man for Rao international Japan for selling out a Toyota harrier that I had identified for a client. The guy responded calmly and told me “why worry,? Japan is a sea of vehicles” True to his word he got me an even better Harrier than the previous one and my client was over thrilled when the car landed.

3. GENUINE MILEAGE: The mileage of most of the cars being sold in Kenya Yards is always tampered with. The less the mileage a car has done the high the quality and the more durable it is. The car dealers in Japan insist on this factor during price negotiations. It is highly recommendable to go for cars that have covered less than 80,000KM.

4. Kindly note that in Kenya you are ONLY allowed to import a car not more than 8yrs old. This means that today, July 2017 we are only allowed to import cars manufactured from 2010 or later. EQUALLY important to note you are ALLOWED to import a car less than 8yrs old but this will attract a higher duty. This includes all 2010 cars arriving in Mombasa before their month of registration. Example, today you can import all 2010 cars of JAN-AUGUST (Good month’s cars). If you import a SEP-DEC 2010 they will be bad month’s cars and will attract a higher duty.

5. When negotiating for the car price in Japan always makes sure it is CIF cost this is the cost inclusive of freight and QISJ inspection charges. The only further charges that will be required from you are the port charges.

6. Always go for cars with a 4.5 0r 5 Auction grade.

7. Avoid UK cars unless you have someone there to physically examine the car.

8. Upon Payment a good dealer will make sure you get your car in 30-40 days in Mombasa.

9. Use calculator.co.ke to calculate how much duty your car will attract once it lands at the port.

10. CLEARING AGENTS: Kindly know your clearing agents well, there have been cases of swindling, port delays attracting further charges and general recklessness that may make your experience a not so good one to remember.

Here are some 5 companies that I have personally dealt with and would recommend anytime.

Befoward Japan
Rao-international
Sbtjapan
Tradecarview
Japanesevehicles