Importing a Car from Uk to Kenya; A step by step guide.

Calculating the cost involved in importing a car from UK to Kenya is the first step in the importation of your dream vehicle. This article provides information on all the necessary costs of each car buying and importation process and additional services you might consider so you can effectively organize your finances.

The cost of importing a car from UK can be divided into buying into buying costs from a UK dealer or car sourcing agent, shipping to Mombasa, paying Kenya duties and taxes, clearing and forwarding in Mombasa.

Buying from UK Car Dealers

When importing a car from Uk,You need to consider the vehicles price before shipping also known as FOB (free on board) cost of the car you want to import. Most people do not know that some UK dealers provide a discount on the stated price of their cars while others do not offer any discount. Some dealers go to the extent of adding a buyer’s fee ranging from £100 to £300 in addition to the price they listed while advertising the car.

You can also try to buy from individuals selling their personal used car or British car  auction houses but you run the risk of buying a poor quality or a stolen vehicle. They will also not be able or willing to arrange shipping.

UK Sourcing & Export Agents

Most UK car dealers are not willing to assist overseas buyers in buying and importing a car from UK because of the complexity of the process for exporting to different countries. The dealers who work with export clients help you source the best car deals according to your needs and budget.

They conduct quality checks, ensure genuine mileage, vehicle history checks, negotiate to get the best price and ensure every car part has a complete or partial inspection history. They also ensure the car has a valid UK ministry of transport (MOT) certificate, has not been involved in a serious accident or reported as stolen. Other physical inspections include making sure that a spare key, spare tyre, manuals and locking wheel are supplied appropriately.

They will then carry out shipping booking and make sure it has all the necessary paperwork and pre-shipment inspection before the vehicle arrives at the port for shipping. Lastly, they will send all loose items and sensitive paperwork through DHL to your physical address in Nairobi office or your clearing agent to be kept safe.

VAT Qualified Cars

Any Car less than three or four years old might be VAT qualified if previously owned by a business or franchise agent. It implies that a reduction of 20% in the quoted price may be attained by reclaiming VAT if being exported out of the UK. However, some dealers are not ready to reclaim the VAT because they cannot handle the paperwork. Good sourcing agents offer prices excluding VAT for export cars and undertake the process of reclaiming the VAT as part of the service saving the buyer 20%.

Transportation to port

In addition to the cost of the car, you will incur the UK transportation charges to shipping docks. This cost varies as the amount you will pay depends on the location of the car in the UK in relation to the nearest sea port. The cost is typically between £2 and £3 per mile and is inclusive of insurance, driver and fuel to safely deliver the car to port.

KEBS Pre-shipment Inspection

After the collection of the car, it should have a Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS) pre-shipment inspection, which costs about £200. This inspection is required by the Kenyan Government and includes mechanical, road worthiness and documentary checks.

Shipping your car to Mombasa

Roll on roll off (RORO) service is a cheaper shipping option that you can choose but you can also opt for a 20 foot container shipping. RORO service is mostly used to ship cars worth below £40,000 and typically costs about £980 for a saloon/sedan and £1,200 for an SUV. Container shipping will cost you about £1,500 for 20ft container. An additional cost is also added to the container service when it reaches the Mombasa port which can range between 20000, and 30000 Ksh.

Containers are most effective for high-value cars that are worth over £40,000 but it is up to the customer. Another disadvantage of using container services is that nominating your Container Freight Services is often challenging. It will affect whether you know the team handling your car at Mombasa to be certain that the car will be looked after appropriately. In terms of duration, both RORO and container shipping takes almost the same time.

Marine Insurance

Every car being shipped should have marine insurance while in the high seas. An insurance company in Kenya can arrange your marine insurance at a cost about 0.4% the car’s value. This is very important when importing a car from UK or any other continent.

Costs to have a car cleared into Kenya

Port charges

Port changes range from 60,000 to 80,000 Ksh, depending on your car’s size. This cost is inclusive of radiation fees, IDF fees, and storage (14-27 days) within the CFS.

Clearing agent:

Your clearing agent will complete the IDF entry for your car at a cost of between Ksh10,000 and 30,000.

Excise, Import Duty, VAT & Levies on Importing a car from Uk 

Kenya calculates duties for second-hand vehicles using the current retail selling price (CRSP) table provided by KRA. You can calculate the duty, levies, and taxes you will incur at https://carluv.co.uk/kra-motor-vehicle-import-duty-calculator/.

Registration Fees

Registering your car will cost about 15,000 to 23,000 Ksh. The clearing agent will do the registration. Registering a special number plate will cost you 30,000 Ksh. Registering your car may sometimes delay if you have a special number plate.

After your car is cleared, you will be able to collect it from the CFS or have it delivered to your home or place of work.

Transport to Nairobi From the Port

You will incur approximately 20000 to 25000 Ksh for a multi-car carrier to receive your car in Nairobi. A single car carrier costs 60000 Ksh. The cost will about 5,000 Ksh if the clearing agent hires someone to drive the car from Mombasa to Nairobi including insurance.

Therefore, you need a professional UK car sourcing and importing agent such as Carluv.co.uk who will charge you a small percentage for their services. With that they will find your vehicle, negotiate, and evaluate the car on your behalf. Most importantly, you will get the car, net VAT. Visit their Kenya car sourcing and export page at https://carluv.co.uk/import-car-uk-to-kenya/.

Read also; 5 Reasons Why You Need a Spare Car Key