The high prices you pay for autos bought in Ethiopia are roughly the same or less than you would pay to import a vehicle after factoring in duty. The cheapest option is to buy the new Chinese cars that are being manufactured there. It's the only vehicle made in the country. Quality is shotty, but it will definitely get you around for 6 months and will be easy to sell. Buy used cars with caution and have it checked out thoroughly before buying. People don't keep up their cars well there despite the cheap cost of labor. We have often found that people let things like oil changes, clutches, brakes go until they're gone. Things like power windows aren't repaired at all.
If you are working in Addis, consider a few other options. Taxis are inexpensive and alleviate the hassle of finding parking and then paying for someone to guard your car, which is necessary in many places. It is quite easy to find private vehicle rentals and they can be very cheap - as low as $20 USD/day for an economy sedan. Renting out private vehicles can be lucrative for owners, the majority of whom could always use the extra money. It may be as simple as asking around at the place you are working and/or hotel once you arrive. In our experience, there's always someone interested in picking up a few extra dollars by renting their car. This can be arranged for as little as a few days if you wanted to escape the city for a weekend, or for the entire 6 months. Of course there is no official rental agreement, so it is best if the arrangement is made with a party that your acquaintance or coworker knows personally. Make sure the car is insured. Realize that you are liable for any animals you strike on the roadway and will be expected to compensate their owners. If the car needs repairs while you have it, they will be your financial responsibility for the most part. If you can be comfortable with this arrangement, it is usually the most manageable, both financially and logistically.
There is a legitimate and reputable car rental agency that rents to international travelers/workers and who will give you a standard rental contract. It is ABC Car Rental and is owned by Ala Moodi, who built the Sheraton. The company has a full range of vehicles from high-priced Land Rovers to small economy cars for use in Addis only, for as little as $20/day inclusive of insurance. They don't require an Ethiopian license as long as you have a license from your home country. I can recommend it with a few caveats. They require you to leave your actual passport with them for the entire rental period as collateral for any damage to the vehicle and/or property damage you incur with their vehicle. Companies in Ethiopia are not allowed to place a "hold" on your credit card like they can in most developed countries to cover unpaid damage. There have been numerous incidents in the Middle East of people renting cars, damaging them and or other peoples property with them, then leaving them at the airport when they fly home. Because of this, it has become pretty common for rental companies in developing nations to hold passports as collateral. The only way around this is to have a local sign taking financial responsibility for any damages incurred. That local may need to show proof of financial means. Again, they rent for anywhere from 1 day to a year or more. They are near the Medhanialem Catherdral and Edna Mall.
Also, technically you need an Ethiopian drivers license to drive there. The government does not recognize/allow driving with an international drivers license and/or a license from one's home country. They used to just charge you the cost to issue an Ethiopian drivers license if you completed the paperwork necessary to authenticate your license through your embassy and their ministry of transportation. However, they are no longer doing so and now require you to apply for and take a driving test that will take several weeks and possibly months to arrange. They do however have a grace period where you are allowed to drive with your home country license for the first few weeks after arrival. I'm not sure what the consequences would be if you were caught without an Ethiopian drivers license after driving 4-5 months. It may just be a fine, but if you do plan on having an auto the whole time, I'd advise you to go through the hassle of getting an official Ethiopian license to be on the safe side.
