Buy a car in Kenya or Tanzania?

Yes, no problem in TZ, whether in Dar nor in Arusha. I've done this several times.

Sorry I forgot to write, it is not only a no problem issue, it is also a one day job. You can ask me for more information, but I've done this for me, when I came to TZ, and also for friends, who came on tourist visa.

@johannestz

Would you be willing to share your story here? There are a few of us who want to buy cars and we'd like to hear all about the process in Tanzania.

#3 Hi, I wrote in different threads already the way to buy and register a car here in TZ, and it is not even a story. We buy cars once or twice per year in Japan, because we drive our cars not much longer then 2 years here. (Last week we sold our Pajero io for 3,500 Euro). You order in Japan (I recommend TRUST), after around 2 months the car arrives in Dar, two weeks before he (your agent, if you need contact I can help) has to get from you the money for the different taxes, VAT, registration, and insurance (he needs a copy of your passport and an adress, maybe a hotel), your cars arrives, the next day it is out with plates and ready for the road. I offerd once this business with sell and buy back, but I didn't even get one who was interested, so I stoped this.
If you fly and buy a car from a dealer here (there are some in Dar or Arusha) check the car proper, and if he tells you it is a big thing, then don't trust him even with the car.
When you get the invoice with price of the car, shipping, insurance and inspection you have to add approximately the same amount for taxes and VAT in TZ. So really not a big thing to make a story.
Johannes

Edited by: johannestz

Thanks for description johannestz. Very helpful. I am not able to find your previous posts so thank you for repeating the info. The website looks as straight forward as you described. Have you ever had any issues getting the car on time. Is there an advantage to buying the car in Japan and having it shipped versus buying a car that just arrived. Is there less selection or a higher mark up on price for cars once they arrive in country?

Is the VAT and import duty calculated based on the purchase price or CIF(cost insurance freight)?

Yes, the website is good, I bought up to now about 10 cars from them. The fees in TZ are counted from the total amount of the bill, including car, shipping FOB, insurance, and inspection. It depends on different things, for instance if the car is older then 10 years they add 10% more, if the engine is over 2ltrs also 10%. The time between payment arrived and you get the car can't be calculated proper. At present we bought a Toyota Surf and payment arrived in Japan on 25th of April, now the car is on the ship and is scheduled for 17th of June to be in DAR, so around 18th or 19th we can pick it up ready to drive (if nothing unexpected happened). But the timetable is not like the timetable of an European train network. The advantage to buy direct in Japan is that you know, ther is nothing changed on your car, eventhough there are reliable car dealers. But it can be more expensive. I know one in Arusha (Image Motors close to Impala Hotel roundabout on the road to Njiro), where it looks like it is reliable.
But you need to have an agent who is allowed to di the business, you can't do it alone.
I hope you got the necessary information.
Johannes

Edited by: johannestz

Johannes,

Can you explain a little more about your last point, the agent? I am understanding from what you wrote that if you want to buy a second-hand car from a dealer in Tanzania (rather than importing from Japan yourself) you need such an agent. What kind of agent is this? And what ministry or other body qualifies/licenses these agents? Can the dealer himself act as the agent?

It adds a layer of opaqueness to what I was optimistically seeing as a simple process.

No, when you buy from a dealer in TZ he can do the job, even you (if you like to find the right counter, run around and ask dozens of people). The agent is appointed I think from the port authority, I never asked ours. If you need the contact I can give you. To pay is at the TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority) wher you get the TIN (Tax Identification Number) automatically, when you register on your name. Never let a guy outside tell you he knows an officer who is doing every job for a little soda for less money, only when you are the type of gambler who likes the thrill of fighting with TZ law enforcers. When we sell a car to a tourist we do the job by ourself. When you go to Kenya you have to give your original registration card to the border officers (you get a receit), on return to TZ you get it back. But you have to pass the same border post.
Don't hesitate to ask more questions
Johannes