Export Used Cars To Kenya

Exporting used cars from the UK to other parts of world is never easy. However, it can be incredibly profitable, especially if you move huge volumes. Knowing international shipping rules as well as local laws in the country you intend to export the vehicle to are crucial to your success. If you are planning to export used cars to Kenya, you will obviously need to have an exporter’s licence from the UK government. Secondly, you will need to find a reliable supply of used cars in the country. For instance, you may have your own used car dealership in the country in the UK. You can also open another dealership in Kenya, in a city like Mombasa or Nairobi, where the vehicles will be taken to after landing in the country.

Important Laws You Need to Know

i) Car Inspection

Before you can export any vehicle from the UK, it must be inspected and certified. This is to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen. After all, some people in the import-export business have been known to make some quick cash by offloading stolen cars from the UK to the African market. Therefore, each of the vehicles you sell must have a clean title, and must also be inspected before export. Once the vehicles are offloaded at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya, you will need to have them inspected and cleared. You will need to pay import duty, excise tax, VAT and registration fees among other types of fees before you can get a Kenyan number plate and log book. Fortunately, there are many agents that can help you with this.

ii) Insurance

Obviously, you will need to purchase insurance for the vehicle to ensure you do not incur any losses if the vehicle does not get to its destination. The insurance cover will depend on the value of the vehicle.

iii) Restrictions

In Kenya, nobody can import a used vehicle that is over 8 years old. This means that you cannot export any vehicle that has exceeded this age limit to Kenya. You will have better luck trying other African countries without this age restriction. In addition to that, you cannot export any left hand drive (LHD) vehicle to Kenya. If you have this type of vehicle in your inventory, therefore, you will not be able to export it to Kenya.

That said, European vehicles are incredibly popular in Kenya. With the ever growing middle class in the country, there is a huge demand for high-end European vehicles in Kenya, so you can make a lot of money if you learn all the related laws and procedures.