The following actions are necessary if you want to import a car from the United Kingdom:
Find a supplier
You must locate a trustworthy and legitimate exporter and supplier of automobiles. When looking for auto export services, it’s a good idea to go with one that is approved by and included in the UK Government’s Department for International Trade.
Selecting a Car
You can indicate your interest in exporting a car from the UK in several ways.
You can choose a vehicle, do an online database search, and obtain a shipping quote to Kenya.
To order a specific vehicle, you can contact a reputable provider by phone, email, or online inquiry if you are unable to find one that meets your needs. The vehicle you wish to purchase must be specified, including the make, model, year of manufacture, color, transmission, engine size, and other specifications. After that, they would provide you with a selection of cars from either their inventory, cars or a nationwide network of auto dealers.
In the era of the internet, you can also conduct independent online research on cars through several channels, such as auctions. A UK car dealer, a private seller, or a UK automobile website can help you find a vehicle. If so, you’ll need to find an agent to handle the inspection, negotiations, purchase, and shipping of the vehicle to you. This would protect your funds because the agent will initially make sure the vehicle isn’t being sold fraudulently, isn’t stolen, or has been written off and is being sold as a lemon. To start this process, your agent would only need the seller’s data.
Finding the Vehicle
Once the vehicle you want to export has been agreed upon, make sure you receive high-quality photos and, if at all feasible, a video walkthrough so you can be confident you’re getting what you’re paying for. Request the background reports and the inspection as well.
Booking and Invoicing
A proforma invoice for the vehicle and shipping expenses will be sent to you if you are happy to move forward with the purchase and export of the vehicle after seeing the reports and photos. For customs declarations, you will provide your full name, address, contact information, and a government-issued ID.
Payment
After receiving the invoice, you must pay right away because cars cannot be reserved for an extended amount of time without payment. Find out whether payment options are accepted; a bank transfer is the best option.
Shipping and Export
Your representative will begin arranging for the vehicle’s pickup from the supplier and delivery to the UK port as soon as payment is received. Before it is loaded aboard the ship, he will make sure it is thoroughly inspected and cleaned. If all goes well, they will email you a picture of the car along with its mileage. After that, the ship would sail away, carrying your car to the subsequent stop at Mombasa.
Customs Clearance & Documentation
Your agent will prepare shipping documentation, including the Bill of Lading, and submit customs declarations to Her Majesty’s Revenue Service. If you pay for insurance, they will also prepare it. All of these documents will be compiled by your agent and shipped to you, usually via tracked DHL, which will arrive in Kenya well before the ship arrives. When the car arrives in Mombasa, your Kenyan agent will require these documents to clear it.
Prior to choosing to import a vehicle into Kenya, you should be aware of these three fundamental guidelines:
- As per Kenya Bureau of Standards KS1515:2000, it is a very strict requirement that the vehicle cannot be older than 8 years. Cars that are more than eight years old will be scrapped.
- The vehicle being imported into Kenya has to be a right-hand drive vehicle, as registration of left-hand drive automobiles is prohibited unless extremely specific conditions are met.
- The car needs to pass a mechanical and safety check conducted by Quality check Services Japan (QISJ), who are authorized by the Kenya Bureau of Standards to conduct car inspections. KEBS has established a £200 inspection fee for QISJ.