Buying Japanese new and used cars

The stock featured on our website shows you the live cars for sale from across a vast number of dealers and auction houses in Japan. These are updated daily to give you the latest new and used cars available. Select your cars or get in touch and our team will help you to select the best options for you to consider.

Japanese car import services

Choose to import your car CIF or have it delivered to Kampala ready for you to collect.

Car sourcing with door to door shipping to Kampala

Our most popular service is the delivery service to Kampala. This takes care of your car every step of the way and gives you everything you need so you can simply collect your car in Kampala.

We are partnered with Upstream, a sister company of Mitchell Cotts. They provide a highly professional import and clearing service for all cars destined for Kampala.

Japanese car sourcing with CIF service to Uganda.

If you prefer for your own clearing agent to clear and register your car in Kampala, we offer the CIF service to Uganda. For this service we import your car to the Kampala Bond. From this point your clearing agent can complete the import on your behalf.

Payment Process for Japanese cars exported to Uganda

For the delivered service to Kampala, the payment process to Uganda breaks down into 3 parts.

* Our CIF service to Mombasa is paid for when your car is in Japan, before it is delivered to the port.

* A separate payment is made to Upstream, our clearing partner in Uganda, for their clearing services and the transport to Kampala bond.

* A direct payment on the Ugandan Review Authority website for your car’s duty.

Shipping Japanese cars to Uganda.

Vehicles are usually shipped on the roll on roll off service. Container shipping is also available. Our team take care of your shipping booking as part of our service.

Roll on Roll off shipping is the best value for shipping your car. The cars are driven onto the boats and carefully secured prior to setting sail.

Container shipping is the most secure. Cars are loaded into either single 20ft containers or shared 40 ft containers. The cars are packed and loaded into their container and locked for the entire journey. This method offers greater peace of mind as cars are more protected and less vulnerable to opportunists.

Transport and Marine Insurance

It is easy to overlook insurance or to be tempted to economise on this cost. However, when buying such as high ticket item, the insurance you invest in can be vital. Most shopping journeys are uneventful, but on the occasion that a minor issue does occur, comprehensive insurance will give you the protection you need.

Be sure to ask about the level of insurance you are purchasing. The car should be insured for the retail value you have paid and not just the scrap metal it may be worth after accidental damage.

Vehicle collection, deregistration and delivery to the Japanese port.

Once we have received the balance payment, our team begin the deregistration process as this is mandatory and can take up to a week. We then collect the car and transport it to the appropriate port for shipping.

Car shipping from Japan

The cars need a few days to be prepared and loaded onto the ship. The shipping time to Mombasa is between 25-28 days.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Japan to Uganda?

Shipping costs have been increasing significantly recently so we would advise you talk to the team for an accurate quote. At the time of writing shipping from Japan to Mombasa for SUVs / 4x4 / Vans cost £2,050.

Port charges, clearing services and transport costs for Uganda

Professional clearing services typically cost around $2,500 - $4,500 USD. This includes clearing fees, port charges in Mombasa, transport to Kampala Bond. It excludes duty and registration

Transport options from Mombasa to Kampala.

Transporting your car to Kampala can be done in a number of ways. Your car can remain in its container and this can be transported to Uganda or it can be unloaded from the container and transported to Uganda on a car transporter. The more expensive cars are often transported in their containers for safe transit until they are released at Kampala.

Inspections for imported motor vehicles.

It is mandatory for all cars to pass the roadworthiness inspection specified by the Ugandan authorities. The inspections are conducted by the Ugandan National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) or QISJ. We manage the bookings and inspections for our client’s cars as a standard part of our export service.

The price for the inspection is currently £230 (at the time of writing.) This increases if you request them to carry out the inspection at a site of your choosing.

Vehicle conformity criteria for Uganda

All motor vehicles being imported to Uganda meet the Uganda Standard KS 1515:2000 before leaving Japan.

The key requirements are as follows:

Age: Motor vehicles must be less than 15 years from the year of registration.

Drive: Motor vehicles can only by Right Hand Drive (RHD)

Road-worthiness: All vehicles must have the required road-worthiness certification as mentioned above.

Radioactive contamination inspection: All vehicles being imported to Uganda from Japan must have a radioactive contamination inspection and appropriate certification prior to leaving Japan.

How is duty calculated for cars imported to Uganda?

Import duty for second hand motor vehicles is calculated using the following rates:

Import duty = 25% of the customs value of the vehicle*

Excise duty = 20% of (CIF invoice + Import duty)

VAT = 16% (CIF value + import duty + excise duty)

These are calculated cumulatively and in that order.

* customs value of the vehicle is determined using the CIF invoice which includes the cost of the car + marine insurance + shipping and transport charges. So typically you can expect to pay 25% of your CIF invoice for your import duty.

Additional car import costs.

If you are importing your car yourself, you should also expect to pay for the following additional charges. We incorporate all these additional costs into your original quote, so you can feel confident you have understood all costs from the beginning.

Environmental Levy (for cars over 8 years old) • Infrastructure Levy • Vehicle registration. • Bond charges in Kampala. • Pre-delivery inspection & full valet. •

The Import Declaration Fee (IDF) is also required. This is 2.25% of the CIF invoice subject to a minimum of Ksh. 5,000 payable in advance on application.

If you are unsure whether you should pay any of these costs, talk to our team and they will advise you.

Documents needed to import a Japanese car to Uganda.

The original CIF invoice.

The original Bill of Lading.

The Import Declaration Form (IDF) issued by Ugandan Customs.

The Original Logbook from the country of origin.

Customs Clearing

Registering and collecting your car

As the owner, you are required to register your car in person. This is a simple process which you can complete online at www.ura.go.ug or in person at a regional office.

Vehicle import timings Japan to Uganda

Car collection in Kampala

Once your car has had all the required paperwork completed and it is registered in Uganda, it is ready for you to collect it and drive it home for the first time.