You have worked hard and saved your money. You have a positive credit score and you now have enough money to buy your first car. Or perhaps you are looking to sell your current car and upgrade to a new one. Either way, you might find yourself considering a car import to Kenya, with good reason. Importing a car is a sound plan for many buyers. But here are a few pros and cons to consider before you start.
The Pros
1. Value for Money
First and foremost, imported cars are cheaper than locally bought cars. Ask anyone who has imported a car they will tell you that importing their car was cheaper than buying the exact model locally. Importing a car is best especially if you are on a tight budget.
Local car dealers have to price their cars higher than the price of import because they need to make a profit and remain in business. They have to include the cost of importing the car, bringing it to their premises and making any repairs or modifications that the car may need to make it ready for sale. Chances are that the final price of the car will end up being 20% or more than the import price.
2. Quality
Another benefit of importing a used car is quality. Imported cars are better maintained than locally used ones and are therefore of better quality. This translates into lower costs on spare parts and repairs over the long haul. As a bonus, your imported car be modified and any necessary repairs done once it’s delivered to ensure that it is safe to use on Kenyan roads. Imported cars are simply better especially for first car owners because you will worry less about something going wrong and focus on your everyday business.
3. Variety
Variety is one of the big advantages of importing a used car. Because importing a car gives you access to a full range of cars in the international market, you will have an easier time looking around till you find the perfect car for your unique needs. You will have an infinite amount of cars to choose from no matter the type, brand or model of the car you are looking for. That means a better bargain and a greater chance of getting a high-quality car.
The Cons
1. Importation Process
If you want to import a car you will need to first go through the importation process. If you don’t already have a budget, you will have to create one and decide on the specifications of the car you want. You will also need to buy the car from the UK and wait for between 15 days and a month for it to ship to the port of Mombasa. And don’t forget that once at the port, it will take about two weeks or more to be completed. Clearing and registering the vehicle to be allowed into Kenya can add up in terms of cost and time. But you don’t need to go through this tedious process to get your dream car. A good car export company can leverage their networks and long years of experience to make this process easier for you.
2. Online Scams
If you are not careful in your online search for a car, you could get conned. There are many criminal sites online posing as car exporting sites trying to con prospective car buyers of their hard-earned money. To protect yourself from such online scams, get in touch with a reputable car export company to assist you in buying your car.
Bottom Line
The cost and the convenience of your car import to Kenya will vary depending on where you choose to get help from. Enlisting the services of a reputable car export company will help you navigate the complexities of importing a new or used car and allow you to focus on your core business while the company does most of the hard work for you.