Buying a UK car to export to Botswana
Our specialist buying team are experts in sourcing UK cars to export. We find the best cars to suit your budget, negotiate the best prices, buy it and manage the export to Botswana for you.
Buying a UK car to export from another UK dealer.
If you have found the perfect car at a non-export dealer, no problem. We are very happy to step in and manage the purchase an export for the car for you.
We will manage negotiations, inspections and export your car to Botswana with the same care we give to all our cars. This video on importing a car from a non export dealer in the UK gives you more information.
Buying a VAT qualifying car to export to Botswana
Did you know that if you export a VAT qualifying car from the UK you will save 20% off the advertised purchase price? We are skilled at finding VAT qualifying cars for our clients and reclaiming the VAT when the car is exported.
Find out more about how to export a VAT qualifying car VAT free or talk to our team.
Reclaiming the VAT on cars exported to Botswana
The process for reclaiming VAT on exports has changed since Brexit. The process must be carried out by a UK. Where possible, we buy VAT qualifying cars for our clients and reclaim the 20% VAT when the car is exported. This is a standard part of our car export service and we will not ask you to cover the VAT during this process, so you get the saving in the export price. Our full story about how to reclaim VAT on car exports explains how VAT reclaim works today.
Before buying a UK car for export.
Before you transfer any money for a car, it is essential you see the key paperwork to verify the car’s specification, its history and the ownership of the vehicle. It is critical you see the V5 log book, a valid MOT certificate and a full confirmation of the specification.
The V5 confirms make, model, age and ownership of the car. This will ensure you can match the chassis number and registration plate to the car you are seeing in photos. You must also read the car’s full service history. This will show the car’s services and should be stamped and dated by the garage. Most services will also have the car’s mileage noted at the time of the service. This will help you check the mileage is consistent with the car’s advertised mileage. Our essential guide to buying a quality UK car explains more.
Important Background Checks.
All MHH cars have thorough background checks before buying. We give each car an HPI check which includes a confirmation of mileage from the UK National Mileage register. These checks are a standard part of our service and ensure the car has no history of theft or finance and confirms that the mileage is consistent with the advertised mileage.
Shipping UK cars to Botswana
Shipping cars to Walvis Bay or Durban allows you to choose either the roll on – roll off (ro-ro) service or the container service.
Roll on – Roll off: Is the cheapest option and therefore the most popular. The cars are driven onto the vessel and secured prior to shipping to Botswana.
Container shipping: Is considered to be more secure as your car is loaded into a single 20ft container or a shared 40ft container. The cars are secured inside the container which is then locked and loaded onto the vessel. As a more expensive option this is preferred by clients importing high value prestige cars.
CIF car export service to Botswana via Walvis Bay and Durban
Our CIF service transports your car from the UK to Botswana with the greatest care. We manage the purchase, VAT reclaim, road insurance and export of your car with high levels of marine insurance to Walvis Bay or Durban.
We recommend you employ a registered clearing agent in Walvis Bay or Durban to assist your car’s customs clearance and registration in Botswana.
Marine insurance to Botswana
All our cars are exported with a high level of marine insurance for the duration of the shipping. For peace of mind, your car is insured to its invoiced value and not the value of the metal.
Payment Process exporting UK Cars to Botswana.
To secure your car with require a deposit of £1000.
Our CIF export service is paid for in the UK before your car it delivered to the UK port.
You will pay your clearing agent directly for their services in Botswana.
Car Export timings UK to Botswana
Whilst that may vary according to the shipping schedules, the breakdown of the export timings are as follows:
Day 1: Car inspected, collected and transported to our office.
Days 2-8: Shipping booked, tuning & modifications completed & delivered to the UK port.
Days 9-12: Packed & loaded onto the vessel.
Days 13-30: Shipping from the UK to Walvis Bay / Durban
Please note: Allow a transit time of 30 days for containers.
Get in touch with our buying specialists today and they will be happy to help you import your perfect car to Botswana.
Car import requirements to Botswana
Age restriction?
There is no restriction on the import or export of motor vehicles to and from Botswana.
A Temporary Import Permit is needed for any motor vehicles imported on temporarily into Botswana. The Import Permit is issued by BURS at time of importation or an ATA Carnet. These motor vehicles can stay in Botswana up to 14 days after which customs duties and/or VAT on the motor vehicle becomes due and payable.
Roadworthiness inspection?
‘Regulated Products’ exported to Botswana that are within the programme require a Certificate of Compliance which verifies, in the respective exporting countries, that the products comply with the applicable Botswana technical regulations and mandatory standards or approved equivalent (International/National Standards.)
The Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) has granted Intertek an accreditation to issue the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for products regulated within the provisions of the Standards Import Inspection Regulations (SIIR).
Right Hand Drive? Vehicles must be right hand drive only.
It is advisable that you check the most recent motor vehicle import regulations for Botswana with either your embassy or a licensed clearing agent in Botswana to ensure these regulations haven’t been revised since the time of writing. These are provided as the best possible guide available and may be subject to change.
Car Import Duty and Taxes in Botswana
Cars imported to Botswana are charged import duty and taxes when your car arrives.
These are as follows:
Customs duty for importing a vehicle to Botswana is currently 27%.
The VAT that the local authorities charge is 12%.
For Port charges will depend on your chosen shipping port for your car.
All foreign registered vehicles entering Botswana are required to pay a National Road Safety Fund levy amounting to P40.00, which expires at the end of December of each year, and a Road Transport Permit levy charged on the basis of the leden load of a vehicle (truck) and charged for every entry into Botswana.
Clearance requirements for cars imported into Botswana.
Motor vehicles entering Botswana for home use are liable for payment of customs duties and/or VAT. These vehicles should be cleared for Customs purpose within 14 days from the date of entry into Botswana. The appropriate documents to submit to BURS for this purpose are: Customs Declaration Form SAD 500, Police Clearance Certificate from both the export country and Botswana Police Service, Customs Clearance documents from export country and invoice or valuation certificate from a local vehicle retail store/garage.
Documents required to import your car.
To successfully import your vehicle, the following documents to be submitted to BURS:
Certificate of Title and Registration: confirming that the car has been owned and used for one year
Purchase Invoice (or receipt): specifies purchase value
Police Clearance Certificate from both the export country and Botswana Police Service
Vehicle Evaluation: obtained from an accredited Used Car Dealer
IC 2 Application: obtained from Destination Agent, submit to Ministry of Commerce.
Registration and proof of ownership.
Form CE 101: original, in duplicate, submitted with Import Permit, Residence Permit, and passport to department of Customs and Excise.
Import Permit: obtained from Ministry of Commerce
Customs Declaration Form SAD 500
Paperwork you should receive with your UK car import.
To ensure that your key document and loose items arrive safely, we DHL them. This includes headphones, remote controls and spare keys and your car’s paperwork. You should receive following documents from your importer:
- Bill of lading
- V5 log book
- Valid MOT certificate
- Owner’s manual
- Stamped service history book
- HPI certificate
Get in touch with our buying specialists today and they will be happy to help you import your perfect car to Botswana.
Useful Links
For the latest information about vehicle import regulations, procedures and duties, please refer to the Tanzanian authorities websites:
BURS Licensed customs clearing and forwarding agents in Botswana
Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS)
BURS Customs Clearance Import Procedures
