Budgeting for the car and nothing else
The car price is often little more than half of what it takes to drive it home. Taxes, transport from Mombasa and registration are the rest. Work out the landed cost before you commit to anything.
Ignoring the vehicle’s age
Age decides the environmental levy, and beyond a certain age a passenger vehicle cannot be imported at all. A bargain that cannot be cleared is not a bargain.
Buying without seeing the paperwork
Auction sheets and inspection reports exist for a reason. Ask for them, and ask what the grades mean. Anyone unwilling to show you the documents is telling you something.
Paying an agent you cannot verify
Ask who holds the money, in whose name the car is bought, and what happens if the deal falls through. Get the answers in writing, from a company you can visit.
Forgetting what the car costs to run
Fuel, insurance, servicing and parts continue long after the import is finished. Choosing a model with cheap parts and a sensible engine saves more over five years than haggling over the purchase price.