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Traveller
Norway
3 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 18:15:57
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Hello everyone.
Anyone with hands on experience of importing a private car to Gambia?
The shipping is easy, but what will happen from the container reach the harbour in Banjul. And how much will all the "details" cost?
Import tax?
Registration (number plates)?
Yearly road tax?
Insurance?
I am thinking about bringing a Volvo 740 wagon apx 10-15 years old. Or a Toyota Hiace van (or similar), also 10-15 years old.
Need all the information I can have!
* Or will it be better to buy a registered car in Gambia? Can you recommend any web pages?
Morro.
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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 18:57:40
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The following are the various fees I paid a couple of years ago for sending a vehicle:
Customs entry
Scanning
Shipping agency fees
Ports handling charges
Customs Duty
Clearing Agent fees
Number plate
Income Tax clearance
Vehicle license, road tax
Stamp fees from police and NIA
Insurance
Testing fees
I have been advised to buy from The Gambia. There are many second hand dealers there nowadays. You will end up paying much less for the same or even newer vehicle there than having to ship and get into all the hustling at the ports.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 19:13:51
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Good advice : Dont do it 
import tax : between 30.000 dal for small car, 40.000 dal for normal car to 60.000 dal for van or 4x4.
Assurance : 800 dal/year
Bribing money in the harbour depending on your ability to bargain
and so on.... |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 19:29:41
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| I heard some has to pay custom duty for underwear they are wearing! |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 20:06:32
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
I heard some has to pay custom duty for underwear they are wearing!
Turk, who were you discussing underwear with... Aren't you a married man
But seriously, it is getting ridiculously expensive to ship anything to Gambia. The fees could be cheaper if you know the "right people." It is not a mere coincidence that custom officers are the most economically comfortable government employees in the country.
Traveler, if you have family in jollof, tell them to "arrange" the ground before your container land... if you want to avoid getting suck dry by the pot-bellied vampires. |
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 20:32:56
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Prince
lol.
If there is not production for these goods in Gambia, there should be absolutely no custom other than VAT. The purpose of Custom tax usually to protect local industry. Am I wrong? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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Traveller
Norway
3 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 21:34:24
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Thanks for good advice.
But where to find a good and trustful car dealer in Gambia?
Are any of them online? (Internet address please) |
Edited by - Traveller on 10 Sep 2010 08:45:49 |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 22:17:26
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| Scanning fee for the container is D5500.00. You will also pay around 32% of the value of the vehicle in vehicle taxes. About D7000-D10000 to a clearing agent to get it out of the port, another D1000-3000 to a truck driver to take it where ever it needs to go. Along the way you will have to grease a lot of palms for a smooth transition...that part is sad but its what we have become as a society. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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concort
365 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 22:39:35
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| Back in 2006, I sent my dad a Jeep Grand Cherokee which was four years old and I paid about $3,150 in customs fees, D2,000 clearing agent, (license plate fees - I could not remember) D800 insurance, and many hands-outs along the way. I have vowed not to engage in such practices any more because bribery is sinful in Islam and our country folks should know better. |
As Salamu Alaikum Waramatullah Wabarakatu |
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Brufutboy
United Kingdom
14 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2010 : 13:44:00
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Traveller, very good advice from everybody. Friends of mine took a Discovery and an ambulance to The Gambia. Ambulance was taken upriver, but customs impounded the Discovery and based on it's value they had to pay well over £1000.00 despite the explanation that it was needed for charity work! So don't bother with the hassle you will get. Just one look in the customs warehouse packed to the brim with cars, brand new vehicles, Hummers, Range Rovers etc tells me that importing vehicles is a costly mistake.
Best to buy in The Gambia. Cannot recommend a particular business, but there are several vehicles for sale near the Elton garage between traffic lights and Palma Rima. Also near Two Rays there are some more. I bought a Land Rover from a UK seller wanting to return home. So also try and look at notice boards, the one at Marrouns supermarket near Palma Rima sometimes has vehicles for sale.Hope this info is helpful, and good luck.
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Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2010 : 20:26:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Traveller
Thanks for good advice.
But where to find a good and trustful car dealer in Gambia?
Are any of them online? (Internet address please)
It is usually more economical to buy private cars within Gambia but I'd not buy a commercial vehicle in Gambia. Some two years ago, i ended up paying about $8000 (eight thousand dollars) for a Toyota Hiace van.
you'll probably be better off importing a van and letting the person you are sending it to deal with the clearing from the port (the price significantly jacks up when a "semester" shows up). People also value things they put in work for...
There are several used car dealership around town who sell private cars at reasonable prices. It would be prudent to go with a mechanic to check out the fundamentals of the car else you could easily end up with a total junk lemon.
Don't bother looking at the dealers online... they are all con-men trying to sell total beaters at exorbitant prices. Just look up these lemons and the prices they're asking for them.
http://vehicle.gm/listing_browse.php?vehicle[]=car |
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
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Traveller
Norway
3 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2010 : 23:21:43
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Is there no way to stop the corruption in Gambia, on any level?
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2010 : 16:56:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Traveller
Is there no way to stop the corruption in Gambia, on any level?
now that is the six million dollar question...
but regarding cars buy one there less hassle ..
you can bag a bargain at the ports sales of uncollected vehicles.
best wishes and good luck friend... |
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