Toyota best car exporter to South Africa and other countries of Southern Africa

Sam is Thailand's best car exporter and 4x4 exporter, importer and dealer of new and used 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 models of Toyota Hilux Vigo, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, Isuzu Dmax, Isuzu MU-7 and other 4x4 pickups and SUVs. Sam is Thailand's best new car exporter and Thailand best used second hand auto exporter to Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Namibia and Seychelles and most RHD and LHD countries of Southern and Eastern Africa. Please see Images (Pics) of some of our exported or in-stock vehicles at http://www.sam4x4.com/pics.html.

Namibia is a part of SACU. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world.  SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.

SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.

Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.

Please note that Sam is Thailand's best exporter to Africa. People may find it daunting to export to Uganda but not with Soni. We can put your vehicle onboard a ship heading to Mombasa or Dar es Salam today. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we are busy loading up our customers vehicles onboard the ships heading their way. Email us now at thai4x4@gmail.com and discover the Sam difference. Sam is family-owned and family-operated since 1911 and is known for its superior integrity, great customer service, great prices, great selection, great quality and great speed of delivery.

Namibian import regulations change

Namibia Police announced in Autumn 2006 that vehicles bought or imported from a foreign country would no longer be cleared for registration in the country without the original clearance certificate from the country of origin.

The regulations have been the norm for many years for vehicles bought from neighbouring countries such as Swaziland or Lesotho or South Africa, but vehicles imported from overseas from places like Japan are subject to Interpol clearance which takes about three days.

Namibian government has put a ban on the import of all vehicles older than five years. The ban is rooted in the Import/Export Act of 1994 and backed by the recent Government Gazette No257, which bans vehicles imported mainly from Japan.

How to import a car from Thailand

First obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Then pay import duties and VAT to the Customs Division of the Ministry of Finance.

After this, the company apply for the Interpol clearance with the customs paid document (known as the IM4) and the release order from customs.

Once the police clearance is obtained, get a roadworthy certificate from NATIS, which also inspects the engine and chassis numbers before registering the vehicle.

NATIS requires the police clearance, customs release and payment receipt, roadworthy certificate and original de-registration certificate from the country of export before registering the vehicle.

If the de-registration is in a foreign language, NATIS requires a sworn translation from a registered translator.

Southern Africa

SACU (the Southern African Customs Union)

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world.  SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.

SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.

Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.

 

South Africa - RHD

South Africa is one of Bloomstar's - and by extension Sam Motors' - global hub. Our Gold Partners have dealership in Durban Port and after keeping the vehicles suitable for South African markets, they resell the rest to the customers who flock to Durban port from all parts of Africa. We are exporting a number of new and Sam Quality Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles to South Africa, some for South African consumers while the vast number of vehicles are imported for the express purpose of re-export to other Southern African countries.

The main zones of economic concentration are located in the main South African conglomerations: Johannesburg / Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.

The entire motor vehicle imports and exports (over 175,000 units in 2003/04) are handled through two major car terminals at Durban, East London with an additional number handled at Port Elizabeth. Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is South Africa's largest and one of the busiest and best equipped in the southern Hemisphere. DCT serves as a pivotal hub for the entire southern Africa region, serving trade links to the Far East, Middle East, Australasia, South America, North America and Europe. The terminal also serves as a transshipment hub for East Africa and Indian Ocean islands.

The Durban Car Terminal is one of Africa's largest car terminals. It has continued to expand and during 2003/04 handled a total of 139,189 motor units. This is expected to increase beyond 160,000 for 2004/05. The terminal occupies a dedicated area with exclusive access to a single berth (R berth) via an overhead bridge and operates a 24-hour, 365 day a year service. A multi level parking facility, commissioned in May 2004 increased the yard capacity to 7,000 motor units. A further addition to the terminal is under consideration.

The East London Car Terminal has provision for 2,800 motor units in a modern multi-level facility. The terminal is currently (June 2004) applying for ISO9001:2000 accreditation. During 2003/04 East London handled a total of 34,900 motor vehicles. Vehicles for export are stored in a four-storey building with an annual throughput capacity of 50,000 motor units. The terminal is linked to the adjacent DaimlerChrysler manufacturing plant by a dedicated private road and opens onto its own berthing area of two berths. A port-deepening programme currently underway will permit larger car carrier vessels to access the terminal.

Importation of Used Vehicles

A study carried out in 2004 by the Competition Authority of South Africa (which regulates competition among the industries) found out that cars in South Africa cost twice as much as in Australia. This is because strict control measures are used to restrict the number of legal import permits issued to allow used vehicles into SA. In terms of current legislation, used vehicles qualifying for an import permit include those for returning residents and immigrants, vintage cars, racing cars, donated vehicles for welfare organizations and adapted vehicles for persons with physical disabilities. Without a legal import permit, imported used vehicles cannot be registered on the National Information Transport System (NaTIS) while the system also combats stolen and non-complying vehicle registrations. All vehicle-manufacturing plants have also been linked on line to the system to facilitate the collation of data of vehicles produced. Government and industry are engaged in various actions and initiatives to effectively combat the illegal import of used vehicles into SA. The focus of the task teams has been extended to also include imported new vehicles not complying with the SA Bureau of Standards compulsory vehicle specifications as well as illegal registrations on the NaTIS. In this regard the SABS Letter of Authority (LOA) was introduced in 2000 as a means of certification of compliance with SABS standards. The LOA has been instrumental in combating the increasing levels of imports of non-complying vehicles, which tend to have sub-standard safety features to the detriment of road safety. In addition, SABS homologation is the procedure to ensure that all new vehicle models comply with the relevant SA legislation, standards and specifications, as well as codes of practice, for motor vehicles intended for use by the public on public roads. The process for homologation must be carried out before any motor vehicle model is introduced into the SA market. This prevents the need to withdraw a motor vehicle model before it enters the market and reduces the possibility of resultant legal action against the supplier. A process of homologation is also requiring in respect of motor vehicle tires.

Used Vehicle Import Procedure

In order to import a used vehicle for resale, you must first obtain a import permit by applying at the Directorate: Import & Export Control, Private Bag X192, Pretoria, 0001. A Letter of Authority (LoA) is also required and application for this must be made to the South African Bureau of Standards, Private Bag X191, Pretoria, 0001. See below for phone and email.

Importers are, however, cautioned that the Directorate Import & Export Control does not issue permits in this regard and are well advised to first contact their office directly for more information. (Please see the preceding section for restriction on used car imports

At present the Customs duty on motor cycles imported into South Africa is zero.

However, please note that ad-valorem duty on:

• Motor cycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 800cm is 5%
• Motor bikes with an engine capacity exceeding 800cm - 10%

The ad valorem duty is calculated on the value for Customs duty purposes plus 15% thereof, plus the Customs duty.

These duties are subject to change without prior notice.

Second-hand motor cycles are also subject to an import permit and Letter of Authority (LoA).

Here are the documents you will need:

• Please read careful before completing the Letter of Authority (LoA)
  New notes to the LoA
• Application for a Letter of Authority (LoA) to Import & Register/License a Motor Vehicle
  Letter of Authority Page 1
  Letter of Authority Page 2
• Application for the Importation of a Second Hand or Used Vehicle
  Import Pemit- Used Vehicle

An example of how duties for a motor vehicle would be calculated is shown below. A ORDINARY CUSTOMS DUTY (PART 1 OF SCHEDULE NO. 1)   Duty Motor cars, assembled 40% The value for duty purposes is the price paid or payable for the motor vehicle. If a special reduced price was paid for the vehicle or the vehicle was not purchased then a value for Customs purposes can be determined in consultation with the Controller for Customs & Excise at the time of clearance. Example: To calculate the Customs duty payable on a motor vehicle with a value of say R100,000.00 Value for Duty purposes: R100,000.00 Customs duty payable @ 40%: R 40,000.00 B ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS DUTY IN TERMS OF PART 2B OF SCHEDULE NO. 1 AD-VALOREM CUSTOMS DUTY: Sliding scale with a maximum of 20%   The value for Ad-Valorem Customs duty purposes shall be the value for Customs duty purposes as described above, uplifted by 15% of such value plus the Customs duty payable. Example: To calculate the Ad-Valorem duty payable on a motor vehicle with a value of R100 000.00 VALUE FOR DUTY PURPOSES R100,000.00 Plus 15% of this value R 15,000.00 Plus Customs duty payable (A/Example) R 40,000.00 R155,000.00 R155 000 x 0.000035 = 5.55% - 0.5% = 5.05% Ad-Valorem duty payable (R155 000 x 5.05%) R 7 634,00 C TOTAL DUTY PAYABLE   Customs Duty R40,000.00 Ad-Valorem Customs Duty R 7,634.00 TOTAL R47,634.00 Details Costs     Tax Car Purchase price: 100,000   Plus 15% of Value 15,000   Car Price+15% 115,000   Customs Duty 40,000 40,000 Car+Import+Customs 155,000   Ad Valorem (155,000 x 0.000035 = 5.55% - 0.5%= 5.05%) 7,828 7,828 Total: 162,828 47,828