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A Simple Guide to Buying and Importing Your Dream Car into Uganda
Buying a car from another country and importing it to Uganda can feel confusing — there are so many steps, taxes, and hidden fees! At Motoka UG, we help make it simple.
This step-by-step guide will help you understand the process of buying and importing a car into Uganda, avoid costly surprises, and make smart decisions from day one.
💡 Tip: You can instantly calculate your URA-due import taxes on Motoka.ug.
We’ve done the hard work for you — no need to read through URA’s 250-page valuation PDF. Just enter your car details (make, model and year) and in a few clicks, you’ll get the official CIF value, the total taxes, using the latest URA exchange rate applied automatically.
🛑 Step 1: Know the Rules Before You Shop
Before you start shopping for your dream car, take a moment to understand the import rules set by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). These determine which vehicles are allowed into the country — and which aren’t.
🔹 Car Age Limit
You cannot import a car that is 15 years old or older (counted from its year of manufacture). Such cars will be stopped at the border.
🔹 The “Older Car” Tax (Environmental Levy)
If the car is 8 years or older, you’ll pay an extra charge called the Environmental Levy. It can be quite high — sometimes up to 50% of the car’s value — so check the year before you buy. This surcharge is meant to discourage high-emission, older vehicles.
🔹 Right-Hand Drive (RHD) Only
Uganda only allows Right-Hand Drive vehicles. Left-Hand Drive cars are banned unless for special use (ambulance, fire truck, construction, etc.).
🌍 Step 2: Find Your Car and Understand the Real Cost
You can shop for cars from Japan, the UK, or Dubai, but always pay attention to the pricing terms.
💰 FOB (Free on Board)
The price of the car only, excluding shipping and insurance. This is the price of the car in the country, you still need to pay to have it shipped over.
🚢 CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight)
The total price — including the cost of the car, insurance, and shipping to the port (usually Mombasa or Dar es Salaam).
Always look at the official CIF value, because that’s what URA uses to calculate your import taxes.
📊 Where the CIF Comes From
Here’s what most new importers don’t realize: URA maintains an official CIF valuation list — a massive document covering thousands of vehicles by make, model, year, and trim level.
It’s over 250 pages long, and it’s what URA officers use to determine how much your car is “worth” for tax purposes — not the price you saw online.
🔍 Good news:Motoka UG has digitized this entire list. Instead of digging through hundreds of PDF pages, you can:
- Instantly find your car by make, model, and year
- See the URA-based CIF value
- View your full tax breakdown (Import Duty, VAT, Excise, etc.)
- Get results based the latest URA exchange rate
👉 Try it now: Motoka UG Car Tax Calculator
🔧 Step 3: Check the Car’s Health (Inspection)
Before the car leaves the seller’s country, it must pass a Road Worthiness Inspection (RWI) to prove it’s safe and meets Ugandan standards.
- This inspection is done by URA-approved agencies like JEVIC, QISJ, or EAA.
- Always ask the seller for the inspection certificate.
- You can also use the car’s chassis number (VIN) to check its history online for mileage, accidents, and ownership records.
🧾 Need help? We can connect you to verified inspection agencies who handle all pre-export checks. 👉 Find a Vehicle Inspection Partner
🚛 Step 4: Shipping Your Car to Uganda
Uganda has no sea port, so cars are shipped through Mombasa (Kenya) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).
- Shipping usually takes 4–8 weeks, depending on origin.
- From the port, cars are either transported on a carrier truck or driven by a delivery agent to Uganda.
- You’ll need a Clearing Agent to handle customs paperwork, taxes, and logistics from port to Kampala.
🧩 Motoka Tip: Don’t stress about shipping and clearing — we can link you to trusted clearing and forwarding agents who handle everything for you. 👉 Connect with a Clearing Agent
💸 Step 5: Understand the Taxes (The Tricky Part!)
This is where most people get stuck — but don’t worry, we’ll make it simple.
When your car arrives, URA calculates several taxes based on the CIF value. These include:
- Import Duty (25%)
- Excise Duty (ranges 10–20%)
- Value Added Tax (VAT) (18%)
- Withholding Tax (6%)
- Environmental Levy (for cars 8+ years old)
- Registration fees and other small charges
The total tax amount depends on:
- The car’s age
- The engine size (cc)
- The fuel type
- The CIF value
Because these variables change regularly, it’s almost impossible to calculate accurately by hand.
✅ Solution: Use the Motoka UG Tax Calculator It gives you an instant, official URA-based estimate — no math, no guesswork.
📄 Step 6: Clearance and Registration in Uganda
After paying all taxes, your Clearing Agent will help register your car locally.
You’ll need:
- The Bill of Lading (proof of shipment)
- The Original Logbook
- Your Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- The Inspection Certificate
- The URA release documents
Once everything is approved, you’ll pay a registration fee and receive your Ugandan number plates — your car is officially road-ready!
💰 Step 7: Plan Your Budget Smartly — Finance Options
If you don’t want to pay everything upfront, you can import your car through financing. Motoka UG connects you with trusted lenders and car financiers in Uganda who can help you spread out payments.
💡 Get Financing Help: Talk to a Car Loan Partner
🔗 Step 8: Connect with Trusted Dealers & Service Providers
Importing a car involves several experts — and Motoka UG makes it easy to find all of them in one place.
Through our Trusted Partner Network, you can:
- 💰 Get financing or loans from verified lenders
- 🚗 Connect with honest car dealers in Uganda
- 🚛 Hire reliable clearing & forwarding agents
- 🔍 Book inspection services before shipping
- 🧰 Find parts & service providers after your car arrives
🌐 Visit:Motoka UG Trusted Partners We’ve pre-vetted every partner — so you deal only with genuine professionals.
✅ Final Step: Don’t Guess — Calculate and Connect
Importing your car into Uganda doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s the smart way to do it:
- Learn the URA import rules
- Check the car’s age and side (RHD)
- Confirm CIF price and inspection
- Use Motoka.ug to calculate your total taxes
- Connect with trusted agents and financiers
- Pay, clear, and register your car
That’s it! With Motoka UG, you can see the true landed cost of your car in minutes — and get connected to the right partners for every step of your journey.
🚗 Try It Now — Free
Get your instant car import tax estimate and connect to trusted agents today. 👉 Calculate Your Car’s Import Taxes on Motoka.ug
Motoka UG — Vehicle Import Taxes for Uganda, No Longer a Mystery!
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