Car Shipping Made Simple operate a weekly shipping service from the UK to South Africa. With fast transit times, secure container transportation and no hidden fees, shipping couldn’t be easier.

Car Shipping Made Simple are here to help every step of the way and make sure that your car shipping experience is as simple as it can be.

We deal with all of the paperwork needed to get your vehicle to its destination. We use direct routes to the ports of Cape Town and Durban.

Our experienced team will stow your vehicle into a shipping container where it will be protected from harm. You can track your vehicle as it makes its journey via our tracking system on our website.

Once your vehicle arrives at its destination, our agents will take care of all necessary customs formalities, inspection reports and regulations before its collection.

To ship your car to South Africa you must first take the following steps:

• First, obtain a Letter of Authority and Import Permit before you arrive in the country.
• Along with this application, you must also provide relevant documentation, including your passport and letter of employment.
• Once your vehicle reaches South Africa, it will then be cleared through customs, at which point the necessary duties and taxes will be paid.
• Finally, you must pass a roadworthiness test before your vehicle can be registered for use in South Africa.

Read our helpful guide using the navigation on the left for in-depth step-by-step instructions on shipping your vehicle to South Africa hassle free.

This information is meant as a guide only and is not definitive. As destination regulations are subject to change without notice, we strongly urge you to obtain updated information from:

• The South Africa Government Site
• The NRCS
• SARS
• The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa

Before shipping your vehicle to South Africa, you must submit a number of application forms. The first is the Letter of Authority, the second is an Import Permit, the third is Proof of Conformity.

Only the person in whose name the vehicle will be registered may complete the application forms.

We work alongside a specialist agent in South Africa who can handle the applications for the Letter of Authority and Import Permit on your behalf, taking all the stress out the process. Simply call for details on 0800 009 3763.

If you are a bonafide immigrant or a returning South African resident permanently changing your residency to South Africa, you are able to import one vehicle Duty-free and VAT exempt.

You need to make your declaration using form DA304A, available here.

Furthermore, you must also meet and satisfy the following criteria:-

● Have been the registered owner of the period for at least 12 months

● After importation, you are not allowed to see or hire or otherwise dispose of your vehicle for a period of at least 2 years

However, if you don’t come under the above category(s) then duty will have to paid at the following rate:-

● For vehicles under 20 Years old – 36%

● For vehicles over 20 Years old – 20%

● In addition a further ad valorem rate may also be applied which can vary from 0.75% right up to 20% dependent on the age and value of the vehicle in question.

If applicable, VAT is charged at the standard rate of 14%. More information can be found here.

Vehicle Registration

Once your vehicle has cleared through customs and the relevant duty and taxes have been paid to the SARS, you will be issued with a Customs Release Notification Form. This form is then used in conjunction with your Vehicle Licence Form (ALV) in order to register your car in South Africa.

To obtain an ALV please click here.

Both the Customs Release Notification Form and the completed ALV should be presented to the Vehicle Licensing Office to register your car.

Roadworthiness Test

Finally, to register your car for use in South Africa, you must ensure your vehicle completes a roadworthiness test. This is very similar to the UK’s MOT test and makes sure your vehicle is suitable for the roads. Simply complete the application for certification of roadworthiness (ACR) form and complete your test at a registered test center.

Once passed you will be issued with a roadworthiness certificate and deemed registered for driving. If your vehicle fails the test, you will be able to retake the test within 14 days provided any work that needs to be carried out on the car is completed.

If you intend to import a new or used vehicle, goods vehicle or trailer, or a built (manufactured) or modified vehicle, you must first obtain a Letter of Authority (LOA).

You must have the letter of authority irrespective of whether the vehicle was built in South Africa or in a foreign country. Types of vehicle for which you require a letter of authority are:

• cars, buses and motorcycles
• goods vehicles (trucks or vans)
• trailers
• special vehicles such as mobile cranes, tractors and harvesters.

You can apply for a Letter of Authority here.

In addition to a Letter of Authority you can only import a second-hand vehicle to South Africa if you have been granted an Import Permit to do so. You must complete the application for importation of a second hand or used vehicle form, also known as IE462 to gain your Import Permit.

The application form IE462 can be found here.

If you are a South African citizen you will need to submit the following documents for registration:

• identity document or passport
• letter from employer confirming permanent employment abroad and reflecting period of employment (salary advices, payslips, job offers, job contracts, tax returns, work permits, etc. are not considered proof of employment)
• a certified copy of the official foreign vehicle registration certificate

If you are a bona fide immigrant, submit the following documents:

• a copy of your South African permanent residence certificate
• a copy of your foreign passport (page with photo and details)
• a copy of your foreign motor vehicle registration certificate
• proof of study or research to be concluded where applicable.

Rates shown are for guidance only and are from Depot to Depot only, excluding any local destination fees, duties or taxes.

For up to date rates please use our online quotation system.

Import Car to UK from South Africa. We import a wide range of vehicles, from South Africa to the UK.

We offer a weekly container service to the United Kingdom, and can arrange for collection of your Vehicle throughout South Africa. Our depots are located:

Cape Town – Port to Port transit time of 17 days

Durban – Port to port transit time of 26 days

Car Shipping Made Simple have a no hidden fees policy, use the quickest and most direct routes and our qualified shipping agents are here to help every step of the way.

1. In conjunction with our South African agents, we can arrange for Police clearance of your vehicle so it can be exported.
2. Once the Microdot certificate and SAPS 263 are obtained we can apply to ITAC for an export permit IE362
3. In addition to the above we require from you

• Copy of your ID
  Copy of your Passport
  Vehicle Registration paperwork

1. Your vehicle will then be loaded by our experienced staff into a shipping container to protect it from potential damages.
2. Your vehicle can also be tracked along its journey using our tracking feature which can be found on our website.

Get an instant quote today to ship with a quality service and make shipping your vehicle simple.

With our no hidden fees policy and professional shipping agents, shipping couldn’t be simpler

You can also choose your departure times and use our tracking service to follow your vehicle on its journey. So get an instant quote today to ship your vehicle with a safe, reliable and trusted service.

Click here for a full UK Car Import Guide

Rates shown are for guidance only and are from Depot to Depot only, excluding any local duties or taxes. They also exclude local handling and clearance fee’s in the U.K.

For up to date rates please use our online quotation system.

This information is meant as a guide only and is not definitive. As destination regulations are subject to change without notice, we strongly urge you to obtain updated information from:

http://www.gov.za/services/import/importing-second-hand-or- used-vehicle

http://www.nrcs.org.za/content.asp?subID=33#1

http://www.sars.gov.za/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.itac.org.za/