Located near Hlatikulu, Hluti is a small town in Swaziland. If you are locating to Hluti, you will need to bring your own vehicle so you can get around easier.
The cost of importing a vehicle to this area is not very expensive but the availability is limited due to few American and Japanese vehicles for purchase in the area. International auto shipping is possible as the Port of Richards Bay in Maputo, South Africa, is used for freight cargo.
Bonded Warehouse.
In order to successfully ship a vehicle to port from the USA, you will feel good knowing that there isn't a difficult process to it. If you are bringing your car to Swaziland, you can use bonded warehouses in South Africa or Mozambique to ship in order to avoid any import duty or taxes. These types of warehouses will store your vehicle once it comes to port until overland transportation is made available to Swaziland Then you will only need to pay tariff to the Swaziland Revenue Authority upon arriving.
Documentation Needed.
According to the regulations in the U.S. you will need to present the following list of documents before your vehicle can board the ship for exporting.
- Original vehicle title.
- DA 304S Form.
- Vehicle's Bill of Sale.
- Bill of Lading.
- A permit from a lien holder if the vehicle is still financed.
- Proof of insurance.
- Work permit.
When your vehicle arrives to Swaziland, you will need to pay the customs duty. You will also need to provide proof that you have owned the vehicle for at least one year prior to shipping it if you are shipping a used vehicle. You can use the bill of purchase and the registration documents to provide proof. Vehicles over 15 years are not allowed to be imported, while the maximum import duty is 40% with a VAT of 14%.
If you are importing a commercial vehicle or some type of private vehicle, you will only be allowed to import one vehicle per year. In order to import, you will need to provide the following documentation:
- Copy of Passport.
- Bill of sale that lists the chassis number and the engine number on a letterhead from the dealer you purchased it from.
- A work permit if you are not a Swaziland resident.
- Clearance certificate from taxes.
- An import application form from the Ministry of Finance – filled out.
- Mode of shipping.
If you have all the documentation in order, you will then need to choose a method of shipping. There are two to choose from; Roll on/Roll off and container shipping. Check with the port that you plan to bring the car to before you ship as some do not accept the Roll On/Roll Off method of shipping.
Container shipping costs more but can be shared with someone to lower your cost. Since these containers are so large, you may be able to get several vehicles inside of the containers in addition to your personal belongings. You can even place your personal possessions inside the vehicle.
The Roll On/Roll Off allows your car to be driven on and off the ship. It is then secured on board the ship, so it doesn’t move, and that prevents damage during the journey. The vehicle will then need to be empty, leaving only floor mats, car jack, extra set of keys and a spare tire inside. If you are on a fixed budget, RORO method is the cheapest.
Contact the Embassy of Swaziland to know more about the latest laws and regulations on vehicle import.
Written By:Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
