Rwamagana is a city and capital of Rwamagana district as well as of the Eastern Province of Rwanda. It is about 50 kilometers away from Kigali. You may have your own reasons to move here from USA but the fact is that you will need to have your own car to traverse the city for work or just to travel.
The public transportation isnโt reliable and you may face issues due to language barriers.
Ever since the year of 2010, Rwanda is using Integrated Vehicle Registration System with other countries in East Africa which allow people to benefit from a simplified procedure. There are exemptions from import duties for people who are returning citizens.
There is also no age limit for the vehicles which are imported but they need to be with a left-sided steering wheel. What is more, Toyotas seem to be the most commonly driven cars in the country and there are plenty of spare parts in case you ever need a quick-fix or a repair. You can also find parts for other vehicles but they are rather rare. In comparison to the EU and to the US, the roads are rather rough. Some of them are going to be paved but the wide majority isnโt. Thatโs why you might want to get a four-wheel drive. You can contact the A1 Auto Transport Service if you need assistance with the process. We have been shipping vehicles to East Africa for over two decades and understand the process of working with the Customs department and other government agencies in Rwanda. Weโll walk you through the complete process and ensure that the vehicle is delivered to you safely in Rwamagana.
Documents and taxes.
You need to provide the following documents to the customs in order to get the vehicle imported:
- Title and registration.
- Lading bill.
- Purchase invoice.
- Certificate of origin.
- Driverโs license and insurance.
- Passport or Visa.
You can always contact the Embassy of Rwanda in the USA. Keep in mind that you only need a certificate that you arenโt suffering from Yellow fever and there is no need for a visa, if you are from the USA or UK.
Taxes.
You can expect the shipping of a vehicle to cost you between $3,500 and $7,000 based on the distance as well as the accessibility to Rwanda. You might need to factor in the taxes for the import. These are as follows:
- VAT โ 18%.
- 24% Custom Duty.
- 5% Withholding tax.
- The consumption tax varies based on the vehicle.
There are two different ways to get your vehicle shipped. The first one is a container which is enclosed and provides an additional layer of security and protection. You can ship as many personal belongings as you can fit in the container and thatโs why the method is rather expensive and slow in comparison. The choice of containers varies from twenty feet to forty feet.
RORO or Roll On/ Roll Off as it is commonly referred to is a good alternative if you donโt want to ship any personal belongings as they arenโt allowed. This is why itโs also a lot cheaper and quicker than shipping with an enclosed container. However, it is also worth noting that your vehicle is going to be exposed to the elements during the whole transportation process. Your vehicle is driven on the ship and when it reaches the port in Rwanda, it is driven off.
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.
