Shipping a car to Cape Town - any problems expected?
 

Hi - having been stung by Australian quarantine after shipping a Land Rover to Sydney, we are off to South Africa, Cape Town and am wondering whether there will be any issues that I should be expecting? Do I have to hire a customs agent (and you have to in Oz) or can I just pick up the car at the docks and drive in out? Any help greatly appreciated - Cheers.

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Only shipped out of Cape town back to UK, not other way round but used an agent as it was easier, they now the customs guys, they just turned up and left, didn't check anything. They also sorted out getting a place to load the container and sorting the guys to strap everything down but at the same time I was able to run that so I know they didn't accidently strap round the wrong thing and damage the vehicle. The only thing is it was more expensive than when I shipped from Sydney to London and this was down to the different port charges. (You could avoid some of this by possibly not using an agent but you still have to pay for somewhere for the container to go whilst its opened, and access, etc.

We shipped into Durban and used an agent to clear the vehicle and arrange papers so that we could import the vehicle into Zimbabwe.

He was very cheap and very cheerful compared to alot of the big companies such as Mainport Africa.

His name is:

Strini Govender

CRSS CLEARING & FORWARDING CC
TEL:+2731-3375841
FAX:+27313375842 MOBILE:+2731-0837895110

crss (at) absamail.co.za

...and see if he's got any contacts in CapeTown.

Get a shipping agent. It's cheap and makes things a lot easier.
If you have a carnet you will have the vehicle cleared within hours after offloading. They only check VIN and engine number and compare with your papers.

The thing gets a bit more lengthy if you plan to temporarily import as you will have to pay import duties and VAT. In this case try to be here a few days before the car arrives.

Anyway rather get a carnet if there is any way to get one.

Email me if you need a recommendation for a shipping agent in Cape Town.

Thanks for the tips guys.

Now that we are there, it is not as clear...
 

We have arrived at Cape Town, and in addition to the boat being over two weeks late, the quote to clear the vehicle through customs etc is R7,500, which is 750 GBPounds, and almost as much as we paid to get the vehicle through Australian customs and quarantine!!

Some of you guys said it is quick and cheap - how so?

HELP - there must be a better solution.

Names of recommended agents will be appreciated as I will ring them ASAP.

Thanks.

(PS. I have tried the ones above to no avail.)

Cape Town
 

Call a guy by the name of David at Reds Express his number is 0833803233 tell him that Frank In Ghana gave you his number. He may be able to help you.

Regards
Frank

Ripp Off
 

I don´t know why, but the south african ports are big "ripp offers" the cheap labor for the dock workers cant be the reason for the high prices.

Every container I bring through Durban also costs a fortune. I think the problem is, there is no competition from neighbour countrys.

regards

Thomas

Ripoff II
 

7500 Rand sounds an awful lot looking at you having a carnet for the Landy.
Maybe the best to take all your paperwork and make your way down to the customs warehouse in the Foreshore. Bring some patience to ask your way around and try to clear the car yourself.