importing a car to egypt permanently?
 

well thats the plan folks. We, (myself and the family) are relocating to egypt, from Wales. Now i understand that you can buy cars in Egypt but death traps are putting it lightly. So i would like to take my car to Egypt....permanently. I am aware of the carnet du passage but that dosnt really help me much considering i wont be coming back. SO i guess what i am asking is do any of you know of a way to import a car into Egypt without paying £10000's worth of taxes.

Somebody did mention to me i should get a carnet and then in egypt report the car stolen....now that doesn't seem to wise as i figured i would be driving around Egypt in a 'stolen' car. So apart from trying to smuggle the damn thing over the border are there any loop holes in Egypts systems, enabeling me to have my car with me in Egypt. Another thing was mentioned was if the people bringing the car into Egypt were Egyptian nationals then no tax would be required (i aint Egyptian), also can you bring in cars less than one year old? lots of questions i know but an answer would be great, even if it just details how to import my car to Egypt and what i could be expected to pay to undergo such a privelege. the car is a Toyoya Landcruiser 1999.

All I can go by is the in formation I was given, correct or not, when I moved here.
I was told the car had to be less than one year old and could be brought in tax free if the company you worked for was allowed it to be so.
But then you have problems selling it on depending on how long you keep it for. Again there is conflicting information about this.

There are many cars here that are as in Europe, but you pay a premium for them. You can buy new and second hand, but the taxes are a bit of a killer. Or you can buy the cheaper Asian/Chinese/Eastern European equivalent.

Bringing in on a Carnet does present the time limit problems. There is a poster here called Jamie-T who had his Landcruiser here for some time, maybe he knows a way round it.
The thing about Egyptian nationals being exempt from tax I'd take with a pinch of salt. I could be wrong but I don't think so otherwise they'd all be at it.

There a several companies that'll get you a tax free car, but it has to be brand new. I bought a Pajero as I knew they were popular here, however I made the mistake of getting a diesel, and they aren't. Thus I have problems always getting normal engine servicing parts, I can get them but they're not common at all.
I got it via a Scandinavian company and it came direct from Japan to Alexandria.

The short answer then, is, I can't really help you.

One more thing. The most common 4x4 here is the Jeep Cherokee amongst the normal folk, but a poor quality version, maybe it's assembled/manufactured here as well, but a tidy 1999 one would cost you about 100,000 LE, approx £11,000.
There are plenty of newer Landcruisers as well, but petrol, and cost an astronomical amount.
This link works but looks funny -
Buy or sell a car / شراء سيارة / بيع سيارة

Afraid Not
 

Without ever having exact answers, the general info is that it is either impossible or not financially viable. Many people made promises, but came to nothing, before people who really might be in the know told me that it was impossible.

Only solution is to gain employment with the lucky B... who get duty free priviledges or become an ambassador.

Or come in on a carnet and then you can only use it 6 months out of every 12 (must leave the country or go in duty free zone storage). This also is not really viable long term due to expense and hassle involved.

Sorry not to be more positive, I desperately hope someone out there has better news, as I am sick to death of the problems with my 10,000 sterling, 15 year old, piece of crap cherokee.

Egypt is fantastic for many reasons, buying second hand cars is not one.

bummer!!
 

so it would seem like i better get use to driving some foreign piece of scrap metal then. Oh and pay full uk price for it too. So do you actually live in egypt T? any advice for me before i set off.....any essentials i should bring with me on my journey, (bearing in mind that the landcruiser is now ruled out)


Just to expand on one point i can use a carnet to get my car over and use it for 6 months every year? thought tthat there was like a one months time limit? so confused!

My roomate buys cars at the auction in the US and ships them to Egypt all the time. But it really is a bizzare and unbelievable process, yet it is totally legal, i think. At least it is the only way to do it and not get caught.

What he does is cut the car into 2 or three pieces, so he can ship it saying it is for parts. Then his partner in Egypt puts it back together. It is alot of work but they make money doing it. But they also have to find the same type of car in Egypt that has been totaled due to fire or flood, get the papers for that car and use it for the car he shipped.

I say this, not because you would want to do this with your car, but if you are buying a car in egypt I would pull back the headliner and look to see if it has been cut and reassembled. I wouldn't want to drive this type of car for safety reasons.

Now that would explain why they drive so well. Man, I lived almost 5 years in Egypt and personally find this story kind of .. creative. Sorry I don't buy it. :thumbdown:

From a little while ago (1999) but I'd be very surprised if things have changed, other than the number of cars is bigger: Impounded cars whose papers weren't in order at Cairo Customs

http://www.thebrightstuff.com/picsFo...toms_Cairo.jpg

Ahh Memories
 

Chris, this photo brings back so many memories/nightmares.

It felt like I spent half my life gazing over this view while trying to figure out what the hell was happening with our car (IN & OUT of customs every 6 months). The place was usually full of virtually new Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Toyota and a surprising number of Hummers. Our car was stored there several times, and they simply stick a fork lift under the cars to move them around.

Apparently, at one time, our car was days away from going to auction, but nobody had bothered to tell me.

I miss a load of things about Egypt, but not the bullshit bureaucracy.

JT

It took me 5 days (with an agent/runner) to clear customs at Cairo to airfreight my bike to Ethiopia as I was refused a Sudan visa. $180 of what I spent remained unaccounted for in the way of receipts) That experience in particular forced me into the decision never to visit Egypt again.

My bike spent 2 nights in the compound too. The exhaust was used as a pissior by the guards. Luckily the 2 into 1 collector box was big enough to hold the contents and one of them was standing behind the bike when I started the motor. Golden shower anyone? :rofl:

Oh how I laughed when I saw this sign:

http://www.thebrightstuff.com/picsFo...20_My_Arse.jpg

The story of my Egyptian sourjourne: Chapter 5 The Big Trip

I took a photo in the compound as there were signs everywhere saying "no photos". A small victory...

I don't think you can get around the import tax, at least without sidestepping some laws (or cutting a car into three pieces, apparently). My brother-in-law shipped a car to Egypt last year with A1AutoTransport and didn't have any issues, though I don't know what the cost/details were. You might try giving them a call just to see if it's doable. There may be some loophole if you're a citizen, married to one, etc.