Long time storage in Tanzania and problems customs
 

Hello,

does anybody have expirience with having your car or bike for more then 6 till 9 months in Tanzania and then driving out again.
I have heard stories TZ keeps track of entering into the country and that you have problems getting out
Thanks

Hi guys...

i'am I looking for the same information? someone has news?
thanks

When you enter Tanzania the vehicle details are logged in to a computer system and you also pay for a foreign vehicle road tax. This foreign vehicle road tax is valid for three months (so long as you ask for three months). You also have to pay a carbon tax.

Therefore, you cannot legally leave a vehicle in Tanzania for more than three months. The same applies for Kenya.

Thanks for the reply. Even with the carnet is not possible ?.

Long stay Tanzania
 

I stayed for a year in Tanzania with my car. No problems at the border. Even when the carnet is expired. You need of course the new one which date should extend the one which was used by entry. The tanzanian stamp in the carnet is valid for a year. You only have to pay tax (two types) for every month that you overstay the original 3 months you payed already by entry. Best thing to do is go to the nearest TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority) office and explain that you want to store the bike and come back later to continue your travel so that you don't have to pay these taxes for the months the bike is not used. Make sure you get it on paper !!
I didn't and had to pay for all the months while my car couldn't even drive because of an accident.
When I was there a year ago the officials are really nice and helpful. And also knowledgable about the rules, so no suprises afterwards that someone was talking rubbish just to get rid of you.

Greetings from Nakuru, Kenya,
Peter

many thanks Peter!!!!

I am currently here in tanzania on my bike (SA reg). On entry, I received a temporary import permit valid for a month but extendable to 3 months. No cost was involved for a motorcycle. My friend who is also here on his bike (US reg) and got the same thing the first time he entered and then the second time they didn't give him any paperwork. Bike should be free, and if they don't give you any paperwork then you can stay as long as you like because no one will have any idea. I am contemplating leaving my bike here for a couple months then picking it back up. I might 'lose' my TIP and claim I never got one... could be interesting. If I do that I'll report back on how it went.

thanks! where you can ask the extencion?

We've kept our vehicle in Tanz for the last 4 years on carnets.
I don't recommend overstaying your carnet, even with another one in hand - we tried this once and almost got stung at the border - only when we emptied our pockets to demonstrate that we didn't have the $1200 they were demanding did they let us go - we heard of a few others who had stored at the sams place who had the same problems. It does depend on the border crossing choswn though - in general the larger ones are the most problematic. My advice would be to avoid both Namanga and Tunduma......
On entry/re-entry into Tanz we always just pay for 1 months road tax ($25 including a $5 one-off fuel surcharge) , then when we come to leave they inspect the receipt (don't lose it!) and tell us we must pay the additional months at $20/month for a private car. We are always very pleasant and smile a lot and tell them that we we're happy to pay - it seems to help.
Each border post has different proccesses for payment - for example at Taveta they have a cash office, at Loitoktok you need to go back into town to deposit the money at a bank.
They introduced the computerised system in about 2015, it hasn't really affected the process, just some of the paperwork has changed.

Thanks!
I left my motorbike some weeks ago in Dar.
I used the carnet and I had a permit until its expiry; I have not paid anything at the border because the motorcycles don't have to pay anything.
I will return in august... I hope everything will be ok!