Importing a car looks like a purely financial decision — the price abroad against the price here — but it is really a decision about things that comparison doesn't show: the full landed cost, the time, and how repairable and resaleable the car will be in a market that may not know the model.
The right comparison isn't between two prices but between two total costs. Work out before deciding:
Add all of that up, then compare the result against a similar car listed locally on the car listings. Many people who do this comparison in full find the gap smaller than they imagined.
| The question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are parts for this model available locally? | A rare model means waiting and a higher price on every repair |
| Do workshops here know it? | Local familiarity shortens diagnosis and cost |
| What is its paperwork position in the source country? | Accident and ownership history must be verified before shipping |
| How long does the whole process take? | Time is part of the cost, and usually overlooked |
| Will I be able to sell it later? | A rare model is slower to resell and fetches less |
This point is overlooked more than any other. The car you buy today will be sold one day, and a local buyer values the model by local criteria: are its parts available, do workshops know it? An unfamiliar model sits on the market longer and sells for less — and that difference eats into the saving you imported for.
Inspect the car, or appoint someone to inspect it in the source country, before shipping, and verify the chassis number, accident history and ownership. A car that arrives with a problem you didn't find is a problem that's hard to solve remotely. See our chassis number guide and signs of accident damage.
Before starting the process, look locally for the same model or something close. A previously imported car listed here gives you the advantage of an import without its procedures or its risks, and you can inspect it yourself before paying — which is worth a price difference on its own.
Compare total costs rather than car prices, ask about parts availability and workshop familiarity before anything else, inspect before shipping, and factor resale difficulty into the decision rather than after it.
The right comparison is between two total costs, not two prices: the car, shipping, duties and procedures, any inspection or modification, registration, and your time. Many who calculate that in full find the gap smaller than they imagined.
Whether its parts are available locally and whether workshops here know it. A rare model means waiting and a higher price on every repair, and also slower resale at a lower price — which eats into the saving you imported for.
Before shipping, not after. Inspect it or appoint someone in the source country, and verify the chassis number, accident history and ownership. A car that arrives with a problem you didn't find is hard to resolve remotely.
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