Buying a car in Ethiopia

Member since 02 June 2014

KenjeeViP02 October 2015 07:53:18

19610

Hi,

To be able to move in Ethiopia, a lot of expatriates think of buying a car, whether new or second-hand.

What are the formalities to buy a vehicle in Ethiopia: car registration, insurance, etc.?

What are the relevant authorities or organizations to contact?

How long does it take and what are the associated costs?

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience,

Kenjee

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David Blogs Member

Member since 20 February 2015

David BlogsMember05 October 2015 09:13:01

Unless desperate dont buy car. Use mini-bus or taxis or hire car or walk.

Davidaz68 New member

Member since 30 July 2015

Davidaz68New member05 October 2015 12:01:37

There are some problems if you need a car here:
- prices are crazy. The new cars have a tax reaching up to 260% and used car are usually veeeery used. When they see you are an expat prices automatically double!
- if you plan to import some spare parts from abroad you are immediately stopped at the custom and taxes can be higher than the price of the parts
- internationaldriving licences are officially not accepted and you can have some problem with the police. Getting an ethiopian licence is becoming difficult and very expensive
- if you have an accident and you kill somebody (not a remote possibility seen the people suddenly crossing unlighted roads at nights or sleeping on the edge of the road) you go directly to jail risking several years in prison
-on up side, taxis are getting expensive and seen the average condition and age of the cars is not riskless. Taxi-Minivans, well i don t even want to think about it.
Enjoi addis!

abibi Member

Member since 17 September 2011

abibiMember05 October 2015 13:08:03

I am totally agree with David!!!!
Take patient and money!!!

adisadvisor Active member

Member since 18 March 2014

adisadvisorActive member05 October 2015 17:40:14

Car prices are crazy. We have a 25 yr old hiluxe.
Bought it in 2002 for 120000 birr. Nnow worth double that ie 12000 dollars.

Said2321125 Member

Member since 27 December 2016

Said2321125Member27 December 2016 07:14:48

What are the process, when someone buy duty free car?

adisadvisor Active member

Member since 18 March 2014

adisadvisorActive member10 January 2017 10:57:16

I dont know...but like all Ethiopian bureaucracy it will not be easy but if you have duty free status your employer will have staff to do these things..