Shopping for A Automotive In South Africa As A FOREIGNER

So, the massive announcement is out! We’re formally driving throughout Africa in “Charlie,” our latest addition to The World Pursuit household. The 1989 Land Cruiser is superior!

He’s a workhorse, a 4×4 Tonka trunk outfitted with a bush bar, roof rack, and pull-out drawers. Nonetheless, shopping for a automotive in South Africa isn’t any easy job. Right here is our story.

UPDATE: WE SOLD OUR CAR IN AFRICA TOO! CHECK OUT THAT STORY HERE

**Please observe that we purchased a automotive in South Africa as a foreigner in 2016. Now we have tried to replace this web page as a lot as attainable, however some particulars and guidelines could have modified.

Like others, it’s possible you’ll be questioning what the truck price, so let’s simply get how a lot the associated fee out of the way in which.

Charlie price us a whopping 60,000 ZAR or about $4300 USD on the time of writing. 

By no means thoughts the associated fee, although. The problem right here was that we have been two People making an attempt to purchase a automotive in South Africa. I simply need to name the entire course of “a bureaucratic African nightmare.“

Right here is the start of our struggle to get our automotive.

We knew we wanted our personal automotive to journey by way of Africa the way in which we needed. We need to journey to distant locations and camp within the African bush. We need to see the villages and work together with the native folks deeper than what a standard overland journey provides. And we’re additionally planning to remain at some stunning lodges, in the course of nowhere Africa.

Shopping for a Automotive in South Africa

We set a price range, we transferred cash to our financial institution accounts, and we started to search for a automotive. We rented a automotive week after week in Cape City, in order that we might go to all of the dealerships situated within the space. We scoured the web and known as the professionals. After weeks of looking, we discovered our Land Cruiser that may get us by way of Africa.

He was unadvertised on-line and sat proper on the nook of Voortrekker Rd with a large signal that stated “4×4.” Truthfully, we have been simply on the correct highway on the proper time once we noticed him. We took the automotive for a take a look at drive and determined in was the correct automotive for the correct worth. It took us lower than an hour to appreciate he was the correct automotive for the job of getting us throughout Africa.

However that was all baby’s play.

For a foreigner to register a automotive in South Africa and get the title to the automotive, it is advisable current a Visitors Registration Quantity, or TRN.  A TRN should be utilized for on the Motor Automobile Division and might take anyplace from in the future to 6 weeks to course of. Whenever you apply for a TRN it is advisable herald (SAPS) licensed copies of your passport, worldwide driver’s license, and proof of everlasting tackle in South Africa. Sounds easy proper?

Properly, that is Africa so we knew getting into that getting this TRN could be something, however easy. We each have a legitimate common US drivers license, which, for people who don’t know serves as a global drivers license world wide. We had the worldwide drivers license, we used the tackle of the Airbnb we have been staying in Cape City, and we additionally had a 90-day vacationer visa for South Africa.

That’s the place the issue was – our vacationer visa. Earlier than vacationers might get a TRN with simply their stamped vacationer visa, however guidelines hold altering and that is now not the case. Now foreigners have to have a extra substantial visa – assume pupil visa, work visa, or just about something longer than a yr.

We determined to strive our luck with our vacationer visa anyway as a result of the method to get one other visa was an entire different deal in itself. We assumed that some luck and a very good lenient particular person on the Motor Automobile Division could be on our aspect. The primary lady on the Civic Heart in Cape City shot us down inside 30 seconds. “No visa, No TRN.” We tried once more at a special workplace a couple of days later, and Cameron satisfied the employees there that they need to take the appliance. They took it, stated all needs to be good and advised us to return again in 4 days.

4 days later and no TRN. “Strive tomorrow,” they stated. We have been working low on time; we needed to be out of South Africa in two weeks as our vacationer visas actually have been up. So being suggested by the visitors workers we tried the following day.

“We will’t discover your type, strive tomorrow,” they stated now. What on this planet? Now they claimed they’ve misplaced the shape.

Our stress ranges have been skyrocketing. We already discovered the right automotive, put a deposit down on him, and had the money in hand. We needed this automotive! We needed to drive ourselves round Africa!

We began to reassess our choices. Ought to we lease a automotive by way of Southern Africa? Ought to we simply resort to public transport? Ought to we abandon Hashtag Africa? Ought to we simply get the hell out of Africa and get our asses to Southeast Asia the place it’s straightforward to journey, low-cost, and the web is plentiful?

No. We should accomplish this job.

After 5 extra journeys again to the Visitors Division and plenty of agonizing nights, the South African Visitors Division ultimately denied our software and we misplaced all hope. The rejection was based mostly on the primary stamp in our passport that had an expiration date on once we might apply for such issues. Inevitably it was our fault that we waited too lengthy to use for this TRN. Nonetheless, once we landed in South Africa for the primary time we had no concept we have been going to need to purchase a automotive within the nation.  Even when we utilized the very first day we bought to South Africa I doubt they’d have given us the TRN on a vacationer visa, however I’ve heard of it occurring.

We went over our choices for find out how to purchase this automotive. We went by way of conditions time and again and ultimately got here to the conclusion that it was the automotive or public transport. With all of our costly electronics, we knew that public transport by way of Africa could be an actual drawback and would severely restrict us to solely touring in major cities. We defined our drawback to a few family and friends they usually requested us why don’t we simply lease a automotive to journey by way of Africa.

So, why don’t we simply lease a automotive for Africa?

Many individuals hold asking this query, and I consider it’s a honest query to ask if we have been solely in Africa for a month or two. Nonetheless, we’ve got been dreaming about touring Africa extensively and renting a automotive for that is simply not a viable possibility.

Right here is why:

Moreover South Africa, nearly each nation on our route requires a 4×4 automobile. We witnessed first hand simply how unhealthy the roads are in Mozambique when all we had was a 2×4. After a couple of weeks touring the nation in a Nissan Bakkie, we had had sufficient. We knew we wanted a 4×4 to get by way of Africa.

Have you learnt how a lot 4×4 rental prices on common all through Africa? $100/day on the very low finish. Wowza… Which means on simply our month lengthy trek by way of Namibia we might be searching for a rental for $3000! That’s only one nation we’re planning on going to! We plan on driving our Land Cruiser round for no less than six extra months.

Now math will not be my sturdy swimsuit, however by my calculations that may price us no less than $18,000. $14,000 greater than what our superb Land Cruiser price us – and that’s not together with petrol or the inevitable dings and scratches the automotive would get.

To not point out:

For each border you cross overland you want a letter from the proprietor of the automobile stating you can drive throughout the border. Nearly all rental automotive corporations cost anyplace from $50 to $150 per border crossing letter. That’s one costly piece of paper.

Talking of…

It’s attention-grabbing to know that any automotive rented within the Southern Africa nations typically don’t allow you to journey additional than Zimbabwe with a rental.  Now we have plans to go as far north as Ethiopia or Sudan so this isn’t an possibility for us.

Oh, yea and…

I actually hate coping with rental automotive corporations – particularly in Africa! I hate worrying about each little ding and scratch we could placed on the automotive. I hate excited about sleazy corporations having our bank card to cost no matter they need on. I hate all their lies and deceitfulness and little “extras” they attempt to make on each reserving.

We rented three separate automobiles in South Africa, and each single time we returned the automotive the rental firm tried to cost us for one thing ridiculous. The primary was once we rented our bakkie for 2 months with Hertz all through Mozambique, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. We introduced the automotive again fully unscathed, however they nonetheless tried to squeeze 300 Rand out of us to “clear the sand out of the ground mats.” Actually?

We rented a second automotive in Cape City with a not so nice firm known as “Hire a Cheapie.” What we had rented was certainly…a cheapie. After we introduced again the automotive to them in addition they bought 300 Rand out of us for a pin nail sized scratch on the hubcap. I’m satisfied this how they make their cash.

The third automotive we rented in Cape City was with SiXT, an organization I often desire to lease with everywhere in the world. After we introduced the automotive again after three weeks of driving they signed off the papers and stated we have been all good on the automotive. I checked my bank card assertion every week later they usually charged us for not having sufficient petrol within the automotive. This was false and even when we didn’t convey it again with the right amount – they’d already signed off that the gasoline was full upon return. Cue me making an attempt to take care of these expenses with my bank card in the course of the desert with poor connection.

If Charlie occurs to get a scratch on him? Oh effectively. Oops, we ran right into a ditch, springbok, or visitors cone. Let’s not fear about it. I cherish the liberty of getting our personal automotive.

Lastly

Now we have been driving the automotive for one week now and have already gotten two provides to purchase the automotive. It is a four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser in Africa. Or in different phrases, a very popular commodity. After we purchased Charlie we considered him as an funding. We bought a terrific deal on the automotive for $4300, and we hope to promote the automotive again for that a lot plus some (Replace – WE DID). Assuming we don’t fully whole Charlie, we’ve got each hope that we are going to no less than break even on the acquisition on the finish of the journey. We could cry on the finish when we’ve got to offer him up, however our pockets can be smiling once more.

Now, again to the bureaucratic African nightmare story

So that they denied our software for the TRN and we had now one week left to get out of South Africa. We turned our drawback to the web and despatched out one final e-mail that would make or break us.

We despatched an e-mail to the one folks we might belief in Cape City, Heye and Angela – the lodge homeowners of the gorgeous Travessia Seashore Lodge in Mozambique (the place we had stayed earlier this yr – extremely advocate!). We requested if they might register the automotive of their identify and fortunately they fortunately agreed! This grew to become our solely choice to drive the automotive out of South Africa, however clearly, this alternative might have solely been accessible with a South African that we fully trusted to not screw us over.

Though we paid for and acquired the automotive, the registration continues to be and can stay of their identify. To drive the automotive throughout borders we simply wanted a letter from the “proprietor” giving us energy of lawyer over the automobile. So we might drive it wherever we needed in Africa (keep in mind that $50 type the rental corporations attempt to get you with? You may write it your self…)

Our energy of lawyer letter just about said that Cameron has full energy over the automobile and he can drive it to every particular person nation we listed on the shape. The letter had the automobile engine quantity, registration quantity, and described the make and mannequin. The letter was then signed and notarized by Heye. We took the letter to be lamented together with the title of the automobile and a replica of Heye’s passport.

So, three days later and after months of stress, fear, uncertainty, and researching we lastly had our very personal wheels and it felt GOOD. Now time to get the hell out of South Africa. We left Cape City feeling nice as we made our approach north to Namibia with Charlie. We had been in South Africa a complete of 87 days and had a 90-day vacationer visa – so though there was a lot extra to be explored we felt comfy leaving. Till we bought to the border.

“You’ve overstayed your visa, you’re each undesirable to this nation,” stated the customs officers.

What was presupposed to be a fast exit simply grew to become an difficulty? I knew what she was referring to; she was referring to the three-month date from once we FIRST entered South Africa. I attempted to elucidate to her that we had traveled into Mozambique, Lesotho, and Swaziland and had entered and exited South Africa on three separate events. That didn’t matter although we had 90 days in South Africa for the reason that very first time we entered, the clock didn’t begin and cease each time you exited and re-entered.

Striving to be a journey planning perfectionist, I researched this earlier than this dilemma. There was little to no data on-line – even on the federal government web site. The one data I discovered was in an outdated Lonely Planet discussion board saying you can enter and exit and it didn’t depend in opposition to your 90 days.

“However there isn’t any data anyplace in your authorities website that claims what we did was prohibited,” I pleaded together with her.

Her response was the everyday African response that I nonetheless can’t inform if I hate or love. “Sure I do know the data may be very imprecise, however that’s simply the way in which it’s.”

I’ve by no means overstayed a visa. Even by way of the Schengen Zone in Europe I at all times make sure that to depart earlier than my 90 days are up. I do know that Cameron and I didn’t do our due diligence on the matter and broke the foundations in South Africa, unintentional or not. Now what?

Cameron and I are actually labeled “Undesirables” to South Africa and will not be permitted to enter once more till who is aware of when. I really feel a bit like Snowden within the US. Undesirable (and way more). Good factor we’ve got tons extra of Africa to discover!

Replace 2023!

We get many emails from folks asking us find out how to journey round Southern Africa and do what we did. Please observe this publish was initially revealed in 2016, although we attempt to replace yearly. Sadly, we can not assist you to purchase your personal Charlie, and in the event you e-mail us we'll direct you proper again to this weblog publish for additional data as we've got famous every part that we all know right here. Listed below are a few of our commonest questions answered. 

• Insurance coverage: We get a number of questions on insurance coverage for our automotive. We had an outdated 1989 Land Cruiser, so we selected to not cowl the automotive for damages. For legal responsibility insurance coverage, we paid for COMESA. A 3rd occasion insurer that works in lots of African nations. It’s a must to purchase this at an area insurance coverage firm and you’ll have to do your analysis and due diligence to discover a appropriate one. If you happen to don’t have COMESA third occasion insurance coverage can sometimes be purchased on the border of the nation you’re coming into. We purchased ours in at Madison Normal in Lusaka about two months after we left South Africa.
• We frequently get requested if we had any border points with our paperwork. We solely had two points with our paperwork in Africa. One was on the Kariba/Siavonga border on the Zimbabwe aspect. They said that we wanted a police clearance letter stating that the automobile was not stolen to get out of Zambia. You don’t want this and we knew it so we held our floor for about half-hour till they ultimately allow us to go. They have been certainly searching for a bribe right here which you’ll encounter time and time once more overlanding Africa. The opposite was on the Kazungula Ferry crossing once we have been leaving Botswana to go to Zambia. They insisted on a police clearance letter to depart Botswana. They have been insistent at first so we gave up, and tried an hour later once more and the official didn’t ask for one. All of it depends upon who you’re coping with in Africa. There are not any official guidelines! If in case you have time and are frightened it doesn’t harm to go to the police station and get this clearance letter earlier than you permit South Africa.
• If you recognize you need to purchase a automotive in South Africa begin the method as quickly as you’ll be able to. A lot of our state of affairs was disturbing as a result of we had waited so lengthy after arriving within the nation.
• We obtained a number of “fines” whereas driving throughout Africa. All fines have been paid on the spot and might vary anyplace between $4-$30. Don’t count on them to mail you your wonderful within the mail outdoors of South Africa. If you happen to don’t have money on you to pay your wonderful likelihood is they may accompany you to an ATM or police station to pay it proper there. Except in fact woman luck is in your aspect and also you sweet-talk your approach out of paying.
• We discovered essentially the most crooked police to be in Tanzania. 
• If in case you have extra questions the “Overlanding Africa” Fb group is a superb useful resource.
• We have been capable of re-enter South Africa. In 2019 we lastly returned to South Africa and it felt superb to be again within the nation. We employed a lawyer to get our ban lifted. After we flew into Johannesburg in October 2019 we have been stopped by border officers. They knew we had overstayed and we have been dropped at a backroom. We confirmed them the letter stating that we have been allowed to re-enter the nation and off we went! We additionally returned once more 2022, and entered the nation with out issues. What can we are saying? We love South Africa!
• Above all keep in mind…that this was our expertise shopping for a automotive in South Africa. Everybody’s hassles and joys can be completely different and what labored for us could not be just right for you. You’ll probably have a number of trial and error like we did. It may be very time intensive making an attempt to work across the paperwork right here. A very powerful factor to remember is that That is Africa and there are not any laborious set guidelines for something, however you’ll discover that out alongside the journey.

If you happen to’re up for a really lengthy learn here’s a detailed account of our complete journey throughout Africa.

Cross-Border Letter Instance

We get a ton of questions and emails in regards to the cross-border letter and registering the automotive in somebody’s identify. Severely, it’s no less than a few emails and messages every week.

To reply everybody’s query. You’re making a authorized doc known as “Energy of Lawyer” that offers you rights over the automobile, corresponding to driving it over borders or taking it to a mechanic. Sure, it must be licensed by a commissioner of deeds or a notary.

You do not want to be current for this, however whoever has the automotive legally filed below their identify does. I’ve connected a clean border letter that we created and used. It by no means introduced any issues, however use it for example template at your personal discretion.

Journey South Africa