Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1: Browse listings or submit a sourcing request. Step 2: We send a fully itemised quotation (vehicle + inspection + shipping + duty estimate). Step 3: Pay £500 holding deposit. Step 4: Complete KYC identity verification. Step 5: Sign the UK sale agreement via Signable. Step 6: Pay the balance. Step 7: Pre-export inspection conducted. Step 8: Vehicle exported and shipped. Step 9: You receive the Bill of Lading and live tracking. Step 10: Vehicle arrives at your port — your clearing agent handles local customs.

Typically 8–14 weeks from enquiry to port arrival. This breaks down as: 1–2 weeks for vehicle sourcing and inspection, 4–6 weeks for ocean freight, plus 1–3 weeks for UK admin and documentation. We provide a personalised timeline with every quotation.

No. The entire process is 100% remote. Documents are signed digitally, payments are made by bank transfer or Wise, and we coordinate all UK-side logistics on your behalf. Many of our customers have never visited the UK.

Yes. Our Bespoke Sourcing service lets you specify make, model, year, colour, specification, and mileage range. We search the UK market (auctions, dealer stock, eBay Motors, Japanese imports) on your behalf and present matching options within 5 working days.

A member of our team reviews your enquiry within 24 hours and sends a personalised, itemised quotation by email. The quotation includes vehicle price, our fee, inspection cost, ocean freight, marine insurance, and an estimated import duty figure for your destination.

We send the agreement via Signable, our electronic signature provider. You review the document on screen, type your name or draw your signature, and click to sign. No printing, scanning, or posting required. You receive a signed copy by email immediately.

KYC (Know Your Customer) is identity verification required under UK anti-money-laundering (AML) regulations. You submit a government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID card) and a proof of address (bank statement or utility bill dated within 3 months). It takes 10–30 minutes and is processed digitally within one business day.

Yes. Our Fleet service handles orders of 2+ vehicles. Volume discounts apply from 3 vehicles. See our fleet enquiry page or contact us directly for large orders.

Your quotation includes: vehicle price, our export service fee, pre-export inspection fee, ocean freight to your destination port, and marine cargo insurance. UK export documentation is included. Import duty, local clearance fees, and destination-side delivery charges are not included — these are paid at your end and vary by destination.

A minimum £500 holding deposit (10% of the vehicle price for vehicles over £5,000). This reserves the vehicle for 7 days. The deposit is deducted from your total balance.

Yes, if we are unable to source or confirm the vehicle. If you cancel after a vehicle has been purchased on your behalf, a cancellation fee applies to cover costs already incurred — this is detailed in your sale agreement before you commit.

International bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN) in GBP, or via Wise for competitive exchange rates. We do not accept cryptocurrency or informal cash payments.

Payments are processed in GBP. If you pay via Wise, you can send from your local currency account and Wise converts at near-market exchange rates. We lock the GBP total at signing so you know exactly what you owe.

No. Every fee is itemised in your quotation before you commit. There are no hidden charges on the UK side. You are responsible for import duty, local clearance fees, and any port-to-door delivery costs at your destination — these are estimated in your quotation but paid directly to your local authority/clearing agent.

Example: Toyota Hilux 2020 (55,000 miles) — vehicle £19,500 + shipping £1,750 + inspection £350 + insurance £250 = CIF ~£21,850. Barbados duty 45% = £9,832. VAT 17.5% = £5,543. Total estimated landed cost: ~£37,225. Always get a personalised quote as prices vary.

Example: Toyota Hilux 2020 (double cab, 2.4L diesel) — vehicle £18,500 + shipping £1,900 + inspection/PVOC £600 + insurance £350 = CIF ~£21,350. Kenya IDF 3.5% + Customs 25% + Excise 25% + VAT 16% + RDL 1.5% can push the effective tax rate to 70–90% of CIF. Budget £15,000–20,000 for duties on top.

We do not offer direct consumer financing. We work with UK trade finance providers for large fleet orders (10+ vehicles). For individual buyers, you arrange your own financing locally and pay us in GBP from your loan proceeds.

Import duty is calculated on the CIF value (Cost of vehicle + Insurance + Freight) by your destination country's customs authority. For example, if a vehicle costs £15,000, shipping is £1,800, and insurance is £200, CIF = £17,000. Duty at 30% = £5,100. VAT is then applied on top in most countries.

Caribbean: Antigua 5–10% (lowest), Barbados 45%, Jamaica 30%, Trinidad 30%, Bahamas up to 75% (highest). Africa: Botswana/Namibia 0–12% (SACU, lowest), Ghana 5–20%, Kenya effectively 70–90% on large engines, Nigeria 35%, Zimbabwe 40%. See our full duty table at windwardmotorgroup.com/context/duty-tables.

Yes. Most destinations restrict how old an imported vehicle can be. Common limits: Barbados 5 years, Jamaica 5 years, Trinidad 4–5 years, Guyana 8 years, Kenya 8 years, Tanzania 8 years, Uganda 8 years, Rwanda 10 years, Ghana 10 years, Zimbabwe 10 years, Nigeria 15 years. Our listing eligibility checker shows this automatically for your chosen destination.

You'll need (from us): original Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Export Certificate, V5C copy, Marine Insurance Certificate, and PVOC certificate where required. Your clearing agent prepares the import declaration and submits to customs. Specific requirements vary by destination.

PVOC (Pre-export Verification of Conformity) is a mandatory inspection certificate required by Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda before a vehicle can be imported. We arrange the PVOC inspection with UK-based authorised inspection bodies. Without a PVOC, the vehicle cannot be cleared at the destination port.

Yes, in several destinations. Barbados offers 0% import duty on pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Kenya exempts EVs from excise duty (which can save 25–35%). Mauritius offers reduced registration duty for EVs. Always confirm current rates with your destination authority — incentives change.

Most Caribbean islands and most African countries drive on the left — they use and prefer right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles, which UK cars naturally are. Exceptions needing left-hand drive (LHD): Belize, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos (Caribbean); Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal (West Africa). We source LHD vehicles through European auction partners for these markets.

Some countries offer duty relief for returning residents — South Africa is the best example (one vehicle duty-free after living abroad 12+ months, owning the vehicle 12+ months). Barbados and other Caribbean islands may have similar concessions — check with your destination customs authority. We can advise on documentation but cannot guarantee duty exemptions.

Yes. Every vehicle undergoes a pre-export inspection before shipping. We offer three tiers: Standard (50-point visual and mechanical check, £175–225), Advanced (100-point + OBD scan + paint gauge + underside check, £295–375), and Premium (full mechanical assessment + EV battery health + video walkthrough, £495–695).

100-point mechanical and visual check, OBD-II diagnostic scan (reads all stored fault codes), underside inspection on ramp (chassis, subframe, exhaust, suspension condition), paint thickness gauge readings at 20+ points to detect hidden bodywork repairs, fluid condition checks, and 30 dated photographs. Full written report from an accredited inspector.

CPO vehicles have passed our Advanced inspection, are HPI clear, have no write-off history, no outstanding finance, genuine mileage, and are under 5 years old. They carry the 'WMG Certified' badge and come with a 3-month mechanical warranty valid in your destination country through our partner network.

HPI is a UK database check that confirms: no outstanding finance (hire purchase/lease), not reported stolen, no total write-off (insurance CAT A, B, S, or N), no mileage discrepancy, and no VIN cloning. All vehicles listed on our platform have been HPI checked. Results are shown on each listing page.

JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles are sourced from Japanese auctions and the Japanese domestic market. They typically have lower mileage, excellent service history, and are right-hand drive. Condition is graded 1–5 by auction houses (5 = near-mint, 4 = excellent, 3 = good). We recommend Grade 4 and above for export.

Yes. If you have a UK-based contact or inspector, we facilitate access to the vehicle. You can run an independent inspection in addition to, or instead of, ours. We only ship once you are satisfied.

If a vehicle fails our minimum safety standards, we will not ship it. You can choose to: receive a full deposit refund, negotiate a price reduction and accept the vehicle knowing the issues, or ask us to source an alternative vehicle.

Yes. Every vehicle is HPI checked for outstanding finance before being listed. If a vehicle has outstanding HP or lease finance, it cannot be sold legally. We resolve or reject such vehicles before offering them.

All used UK vehicle types: passenger cars (saloon, hatchback, estate), SUVs, crossovers, pickup trucks (Hilux, L200, Ranger), commercial vans (Transit, Sprinter, Transporter), minibuses (HiAce, Sprinter), electric vehicles, luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover), and construction plant and HGVs for Africa.

For private buyers: Honda Fit / Jazz, Toyota Axio, Toyota Corolla Fielder, Nissan Note (compact, reliable, cheap to run). For commercial: Toyota Hilux, Ford Transit van, Toyota HiAce minibus. For premium: Range Rover Evoque, BMW X5, Land Rover Defender.

Toyota Hilux (single cab and double cab) is by far the most requested. Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series (75/76/79), Toyota Prado, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200, and Land Rover Defender are also in high demand. For passenger use: Toyota Fielder/Axio.

Yes. The Toyota Hilux is our most-requested vehicle. We stock or can source Hilux in single cab, extra cab, and double cab configurations. Popular spec: 2.4L or 2.8L diesel, 4x4, manual or automatic, Revo series. View current listings at windwardmotorgroup.com/listings.

Yes. EVs are a growing segment for Caribbean export. The Nissan Leaf is the most popular (affordable, reliable, wide range from 24kWh to 62kWh). Also popular: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota Prius PHEV, BMW i3, Hyundai Ioniq 5. Several Caribbean governments offer 0% or reduced import duty on BEVs.

Yes. Land Rover is one of the most requested premium brands. We can source Defender 90 and 110 (all years), Discovery 3, 4, and 5, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover (standard and LWB). UK is one of the best sources for Land Rover globally due to volume and pricing.

Yes. We regularly export Ford Transit (all variants), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter T6, and Toyota HiAce minibuses (9, 14, and 18-seat versions). High demand from taxi co-operatives, hotel fleets, and school transport operators in the Caribbean.

Vehicles are shipped by RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) or in a Full Container Load (FCL). RoRo is lower cost and suitable for standard vehicles. Container is recommended for high-value vehicles (over £35,000), electric vehicles (battery protection), classics, or vehicles with modifications.

Southampton, Bristol, Tilbury (East London), Grimsby, and Sheerness — depending on the route and vessel schedule. Most Caribbean routes depart Southampton or Bristol (Grimaldi Lines). Africa routes use Southampton or Tilbury.

Caribbean: 4–5 weeks. East Africa (Mombasa): 4–6 weeks via Suez Canal. West Africa (Tema/Lagos): 3–4 weeks. Southern Africa (Durban): 4–5 weeks. Island Africa (Mauritius/Seychelles): 5–7 weeks. Add transit to and from ports for total time.

Yes. After the vessel departs you receive your Bill of Lading reference and container/vessel number. You can track live voyage progress via your account dashboard. We also send WhatsApp notifications at: vessel departure, midpoint update, and port arrival.

All vehicles are covered under our open marine cargo insurance policy (Institute Cargo Clauses A — All Risks). This covers loss or damage from loading through to discharge at the destination port. In the event of a claim, we manage the UK-side process on your behalf.

For container shipments: personal effects up to 25% of container volume are permitted under UK export rules. For RoRo shipments: no personal effects are allowed in the vehicle. Any items placed in a RoRo vehicle may be removed by the port authority.

A Bill of Lading (BL or BoL) is the legal document issued by the shipping line confirming receipt of the vehicle for shipment. It acts as a title document — whoever holds the original BL can claim the vehicle at the destination port. We provide three originals; your clearing agent uses one to release the vehicle from the port.

Barbados applies 45% import duty plus 17.5% VAT, both calculated on CIF value. There is also an environmental levy (approximately 1%). Battery electric vehicles may qualify for 0% duty — confirm with the Barbados Revenue Authority. Barbados is RHD only (drives on the left). Maximum vehicle age: 5 years.

Jamaica applies 30% Customs Duty + 16.5% General Consumption Tax (GCT) + 0.5% Standard Compliance Fee, all on CIF value. Maximum vehicle age: 5 years from date of manufacture. Jamaica is RHD only (drives on the left). Kingston (KCT port) and Montego Bay accept vehicle imports.

Trinidad applies 30% import duty + 12.5% VAT on CIF value. There are age restrictions based on engine size — typically 4 years for passenger vehicles 1000–1999cc. Trinidad drives on the left — RHD vehicles. Point Lisas is the main vehicle port.

Antigua & Barbuda has some of the lowest import duty in the Caribbean, typically 5–10% with no VAT on vehicle imports. Cayman Islands is also very favourable with 0–12% and no income or sales tax. Anguilla and BVI are also low-duty destinations.

Yes. Cayman Islands has low import duty (0–12%), no VAT, and no age restriction. An import licence is required. The Cayman Islands drives on the left but uses left-hand drive vehicles (unlike most Caribbean islands). George Town harbour is the port of entry.

Yes. JDM vehicles are popular across the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. The Toyota Axio, Honda Fit, and Toyota Wish are among the most common JDM exports to Caribbean markets. Age restrictions apply — confirm the manufactured date complies with your island's rules.

The total landed cost depends heavily on engine size. A Toyota Hilux 2.4L diesel (2020): vehicle ~£18,500 + shipping ~£1,900 + PVOC/inspection ~£600 + insurance ~£350 = CIF ~£21,350. Kenya taxes: IDF 3.5%, Customs 25%, Excise 25% (2.4L petrol/diesel), VAT 16%, RDL 1.5%. Effective tax ~70–80% of CIF. Estimated taxes ~£14,900–17,000. Total landed ~£36,000–38,000.

Kenya's maximum age rule is 8 years from date of manufacture at time of first registration in Kenya. Importing in 2025, the vehicle must have been manufactured no earlier than 2017. The rule is calculated from manufacture date, not first registration abroad.

Yes. PVOC inspection (Pre-export Verification of Conformity) is mandatory for all vehicles exported to Kenya. The inspection must be conducted by a KEBS-accredited body in the UK before the vehicle is shipped. We arrange this as part of our service. Without a valid PVOC CoC (Certificate of Conformity), the vehicle cannot clear customs at Mombasa.

Ghana applies 5–20% Customs Duty (depending on vehicle category) + 15% VAT + 2.5% NHIL (National Health Insurance Levy). PVOC inspection is mandatory (GSA-certified). Ghana drives on the RIGHT and uses LHD vehicles. Maximum vehicle age: 10 years. Port of entry: Tema, near Accra.

Ghana drives on the right and uses left-hand drive vehicles, so RHD vehicles are not suitable for local Ghanaian road use. We source LHD Toyota Hilux and other LHD pickups from European auctions for Ghana-bound orders. We advise all buyers on driving side requirements when they enquire.

1. Vehicle sourced and inspected in UK including PVOC certificate. 2. Vehicle shipped from Southampton/Tilbury to Mombasa (4–6 weeks via Suez). 3. Original Bill of Lading and documentation sent to you. 4. Your clearing agent files the entry with KRA iCMS portal. 5. KRA assesses duty (IDF + Customs + Excise + VAT + RDL). 6. Duty paid, vehicle released from Kenya Ports Authority. 7. Vehicle transported to Nairobi or your location.

Yes. Botswana is a member of SACU (Southern African Customs Union) which means import duty can be as low as 0–12% — one of the lowest in Africa. There is no age restriction. Vehicles arrive via Durban port and are transported by road to Gaborone. An import permit may be required.

South Africa is primarily served through the returning resident / personal import channel — if you are a South African returning after living abroad for 12+ months and have owned the vehicle for 12+ months, you may import it duty-free. Commercial used car imports face very high duty (25–36%) and strict South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) restrictions. Contact us to assess your specific situation.

Yes. Our Fleet service is designed for orders of 2+ vehicles. Volume discounts apply: 5% at 2–4 vehicles, 8% at 5–9, 10% at 10–19, negotiated at 20+. A dedicated account manager, coordinated shipping, and a single consolidated agreement are included.

Taxi companies and co-operatives, minibus and shuttle operators, vehicle rental agencies, hotel resort fleets, NGOs and aid organisations (East Africa particularly), government departments and statutory bodies, construction companies (utility vehicles), and corporate employee transport providers.

Toyota Axio, Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Nissan Sylphy, and Mitsubishi Lancer are most requested. Requirements: RHD, under 5 years old, 1500cc petrol, automatic, fuel-efficient, low maintenance cost. Toyota HiAce minibuses for 9/14/18-passenger capacity.

Toyota Land Cruiser 79 pickup, Toyota Hilux double cab, Ford Ranger, and Land Rover Defender 110. Requirements: 4x4, diesel, high ground clearance, roof-rack compatible, snorkel, spare wheel carrier, and PVOC-certifiable for East African markets.

Yes. Our Dealer Programme allows approved local dealers to source UK stock at trade pricing. We manage the UK side; they manage resale and customer relations on their side. See windwardmotorgroup.com/dealers for the application.

Yes. We work with registered charities, NGOs, and humanitarian organisations purchasing field vehicles for East and Southern Africa. We are experienced with charitable importer documentation requirements in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Yes, for most destinations. A licensed customs broker (clearing agent) handles your import declaration, duty assessment, and vehicle release from the port. We can recommend experienced clearing agents in all 37 of our destination markets if you need one.

Your local transport or licensing authority handles registration. Requirements vary by country. We provide all required UK documentation (Export Certificate, V5C, PVOC where applicable, Commercial Invoice). Your clearing agent typically assists with the registration process.

Yes. Extended warranty packages are available for CPO and eligible standard vehicles, valid in your destination country through our partner workshop network. Ask us at enquiry stage — coverage options include 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month plans.

For CPO vehicles with active warranty, contact us and we coordinate with our local partner workshop network. For standard vehicles without warranty, you work with a local mechanic. Pre-export inspection reports are useful for mechanics to understand the vehicle's pre-shipment condition.

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