![]() I bought a car! It's a two-door 1997 Toyoto RAV4. Japanese cars are by far the most popular here and there are a lot of companies that import used cars from Japan. While this car is definitely old, because so many people here drive Toyotas, and RAV4s in particular, it's really easy for mechanics to work on them and replace parts where needed. A Ugandan friend helped me find a trustworthy car dealer and negotiated on my behalf in an attempt to avoid Muzungu prices. Before deciding to buy the car, I had Jon, a mechanic frequently used by a few CHAI staff check out the car so I knew what I was getting myself into. He said that while the car was definitely old and needed some routine maintenance, it would do the job. The car dealer agreed to fix a few things that Jon pointed out needed to get done right away (new front windshield, new spark plugs, new air filter, fixing the A/C, adjusting the drive belt, and a few other small fixes). ![]() The purchasing process took a full weekend because I paid in cash and had to deal with daily ATM withdrawal limits. I've never paid millions of dollars (read: shillings) for anything before! Even with the conversion rate, this has been the biggest purchase of my life. And it's one that didn't allow for my usual few hours of internet research...yes, I spent more time thinking about buying a mop than this car... Expats come and go so often, that I'm not too worried about selling my car at cost when I leave Uganda. If I can keep it in good shape, I may even be able to make a small profit - we'll see! I consulted a few of the CHAI drivers and other expats here before going through with everything to ensure that I understood what I needed - a sales agreement, receipts for everything (since I was going through a dealer), and the log book which changes hands with each owner. Because I don't have a work permit, I can't legally put property under my name. Since obtaining a work permit can take months, and in some cases, up to a year, I'm here on a "special pass" which is like a 3 month temporary work visa. So, like most of the other expats in the office, my car is registered under my coworker's TIN (tax identification number) Number. TIN Numbers (yes, that's repetitive) are used during any official transfer or registration of vehicles and/or land. After leaving my car with Jon for a few days to really make sure everything was good to go, we gave the car a real test by taking it up to Sipi. We survived the weekend journey safe and sound! I'm excited to have the freedom to get around the city more easily - having a car makes getting together with friends, doing groceries, and running errands SO much easier. While I'll still do my fair share of boda riding, come rainy season, I'll be really glad I have some wheels of my own.
Eileen
1/27/2016 03:31:12 pm
That's crazy! It took us years to decide on buying a car! Does US insurance cover there? Driver on right?
Justine
1/28/2016 11:20:19 am
The car is insured here in Uganda and we drive on the left here. It has actually felt more natural than I expected since I have been riding in cars so much while here anyways. What I constantly mix up though are the turn signal / windshield wipers.
Tiffany
1/29/2016 03:14:07 pm
You are crazy! The car is a bit old so chances of breaking down is high, please be safe and always travel with someone. Please someone know when you leave town, stay save ! Love mom
Shannon
2/7/2016 10:12:22 am
Cool car Justine!
Emily
2/14/2016 08:17:23 pm
Love the new wheels!!! 9/27/2016 01:12:27 pm
Nice to know this information. I like that you shared the detail so that the people around you can get an idea how they can do it. It always helps to share these ideas and many people in the area use to follow the same way for buying an old car. Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm eager to learn about the world around me and find that travel (and food) is one of my favorite ways in which to do so. Archives
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