Getting a Car

Getting a car here was so, so tough. I'm not complaining, because that's just how it is here, but I thought it would be interesting to read about the process.

First we had to raise money for a car. We prayed that God would provide the funds and He did! Through saving little by little and a few special donations over the past two years, we finally had enough to buy a cheap, used car.

About two months ago as we sensed we were getting close to being able to afford one, so we began looking for a car. We had originally hoped to have a Toyota Land Cruiser, because they are big for teams and strong on rough roads. But, the cost was way too high. So, we decided to set our sights on a smaller car. We were hoping for a four door, 5 seater (although we really wanted a seven seater) and most important 4 wheel drive. We were hoping to find one not too old or with too many kilometers in good running condition. As we began to look, it was clear we needed to be flexible. Cars that met all our needs were out of our price range.

We first had to research where to buy a car, in Tanzania or Kenya. If we bought it in Kenya, we would have to pay a high monthly fee at the border to keep our car in Tanzania as well as get extra insurance policies. Another option was ordering a car from Japan where they are cheap and have it imported to Tanzania. The big problem with that was dealing with customs at the port. We have heard horror stories of cars being held pretty much for ransom. You should be able to pay a set rate at the port, but it's not that easy. Corruption is rampant there so you never know how much you'll have to pay. That left us with buying a car in Tanzania.

Where does one go to find a car? Not to a used car lot, that's for sure. Why? There aren't any. Moshi is too small to have a car lot, new or used. There might be some in large cities, like Arusha or Dar es Salaam, but those are far. Plus, they tend to charge a lot. So, the only option is to buy from an individual. How do you find people selling cars? By word of mouth and by checking flyers posted at coffee shops and other places in town. Moshi is a small town so once we told a few people we were looking for a car, many were brought our way.

George probably saw over 30 cars. Some were just too old or in bad condition. Others were too expensive. Occasionally, George was shown the same car by different people. It's a small world here! We put an offer in on a few, but they fell through for a variety of reasons. One seller just disappeared and never followed through. Another car failed the mechanic inspection. One we really liked didn't have the taxes paid on it yet which would end up costing us a lot so it was a no go. George even went to Arusha a couple times to see some cars. He found a great one and agreed to return the next day to get it. On his way back to Moshi, the seller called and said he wanted $2000 more dollars! Needless to say, we couldn't afford that (and it was not right). It was devastating and frustrating. Another issue we ran in to is that some people wanted us to pay them when they showed us a car. What? Why would we do that? Some sellers hirer agents to sell the car and then they get a commission. Some tried to demand money from us too... after they brought the car. It was so discouraging at times. It felt like we would never find the right one.

And then we did! It's a 1999 Land Rover Discovery. It was everything we dreamed of: 4 wheel drive, 4 doors, strong, well kept, automatic,and there are two fold down seats in the back to make it a seven seater. One of the guys looking for a car for us called George one morning and brought it to our house. It looked good on first inspection so they talked price and quickly came to an agreement. Next George took it to a mechanic to make sure it was in good shape. Once we got the ok, George called a policeman friend to witness the transaction to make sure everything was done on the up and up. Then the deal was done! It was totally a God thing.

Before we could drive it, we had a few things to take care of: getting insurance, getting the registration up to date, transferring the title to our name and getting a general service done on it. As George worked on these things, a couple problems became apparent with the car. The brakes occasionally gave out and the car was overheating. That's the risk with buying a used car, especially here where many people can't afford to fix things the right way.

So, now we are in the process of getting it fixed. Moshi is too small to have a Land Rover mechanic. The mechanics here specialize in Toyotas which are the most common cars here. To find a Land Rover specialist, we have to go to Arusha which is two hours away. Lord willing, George will be able to go this week and get it all sorted out. We are praying it's an easy, cheap fix. Then we'll be able to maintain the car well and use it for many, many years to come.

So... that's how a person buys a car in Tanzania! We are so thankful for our new car. It will be a huge blessing to us as a family and as a ministry. Thank you to all who gave so this could happen. It's a miracle two years in the making.