I’ll be honest.
Before I started this process, I didn’t trust car importers.
I had heard too many stories — people paying deposits and then being ghosted, cars arriving in worse condition than expected, hidden costs showing up at the last minute. It just felt like one of those things where you either get lucky… or you learn the hard way.
But I still wanted to import my own car.
I had been looking at Mazda CX-3s for a while. They fit my budget, They looked good - perfect compact cross SUV for Nairobi ladies.
The problem was: I didn’t know who to trust.
The First Conversation
When I reached out to Kalida Motors through a referral, I expected the usual:
- Quick answers
- Send deposit demands
But it wasn’t like that.
They slowed things down.
They asked about my budget, what I wanted in a car, shared car samples and then walked me through the process — including the parts that normally go wrong.
That stood out.
They didn’t try to make it sound easy.
They made it sound real.
Seeing the Numbers Changed Everything
One of the biggest fears I had was hidden costs.
So when they broke everything down, it caught me off guard:
- Auction price
- Shipping(They called it CNF - Cost and Freight)
- Taxes (with a great estimate from KRA, not a guess)
- Their service fee
Nothing was hidden.
At first I thought, “Why are they telling me all this?”
Then it clicked — this is exactly what I needed to feel in control.
Sending the Money (The Part No One Talks About)
This was the hardest step.
When it was time to commit and pay for the car, I hesitated.
Because this is where people get scammed.
You send money… and hope for the best.
I remember just sitting there thinking:
“If this goes wrong, there’s no undo button.”
But by then, I had seen enough structure — clear breakdowns, proper communication, documentation — so I went ahead.
Still nervous though.
I paid my deposit of 150k towards the purchase of the car which was inclusive of the total car cost + shipping.
The Bidding Process (This Is Where It Got Real)
After the deposit, the next step was the auction process.
This part was actually more collaborative than I expected.
They would share different cars available on auction, and we’d go through them together.
Not just pictures — actual auction sheets.
We’d review:
- condition reports
- grades
- any visible issues
- and whether the car made sense for my budget
There was no pressure to rush.
We only moved forward with cars I was comfortable with.
That gave me a lot of confidence, because I felt involved in the decision — not just being told what to buy.
After a few attempts…
We finally landed the car.
And that moment felt like a small win already.
Paying the Balance
Once the car was secured, the next step was paying the remaining balance.
This is another part I was nervous about.
But what reassured me was how it was handled.
The payment wasn’t made to Kalida.
It was made directly to the supplier in Japan via Bank SWIFT.
That reduced a lot of anxiety for me.
Everything was clearly documented and I knew exactly where the money was going.
At that point, the process started to feel even more real.
The car was no longer “an idea”.
It was mine.
The Waiting Period
This part plays with your mind.
Even when things are moving, you still feel like you’re in the dark.
But this is where Kalida did something I didn’t expect.
They gave me a tracking page.
Not just WhatsApp updates.
An actual page where I could see:
- What stage the car was at
- What had been completed
- What was currently happening
- What was coming next
I stopped asking:
“Any updates?”
Because I could already see them.
That reduced a lot of stress.
Paying the Taxes (This Was Surprisingly Smooth)
When the car got closer to arrival, I was guided on how to handle KRA taxes.
This is another area where I expected confusion.
But they walked me through it step by step.
I was given:
- The KRA e-slip
- Clear instructions on how to pay
I paid through the bank using the correct reference number (something I would have definitely messed up on my own).
Clearance (This Was Completely Handled)
Once the car arrived in Kenya, the next step was clearance.
This is another part I had heard can be stressful — paperwork, port processes, delays… all the things I didn’t fully understand.
But in my case, it was very straightforward.
I was informed of the clearance cost, made the payment and that was it on my end.
They handled everything else.
No running around. No back and forth. No confusion.
They managed documentation, port processes and coordination required to release the car.
I was just updated on progress as things moved.
At that point, I realized how important it is to have someone who actually understands this part of the process.
Because if I had to figure it out on my own, it would have been overwhelming.
Instead, it just flowed.
Insurance (Something I Almost Overlooked)
We had been planning on this for the longest while the car was being shipped - comparing insurance premiums and providers.
They broke it down simply:
- What comprehensive insurance covers
- Why it made sense for a newly imported car - for sure, their guidance came in handsomely when I needed it - story for another day.
- What I should expect cost-wise
That helped me make a quick decision without overthinking it.
The Day It Was Delivered
This is the part I’ll never forget.
I expected to go pick up the car in Mombasa but unfortunately time just couldn’t allow.
Instead, they brought it to my home.
I remember hearing the car vroom outside… and my heart just warmed up and started racing.
When I stepped out and saw it — my car — I just froze for a second.
It was clean. Exactly how I imagined it. Maybe even better in person.
But what I didn’t expect… was the effort they put into the delivery.
The car was beautifully decorated - my pretty Miss Athena
There were flowers.
Actual flowers.
I just stood there smiling like a child. I couldn’t even hide it.
And honestly… in that moment, it felt true.
After all the anxiety, the waiting, the overthinking…
That moment made everything worth it.
It didn’t feel like a transaction.
It felt like an experience.
What I Actually Paid For
Looking back, I didn’t just pay for a car.
I paid for:
- Clarity before I committed
- Guidance when I was unsure
- Structure throughout the process
- Updates that reduced anxiety
- Support in areas I didn’t understand (like taxes and insurance)
- And a delivery experience I’ll never forget
Because the biggest stress wasn’t the money.
It was the uncertainty.
Would I Do It Again?
Yes.
But only if the process feels like this.
Because now I understand something clearly:
Importing a car is not the hard part, doing it without structure is.
And that’s where the difference is.
I highly recommend Kalida Motors!
Fine people those ones!