A common question from East African buyers is simple: what can I get for $5,000? Here is a straight answer from our own stock as of September 2026, with the prices delivered to Mombasa.
"Delivered" here means the car price plus ocean freight to Mombasa, rounded up to the next $500. It does not include import duty, taxes, clearing or transport inland to Kampala or Dar es Salaam. Those can add a lot, so read the cost section at the end before you choose.
For Uganda and Tanzania: 75 Cars Under $5,000
Our site's checker shows no strict age limit for Uganda and Tanzania, so 75 of our cars come in under $5,000 delivered to Mombasa. They fall into four groups.
Kei Vans (the cheapest)
- Suzuki Every: 26 units, about $2,000–$4,000. A small closed van, mostly 4WD. See the Every guide.
- Daihatsu Hijet Cargo: 1 unit, about $3,000.
Kei Trucks
- Suzuki Carry: 16 units, about $2,000–$3,500. A small pickup, mostly manual 4WD. See Every vs Carry.
Small Family Cars
- Toyota Tank (2019): 3 units, about $3,500–$4,500. See the Tank guide.
- Daihatsu Move (2018–2019): 2 units, about $3,500–$4,500. See the Move guide.
- Suzuki Wagon R (2019): 3 units, about $2,500–$3,500.
- Nissan Note, Nissan March, Nissan Cube, Toyota Aqua, Suzuki Swift: single units from about $2,000 to $5,000.
Older Family Vans and SUVs
- Toyota Noah and Voxy (2011–2012): about $3,500–$5,000.
- Mazda CX-5 (2013): about $3,500–$4,000.
- Nissan Serena, Toyota Wish, Mazda Premacy: single units from about $2,000 to $4,000.
Older family vans are the cheapest way to get 7–8 seats, but they are older cars with more wear, so check the auction sheet carefully.
For Kenya: 15 Cars Under $5,000
Kenya only allows cars up to 8 years old, which in 2026 means 2018 or newer. That cuts the list down to 15 cars under $5,000 delivered to Mombasa:
| Car | Year | Delivered to Mombasa |
|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Wagon R (3 units) | 2019 | about $2,500–$3,500 |
| Suzuki Every (3 units) | 2019–2020 | about $2,500–$4,000 |
| Mazda Flair | 2019 | about $3,000 |
| Suzuki Carry | 2018 | about $3,000 |
| Suzuki Hustler | 2019 | about $3,500 |
| Toyota Tank (3 units) | 2019 | about $3,500–$4,500 |
| Daihatsu Move (2 units) | 2018–2019 | about $3,500–$4,500 |
| Suzuki Swift | 2019 | about $5,000 |
If you can stretch to $8,000, the Kenya list grows to 27 cars, including Corolla Fielder hybrids. See the Fielder guide and the Kenya guide.
What You Still Have to Pay
The delivered price is only part of the cost. On top of it you will pay:
- Import duty and taxes in your country. These are usually calculated on the car's value and engine size, and can be a large share of the total.
- Extra levies on older cars: Uganda charges an environmental levy on older vehicles, and Tanzania charges extra excise duty on cars over a certain age. A cheap old car can end up costing more in tax than a slightly newer one.
- Port, clearing and agent fees in Mombasa.
- Inland transport to Kampala, Dar es Salaam or your town.
- Insurance during shipping, if you want it.
Always ask your clearing agent for an estimate on the exact car before you pay for it. Our landed cost guide shows how to add it all up.
Next Step
Prices change as cars sell. Send us your budget and country on WhatsApp and we'll send you the current list, or browse all cars on the cars page. Country guides: Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya.