A personal import is not automatically the best choice for everyone. The right option depends on whether you value immediate availability or greater control over the cost structure.
Why dealer vehicles can cost more
A dealer's selling price may need to absorb more than the vehicle itself:
- Vehicle import cost
- Finance cost on money tied up in stock
- Tax on taxable profit
- Business overheads
- Dealer margin
What a personal importer typically pays for
- The vehicle
- Shipping
- Import duties and taxes
- A transparent service fee
When personal importing can make sense
- You know the exact vehicle and specification you want
- You are prepared to wait for the right unit
- You want greater transparency over every cost
- You want to reduce unnecessary price layers
- You prefer value over immediate availability
The dealer advantage: convenience
A dealer vehicle is already in Sri Lanka, can often be inspected immediately and does not require you to wait for sourcing, shipping and customs clearance.
Worked example from our published comparison
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| CIF value | Rs. 7,717,500 |
| Import duty and SSCL | Rs. 10,560,000 |
| Clearing charges | Rs. 80,000 |
| Bank documentation | Rs. 50,000 |
| Service charge | Rs. 150,000 |
| Total personal import cost | Rs. 18,557,500 |
| Comparable dealer price | Approx. Rs. 19,700,000 |
| Illustrative difference | Rs. 1,142,500 |
This published example used a 2026 brand-new Honda Vezel Z Premium. It also illustrated financing assumptions of 18% per annum for short-term borrowing and estimated total financing cost of Rs. 517,500 before overheads, tax on profit and dealer margin.
This is an illustrative historical example, not a current quotation. Vehicle prices, exchange rates, duties and financing costs can change.
Import with Confidence.
Talk to our team for no-obligation guidance on sourcing, landed cost, documentation and next steps.