Question 1

What is the maximum age for importing a car to Kenya?

Accepted Answer

Kenya strictly enforces an 8-year age limit from the date of first registration (not manufacture date). As of 2026, only vehicles first registered in 2019 or later can be imported. Vehicles arriving after the deadline that don't meet this requirement will be rejected at the importer's expense.

Question 2

Can I import a left-hand drive (LHD) vehicle to Kenya?

Accepted Answer

No. Kenya strictly requires all imported vehicles to be right-hand drive (RHD). Left-hand drive vehicles are completely prohibited, with rare exceptions for special-purpose vehicles like ambulances, fire engines, or diplomatic vehicles, which require special prior approval.

Question 3

Can I import a salvage or written-off vehicle?

Accepted Answer

No. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) prohibits the importation of salvage vehicles, severely crash-damaged cars, or vehicles that have been declared a total loss in their country of origin.

Question 4

Where do most Kenyans import cars from?

Accepted Answer

The vast majority of used cars imported to Kenya come from Japan, due to their high quality, right-hand drive configuration, and affordable prices. Other popular sources include the United Kingdom, Singapore, and South Africa.

Question 5

What inspection is required before shipping?

Accepted Answer

All vehicles must undergo a pre-shipment roadworthiness inspection by a KEBS-approved agent in the country of origin. For Japan, the approved agent is JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center). For the UAE and South Africa, QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) is the designated agent. For the UK, both JEVIC and QISJ-affiliated agents operate — confirm with your clearing agent which applies to your specific port.

Question 6

How do I verify a car's real mileage before buying?

Accepted Answer

You should request the official QISJ or JEVIC inspection certificate. These mandated KEBS inspections actively verify the odometer reading against official export records to prevent mileage rollback fraud before the car is allowed to ship to Kenya.

Question 7

What is the difference between RoRo and Container shipping?

Accepted Answer

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) means the vehicle is driven directly onto the cargo ship's deck. It is cheaper but exposes the car to sea elements. Container shipping places the vehicle inside a sealed steel container, offering maximum protection from damage and theft, but at a significantly higher freight cost.

Question 8

How long does shipping to Mombasa take?

Accepted Answer

Transit times vary by origin. Shipping from Japan to Mombasa Port typically takes 30-45 days. Shipping from the UK takes approximately 26-30 days. Custom clearance upon arrival generally takes an additional 7-14 working days.

Question 9

How much does it cost to import a car to Kenya?

Accepted Answer

The total cost heavily depends on the vehicle's engine capacity and age. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should expect to pay approximately 70% to 100% of the vehicle's purchase price purely in duties, taxes, and port fees.

Question 10

What is the difference between FOB and CIF?

Accepted Answer

FOB (Free on Board) is the exact purchase price of the vehicle at the supplier's yard. CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) is the FOB price PLUS the cost of shipping (freight) and marine insurance. KRA's CRSP database lists the retail price of each vehicle as if brand new in Kenya — this price already has duties and VAT embedded in it. KRA back-calculates a pre-duty Customs Value from the depreciated CRSP, then compares it against your actual CIF. Taxes are applied on whichever is higher.

Question 11

What is the KRA CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) list?

Accepted Answer

To prevent importers from submitting fake, undervalued invoices to pay less tax, KRA maintains a benchmark 'CRSP' database. It lists the retail price of every vehicle as if it were brand new in Kenya. KRA compares your declared CIF against their Depreciated CRSP value, and charges taxes on whichever number is higher.

Question 12

How does KRA calculate my import taxes?

Accepted Answer

KRA uses a cascading formula based on the Customs Value. The CRSP is a Kenyan retail price that already has all duties and VAT embedded, so KRA first back-calculates a pre-duty equivalent: (CRSP ÷ 1.25) × (1 − depreciation) ÷ (1 + Import Duty rate) ÷ (1 + Excise rate) ÷ 1.16. Taxes are then applied on this figure (or your actual CIF, whichever is higher): 1) Import Duty (35%), 2) Excise Duty (10–35% on Customs Value + Import Duty), 3) VAT (16% on the cumulative total), 4) IDF Fee (2.5%, min KES 5,000), and 5) Railway Development Levy (2%).

Question 13

What is the Excise Duty rate for imported vehicles?

Accepted Answer

Excise duty scales steeply with engine size. Vehicles under 1500cc are charged 20%. Vehicles from 1501cc to 2999cc are charged 25%. Vehicles 3000cc and above (or Diesels 2500cc and above) are penalized with a massive 35% rate.

Question 14

What is the Import Duty rate?

Accepted Answer

Import Duty is charged at a flat rate of 35% (increased from 25% in recent legislation). It is the very first tax applied and is calculated directly against the Customs Value (which is the higher of the actual CIF or KRA's Depreciated CRSP).

Question 15

How is VAT applied to imported cars?

Accepted Answer

Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged at a standard rate of 16%. Crucially, it is calculated on the *accumulated* value, meaning it is applied to the Customs Value PLUS the Import Duty PLUS the Excise Duty. This compounding effect is why vehicle taxes escalate so quickly.

Question 16

What is the Import Declaration Fee (IDF)?

Accepted Answer

The IDF is a mandatory administrative fee charged by KRA at a rate of 2.5% of the Customs Value (minimum KES 5,000). This rate is confirmed in the official KRA CRSP Template 2025 spreadsheet. It must be paid when your clearing agent lodges the initial import documents into the iCMS system, often before the vehicle even arrives.

Question 17

What is the Railway Development Levy (RDL)?

Accepted Answer

The RDL is charged at 2% of the Customs Value. It was introduced by the government as a direct levy to fund the continuous development and maintenance of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network.

Question 18

Are electric or hybrid vehicles treated differently?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fully Electric Vehicles (EVs) are incentivized with a heavily reduced Excise Duty rate of 10% (compared to 20-35% for normal cars). Additionally, recent legislation has proposed zero-rating VAT for specific categories of green vehicles to encourage adoption.

Question 19

Are there duty exemptions for returning residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes, returning Kenyan citizens who have resided abroad for over two years and personally owned a right-hand drive vehicle for at least 12 months may qualify to import it completely duty-free. Diplomats and disabled persons also qualify for specific, heavily vetted KRA exemptions.

Question 20

Do I need a clearing agent at the port?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is legally mandatory. You cannot clear a vehicle yourself. You must hire a KRA-licensed customs clearing and forwarding agent. They have access to KRA's iCMS (Simba System) to lodge your entries, pay exact duties, and coordinate the physical port release.

Question 21

What documents do I need to clear the car?

Accepted Answer

To clear the vehicle, your agent requires: An approved Import Declaration Form (IDF), the Original Bill of Lading, the Commercial Invoice, the Pre-Export Inspection Certificate (JEVIC/QISJ), the original cancelled foreign logbook, your KRA PIN, and a copy of your National ID.

Question 22

What are the CFS (Container Freight Station) port charges?

Accepted Answer

Beyond KRA taxes, you must pay handling fees to the CFS holding your car. These include Verification fees (~KES 15K), Interpol clearance (~KES 15K), MSS Levy (~KES 2K), Radiation checks (~KES 1K), and the Clearing Agent's commission (KES 15K - 30K).

Question 23

How long can my car stay at the port?

Accepted Answer

Ports offer a brief free storage period (typically 7 days for containers, 21 days for RoRo). After this grace period expires, daily demurrage penalties apply, which accumulate rapidly. Delays in KRA processing can result in massive storage bills.

Question 24

How do I register my imported car with NTSA?

Accepted Answer

Once duties are paid and cleared out of iCMS, you must create a TIMS account on the NTSA portal. Your clearing agent uploads the C63 Customs document, foreign logbook, and KEBS certificate. After a verification process (7-14 days), NTSA assigns a Kenyan number plate and issues your electronic logbook.

Every question we've been asked — and a few you haven't thought of yet.