Kenya is the largest buyer of Japanese used cars in East Africa, and the process is well established — but it is unforgiving on one point: the eight-year rule. Get that right and the rest is administration. This guide walks through importing a car from Japan to Kenya in 2026, from choosing the vehicle to registering it in Nairobi.
Step 1: Check the Eight-Year Rule First
Kenyan law caps imported vehicles at eight years from the year of first registration, measured when the vehicle arrives in Mombasa rather than when you buy it. A car built in 2017 can no longer be imported, and one bought close to the boundary can fall outside the window if the vessel is delayed. Always confirm the arrival date against the year before you commit to anything.
Right-hand drive is also compulsory, which suits Japanese domestic stock perfectly — the cars are already built for a left-side-driving country.
Step 2: Choose the Vehicle
Kenyan buyers tend to favour reliability and parts availability. The Toyota Probox dominates commercial use, the Premio and Axio cover private and taxi work, and the Fielder, Nissan Note and Mazda Demio fill the economical end of the market. Whatever you choose, ask for the auction sheet with the Japanese annotations translated — the condition marks tell you far more than the grade alone.
Step 3: Book the QISJ or JEVIC Inspection
Every used vehicle bound for Kenya must pass a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity inspection in Japan, carried out by a KRA-appointed agent such as QISJ Kenya or JEVIC. The inspector checks roadworthiness, lighting, seatbelts, tyres and that the odometer reading is genuine. If you skip this step the car cannot clear at Mombasa, so it belongs in the shipping schedule rather than at the end of it.
Step 4: Pay and Ship to Mombasa
Payment is normally by bank transfer against a proforma invoice. Once it clears, the de-registration and export certificate are applied for, and the vehicle is cleaned and delivered to the port. RO/RO sailings from Japan reach Mombasa in roughly 25 to 35 days. You receive the Bill of Lading, export certificate, commercial invoice and inspection certificate as they are issued.
Step 5: Clear and Register
Your clearing agent in Mombasa files the Import Declaration Form and the entry. The Kenya Revenue Authority assesses duty on the CIF value, adds excise duty based on engine capacity, 16% VAT, the Import Declaration Fee and the Railway Development Levy, depreciating the value according to the vehicle's age. After release, NTSA carries out its inspection and the vehicle is registered.
What It Costs, Line by Line
- FOB price in Japan — the vehicle and everything needed to load it, quoted in USD by us.
- Freight and marine insurance to Mombasa.
- KRA import duty on the CIF value, excise based on engine capacity, 16% VAT, IDF and RDL.
- Clearing agent fees, port storage and transport to your town.
- NTSA inspection and registration once the car is released.
Duty is the biggest variable and it is assessed by KRA, not by us, so treat any estimate as an estimate. Send us the model, year and engine capacity and we will set out what you should budget for each line before you buy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a car that is already at the edge of the eight-year window, then losing it to a delayed sailing.
- Skipping the pre-export inspection, or assuming it is optional.
- Leaving loose items inside a RO/RO vehicle — shipping lines prohibit it and customs treat it as undeclared cargo.
- Forgetting that the transit port matters if the car is going on to Uganda, Rwanda or South Sudan.
- Under-budgeting the duty and clearing costs and being unable to take delivery at the port.
Start Your Kenyan Import
Tell us the model, year, budget and the town the car will be used in, and we will come back with cars that fit the eight-year rule, a landed-cost estimate for Mombasa and the inspection slot confirmed. Nothing is bought until you approve it.
Read our full Kenya export page
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