A used car imported to Kenya must be right-hand drive and no more than eight years old from its year of first registration. In 2026 that means a car first registered in 2019 or later. You pay import taxes on its customs value before it can be released and registered.
The steps
- Confirm that the year of first registration and drive side qualify before you pay anything.
- Estimate the full cost, including the purchase price, shipping, insurance, taxes, clearing and registration.
- Buy the car and arrange the pre-shipment inspection required for KEBS.
- Ship it, and keep the bill of lading, invoice, export certificate and inspection certificate together.
- Have a clearing agent lodge the documents with KRA, and pay the taxes before release.
- Register the car with NTSA to get a Kenyan logbook.
The taxes
You pay import duty, excise duty, VAT, the Import Declaration Fee and the Railway Development Levy. KRA calculates them on the customs value of the car, and some taxes build on others, so the total can be a large share of the price abroad.
Buying locally instead
Importing takes time and carries the risk of buying a car you have not seen. Compare your landed cost with foreign used cars that are already in Kenya, which you can inspect before paying.
Common questions
- How old can an imported used car be in Kenya?
- No more than eight years old from the year of first registration. KEBS applies the rule by calendar year, so check the cut-off before you buy.
- Can I import a left-hand-drive car to Kenya?
- Generally no. Kenya admits right-hand-drive vehicles, so confirm any exemption with KEBS and KRA before you buy.
Read next: Foreign used cars for sale · Foreign used vs locally used
This guide is general information, not financial, legal or insurance advice. Rates and rules change, so confirm them with the relevant provider or authority before you commit.