Import a car to Kenya from Japan
Tell Cada the car you want. We find it at trusted Japanese exporters, check it against Kenya's 8-year rule, and show you every shilling of KRA duty, shipping and registration before you pay.
Request a car importHow import on request works
Tell us the car you want
Make, model, year range, budget and colour. One short form, signed in so we can reply privately.
We source and check options
We search BE FORWARD, SBT, Autocom and other Japanese exporters, check auction grades and mileage, and drop anything that fails the 8-year rule.
You see the full landed cost
Each option shows the car price, shipping, insurance, inspection, every KRA tax, port, clearing and NTSA registration in KES.
Ship, clear and register
Once you choose, the car is paid for, inspected and shipped RoRo to Mombasa, cleared through KRA and registered with NTSA in your name.
Typical timeline: about 8 weeks from payment to collecting your car.
The 8-year rule
Kenya admits used cars less than eight years from first registration on arrival. A car landing now must have been first registered in 2019 or later (arrival year minus 7). Shipping takes weeks, so a car that qualifies today can miss the window if it lands in January. We check the rule against the expected arrival date, not the purchase date.
KRA taxes on imported cars
- Import duty
- 35% of the customs value.
- Excise duty
- 20% up to 1500cc, 25% for petrol and hybrid up to 3000cc or diesel up to 2500cc, 35% above; charged on value plus duty.
- VAT
- 16% of value plus duty plus excise.
- IDF
- Import declaration fee, 2.5% of the customs value.
- RDL
- Railway development levy, 2% of the customs value.
KRA sets the customs value from its Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) list, less depreciation for age, not from what you paid in Japan.
Worked example: 2020 Toyota Harrier 2.0 petrol
FOB price $16,000 at USD 1 = KES 129.98, KRA CRSP KES 7,084,126. Taxes use KRA's CRSP method.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Car price in Japan (FOB) | KES 2,079,680 |
| Shipping to Mombasa (RoRo) | KES 272,958 |
| Marine insurance (1.5%) | KES 35,290 |
| Pre-shipment inspection (QISJ/KEBS) | KES 32,000 |
| Import duty (35%) | KES 455,990 |
| Excise duty (25%) | KES 439,705 |
| VAT (16%) | KES 351,764 |
| Import declaration fee (2.5%) | KES 32,571 |
| Railway development levy (2%) | KES 26,057 |
| Port and shipping-line charges (Mombasa) | KES 45,000 |
| Clearing agent | KES 35,000 |
| NTSA registration, plates and logbook | KES 25,000 |
| Cada import service | KES 153,241 |
| Estimated total in Kenya, registered | KES 3,984,256 |
Estimate only; rates last checked 2026-10-21. KRA's assessment at Mombasa and the exchange rate on the day decide the final figure.
Questions about importing a car
How long does it take to import a car from Japan to Kenya?
About 8 weeks from payment to collection: roughly a week to buy and inspect the car in Japan, three to five weeks at sea to Mombasa, then about a week for KRA clearance, port release and NTSA registration.
What is the 8-year rule for imported cars in Kenya?
Kenya only admits used cars that are less than eight years old from the year of first registration when they arrive (KS 1515). A car landing this year or next must be first registered in 2019 or later. Cada checks the rule against the expected arrival date before offering you a car.
How is import duty on a car calculated in Kenya?
KRA starts from the Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) list, takes off depreciation for the car's age, and works back to a customs value. On that value it charges 35% import duty, excise duty by engine size (20% up to 1500cc, 25% for most mid-size engines, 35% above), 16% VAT, a 2.5% import declaration fee and a 2% railway development levy.
Which exporters does Cada buy from?
We search established Japanese exporters such as BE FORWARD, SBT and Autocom for cars that match your brief, and send you the best options with photos, auction or inspection details and a full landed-cost estimate.
Is the landed cost a final price?
No. It is an estimate built from the current exchange rate, freight and KRA rates. KRA's own assessment at Mombasa decides the final tax, and exchange rates move. Every option shows the line-by-line estimate so you can see where the money goes.
Do I need an account to request an import?
Browsing this guide is open to everyone. To send a request we ask you to sign in, so we can share options, track your request and keep your details private.
Ready to import?
Send us the car you want. You will see options and a full cost estimate before you commit.
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