How to import a car from Japan to Kenya in 2026: steps, timeline and total cost

Figures checked on 29 October 2026.

Importing a car from Japan is the most common way Kenyans get a newer used car. But the price you see on a Japanese website is often only about half of what you finally pay. This guide walks through each step, how long it takes, and a worked cost example with sources for every figure.

Step 1: Pick a car that passes the 8-year rule

Kenya admits used cars up to eight years old, counted from the year of first registration, under the KEBS standard KS 1515:2000. For cars arriving in 2026, only right-hand-drive cars first registered on or after 1 January 2019 are allowed (Kenyans.co.ke, November 2025). KEBS said 2018 cars arriving after 31 December 2025 would be rejected (Nairobi Leo, February 2026).

What counts is when the car arrives, not when you buy it. The cut-off has moved forward each January, so a 2019 car bought late in 2026 that lands in 2027 may be refused. Confirm the current cut-off with KEBS before you pay.

Step 2: Buy at auction or from dealer stock in Japan

• Auction: you normally need an exporter or agent with auction membership to bid for you. You get the auction sheet (the inspector's condition report), and prices can be lower, but you carry more risk if the car is not as described.
• Dealer stock: export dealers list cars with photos and a fixed FOB price (the price at the Japanese port, before shipping). It is quicker and simpler, and the dealer's margin is built in.

Either way, ask for the original auction sheet, the Japanese export certificate and the chassis number before paying.

Step 3: Pre-export inspection by QISJ

Used cars from Japan must carry a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) from Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), the inspection company KEBS has contracted for used vehicles (Nairobi Leo). Some older guides still name other agencies; current KEBS notices name QISJ. In May 2026 QISJ said KEBS had re-appointed it, and set the Japan fee at USD 180 per vehicle, plus consumption tax, for bookings from 19 May 2026 (QISJ notice).

The inspection covers brakes, engine, steering and suspension, and checks the registration papers against the car (Kenyans.co.ke). KEBS records tabled in Parliament showed an average of four days to inspect a car and two more days to issue the certificate (Nation, August 2025).

Step 4: Shipping to Mombasa

Cars usually travel RoRo (roll-on, roll-off): driven onto a car carrier in Japan and off at Mombasa. Forwarders quote port-to-port times of 26 to 36 days (ShipCarsRoRo) and 30 to 45 days (KMC Japan). Freight for a compact to mid-size car is about KES 100,000 to KES 150,000 (Khushi Motors, April 2026). These are commercial quotes, so get your own written quote. Marine insurance is extra.

Step 5: KRA duty and the clearing agent

You must use a licensed clearing agent to lodge the customs entry and pay duties (KRA). Typical documents are the commercial invoice, the bill of lading, the import declaration, the export (de-registration) certificate or logbook from the country of origin, and the CoR.

KRA does not tax what you paid. It starts from its own Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) list, takes off depreciation for age, then charges import duty (35% since 2023, per Business Daily), excise duty of 20%, 25% or 35% by engine size, VAT at 16%, the railway development levy at 2% (Kenyans.co.ke) and the import declaration fee. Rather than repeat the full maths here, use the MNM import duty calculator, which shows every line for a specific model and year.

Step 6: Port, CFS and shipping line charges

Kenya Ports Authority's tariff, in force from 15 September 2025, charges these for a saloon or station wagon up to 1.5 tonnes (KPA tariff):

• Wharfage: USD 75 (USD 90 for cars up to 2 tonnes)
• Handling at a CFS or the port: USD 90 (USD 120 up to 2 tonnes)
• Storage: first 5 days free for domestic imports, then USD 20 a day (USD 25 up to 2 tonnes)

On top of that come container freight station (CFS) fees, the shipping line's delivery order, verification and other fees, plus the agent's own fee. Estimates vary widely. The Standard put these "other charges" at slightly above KES 170,000, including an agent fee of not less than KES 100,000 (The Standard, March 2024). Khushi Motors lists about KES 160,800 in port clearing costs plus KES 50,000 to KES 100,000 for the agent. Ask for an itemised quote in writing before the car ships.

Step 7: NTSA registration and number plates

Once KRA releases the car, its details pass to NTSA. You accept ownership on eCitizen using the KRA PIN on the import papers. Reflective number plates cost KES 3,050 a pair (NTSA). The registration fee depends on the vehicle and is usually inside the agent's quote. Plates and logbook commonly take one to two weeks (Car Imports Kenya).

How long does it take?

Plan on about two to three months from paying in Japan to driving on Kenyan plates. Sailing dates and port congestion can stretch this.

Total cost: a worked example

Example car: a 2020 Toyota Corolla Fielder Hybrid EX (1,496cc), first registered in 2020, with 63,000 to 129,000 km, arriving in 2026. Exchange rate: KES 130 to the US dollar, close to the Central Bank of Kenya's mid-October 2026 rate of about KES 129.8 (CBK weekly bulletin).

The KRA figure breaks down as: customs value about KES 736,300, import duty KES 257,700, excise KES 198,800, VAT KES 190,900, railway levy KES 14,700 and import declaration fee KES 18,400. It changes with the exact model code, the year of first registration and the arrival year.

Not included: marine insurance, the NTSA registration fee, transport from Mombasa to Nairobi, storage beyond the free days, repairs, and exchange-rate moves while you wait.

Import it yourself or buy a car already in Kenya?

Importing can make sense if you want a specific model, colour or trim, you are patient, and you can verify the car from a distance. The risks are real, though:

• You pay for the car and freight up front, then duty on arrival, before you have driven it.
• You wait two to three months, and the shilling can move against you.
• If the car misses the age cut-off or fails inspection, it can be rejected at your expense.
• Agent and port fees are hard to pin down until the car lands.

Buying a car that is already in Kenya means you can see it, test-drive it and have a mechanic check it before paying, and the duty is already settled. A fair test: work out the landed cost with the calculator, then compare it with local cars of the same year, mileage and condition. If the gap is small, the car you can inspect today is usually the safer buy. If you would rather skip the wait, MNM's cars include Kenyan-registered cars, fresh imports and stock still in Japan, and you can bring your own mechanic before you pay.

Questions buyers ask

What is the total cost of importing a car from Japan to Kenya?

For a 2020 Toyota Fielder Hybrid arriving in 2026, our sourced estimate is about KES 1,930,000 to KES 2,380,000 landed, before insurance, registration fee and transport to Nairobi. Bigger engines pay far more in excise and duty.

Is it cheaper to import a car or buy locally in Kenya?

Sometimes. Importing removes a dealer's margin but adds agent fees, waiting time and risk. Compare your full landed cost with local cars of the same year and mileage, not with the Japanese price alone.

Which cars can I import in 2026?

Right-hand-drive cars first registered on or after 1 January 2019, arriving in Kenya during 2026. The arrival date is what counts.

Who inspects cars from Japan for Kenya?

QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan), under its contract with KEBS. The fee is USD 180 plus consumption tax for bookings from 19 May 2026.

How long does importing take?

Usually about two to three months from payment in Japan to Kenyan plates, with 26 to 45 days of that at sea.