Kenya's 8-year car import rule in 2026: which years can you still import?

Figures checked on 29 October 2026.

Short answer: in 2026 Kenya only lets in right-hand-drive used cars first registered on or after 1 January 2019. KEBS had not announced the cut-off for 2027 as of 29 October 2026. If it counts the same way as last year, it will be 2020.

Where the 8-year rule comes from

The rule is in the Kenya Standard KS 1515:2000, Code of practice for inspection of road vehicles. Clause 2.5 reads: "All road vehicles which are more than eight years old from the date of manufacture shall not be allowed for importation." Clause 2.4 adds that left-hand-drive vehicles will not be registered unless they are for special purposes.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) enforces it. Note the gap between the standard and practice. The standard says "date of manufacture", but KEBS notices count from the year of first registration (Citizen Digital, HapaKenya). If your car was built in one year and first registered the next, confirm with KEBS or your clearing agent which year they will use before you buy.

The 2026 cut-off

KEBS's notice of November 2025 (reports give dates between 12 and 18 November) said that from 1 January 2026:

• only right-hand-drive vehicles first registered from 1 January 2019 onwards may enter Kenya;
• cars first registered in 2018 or earlier had to arrive at a Kenyan port by 31 December 2025;
• any 2018-or-older car arriving after that is non-compliant with KS 1515:2000 and is rejected at the importer's expense;
• the rule covers all importers of used cars, "including returning residents, diplomatic staff and the general public".

Sources: HapaKenya and Kenyans.co.ke, both quoting the KEBS notice.

How the count works

KEBS counts in calendar years, not from your car's exact birthday. In 2026, a car first registered in any month of 2019 qualifies. A car first registered in December 2018 does not, even though it is barely seven years old.

The date that counts is when the car arrives at the port, not when you paid for it or when it left Japan. Last year KEBS gave 2018 cars until 31 December 2025 to land.

*This follows how KEBS handled 2018 cars last year. As of 29 October 2026 we found no KEBS notice confirming the deadline for 2019 cars or the 2027 cut-off.

What about 2027 and beyond?

Last year's notice came out in mid-November, so a 2027 notice may follow soon. Until it does, the 2020 cut-off is a projection based on last year's counting, not a published rule (tech-ish makes the same point).

A tighter limit has also been floated. The Star reported on 28 August 2026 that the government has proposed cutting the age limit to five years by 2027, three years by 2029 and zero by 2030. The Car Importers Association of Kenya objects. It is a proposal only. We found no KEBS notice or amended standard putting it into effect.

What happens to a car that misses the cut-off

KEBS treats it as non-compliant with KS 1515:2000 and rejects it at the importer's expense. You still carry the cost of buying and shipping it, so check the date before you pay, not after the car sails.

Exceptions: who is not covered?

• Returning residents and diplomats: no exemption from the age limit. KEBS's November 2025 notice names both groups as covered.
• Special-purpose vehicles (for example ambulances, fire engines, farm machinery and large construction vehicles): KEBS offers a waiver route. Reported conditions are proof of customisation, a service record, and the vehicle being no more than 20 years from manufacture. KEBS asks importers to get the waiver before shipping. Private cars and public service vehicles stay under the 8-year limit (Money254, June 2025).
• Left-hand drive: not accepted for ordinary use (KS 1515 clause 2.4).

Inspection and paperwork

• Cars from Japan, the UAE, the UK, Thailand, Singapore and South Africa need a Certificate of Roadworthiness from KEBS's contracted inspector, Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) (HapaKenya).
• For cars without a Certificate of Roadworthiness, KEBS said in July 2025 that the logbook, de-registration certificate or export certificate must be validated by QISJ in Kenya. The reported fee was KES 12,000 (Citizen Digital).
• Since 1 September 2026, KRA requires importers to hold the export declaration or export certificate from the country of export and keep it for five years (Kenyans.co.ke).

Practical advice

• Read the first registration date yourself. Check it on the export certificate or de-registration certificate, not the advert, the auction sheet or the year of manufacture.
• Ship early. If you want a 2019 car, plan for it to land well before 31 December 2026. Allow for shipping delays, port congestion and the holiday slowdown.
• Don't buy on the edge without a plan. A late 2019 car bought in December may not reach Mombasa in time, and you would carry the cost if it is rejected.
• Budget the duty too. On KRA's July 2025 template, a 2019 car cleared in 2026 counts as 7 years old and gets 60% depreciation. You can estimate the taxes with MNM's free import calculator.

Questions buyers ask

Is the 8-year rule counted from manufacture or first registration?

KEBS counts from the year of first registration, even though KS 1515:2000 says "date of manufacture". If the two years differ on your car, confirm before buying.

Can I import a 2019 car in 2027?

Not if KEBS counts the way it did for 2026. It has not announced the 2027 cut-off yet, so watch for its notice.

Are returning residents or diplomats exempt?

No. KEBS's November 2025 notice lists returning residents and diplomatic staff among the importers it applies to.

Does the rule affect cars already registered in Kenya?

The standard bars older vehicles "for importation", so it applies when a car comes in. If you would rather skip the import deadline, MNM sells Kenyan-registered cars alongside fresh imports and brand-new cars; see the current cars.

Is Kenya cutting the limit to five years?

It has been proposed, not adopted. We found no KEBS notice or new standard making it law as of 29 October 2026.