Frequently asked questions
Eligibility, documents, timelines, money and the things that go wrong. If your question is not here, ask us directly.
Eligibility & rules
The vehicle must not be more than 8 years old from the date of first registration. First registration is the deciding date — not the model year in the advert, and not the year of manufacture.
Check this on the export certificate before you pay anything. Our requirements page has an instant checker.
It should be caught at pre-shipment inspection and never loaded. If an over-age unit somehow reaches Mombasa it will not be cleared, and the importer is left dealing with a vehicle that cannot legally enter the country — usually meaning re-export at their own cost. This is why we screen age before anything else.
Yes. Every used vehicle must undergo pre-shipment inspection in the country of export and have a certificate issued before loading. The inspection covers roadworthiness, mechanical condition, mileage verification and conformity with Kenyan standards. The original certificate must reach the clearing agent — copies are not accepted.
Kenya drives on the left and registers right-hand drive vehicles. Left-hand drive units are restricted and only permitted in narrow, specific circumstances — typically specialised equipment rather than passenger cars. Assume right-hand drive unless we have specifically confirmed otherwise for your case. This matters most when sourcing from the Gulf, where a lot of stock is left-hand drive.
Documents & clearance
On arrival at the port of discharge, the following must be presented for clearance:
- Original inspection certificate
- Original 1st and 2nd copies of the bill of lading
- Original certificate of export
- Commercial invoice
The consignee separately furnishes the clearing agent with copies of their national ID and KRA PIN.
Yes. The consignee must supply a copy of their KRA PIN along with a copy of their national ID. The customs entry is raised against these, and the vehicle is ultimately registered in that name. If you do not have a PIN yet, sort it out early — it holds up everything else.
They accrue when a vehicle overstays at the port. The cause is almost always administrative — originals arriving late, an entry lodged slowly, or the consignee's ID and PIN copies not being with the agent in time.
Yes, they are avoidable. Have the paperwork complete and with the agent before the vessel berths, and this line stays at zero. It is one of the main things you are paying us to manage.
The vehicle is registered against the consignee named on the import documents. If you want it in a company name, a spouse's name or a different individual's name, tell us at the start — changing it after the entry has been lodged is far messier than setting it up correctly from the beginning.
Money
Four categories:
- Customs duties and levies
- Port handling charges
- Clearing agent fees
- Customs warehouse charges, if any have accrued
All fall due before the unit is released.
Because KRA does not use your purchase price. It values vehicles from its own retail price schedule for the model, with depreciation applied for age. A very good auction deal does not reduce the assessed customs value, so the duty bill barely moves. Budget from the customs value, not from what you paid — our cost estimator is built around this.
Our service fee depends on the vehicle value and how much of the process you want us to handle — a full end-to-end import differs from clearing a unit you have already shipped. It is stated as a line item in your written quote before you commit, and it does not change afterwards. Ask us and we will give you the figure for your specific case.
Several Kenyan lenders offer asset finance on imported vehicles. We can introduce you to lenders who fund imports, though the lending decision and the terms are entirely between you and them — we are not a financial adviser and we do not take a cut of the loan.
Timing & process
Budget 30 to 45 days door to door. Sourcing and inspection take roughly a week, the ocean leg from Japan to Mombasa is typically 25 to 30 days, and clearing plus registration adds a few days after berthing. Sailings from Singapore, the Gulf and South Africa are shorter; schedules occasionally slip and we tell you when they do.
Yes, and it is common. Send us the listing link or the chassis number. We verify the seller is genuine, read the auction sheet, confirm the unit passes the age rule, quote the full landed cost, and run the import from there.
Yes. If a unit is already shipped or sitting at Mombasa, we can take over the clearance. Contact us urgently in that situation — every day it stays on the yard adds charges. Have the bill of lading, inspection certificate and export certificate ready when you call.
Yes — a good share of our clients are in the diaspora and never visit the office. You will need to supply your ID and KRA PIN copies and be reachable to approve decisions. Everything else runs over WhatsApp and email, and the vehicle can be delivered or held until you land.
Yes, countrywide. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Thika — anywhere. Delivery is quoted as a line item so you can see exactly what it adds.
Rates and rules change
Kenyan import requirements, duty rates and levies are amended periodically, usually through the annual Finance Act. Confirm current figures with KRA, KEBS and NTSA before committing funds — or ask us and we will confirm them for your specific vehicle.
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. We answer WhatsApp faster than email, and neither costs you anything.