Most requested
Family SUVs
X-Trail, CR-V, Forester, Harrier, RAV4 — the backbone of the Kenyan import market.
Everything between the listing and the logbook
Six services that together cover the entire import. Take all of them, or just the part you are stuck on.
Service 01
Vehicle sourcing & verification
You describe the car. We find the actual unit, then prove it is what the seller says it is.
We buy from Japanese auction houses, UK dealer stock, Singapore exporters, Dubai yards, Thai suppliers and South African dealers. Different markets suit different cars — Japan for reliability and price, the UK for premium European models, the Gulf for high-spec SUVs.
- Auction sheet translation. Grade, interior score, repair marks and the inspector's handwritten notes, explained in plain English.
- Chassis and mileage verification. We check the odometer against the auction record so a wound-back unit never reaches the vessel.
- Age-rule screening. Every candidate is checked against the 8-year first-registration rule before it goes on your shortlist.
- Bidding on your behalf. We set a ceiling with you and we do not cross it. No emotional bidding with your money.
Already found a car?
Send us the listing link or the chassis number. We will verify the seller, read the sheet and quote the landed cost — then run the import from there.
Service 02
Pre-shipment inspection
Mandatory, non-negotiable, and the single most common reason an import stalls.
Every used vehicle bound for Kenya must undergo pre-shipment inspection in the country of export and be issued with a certificate before it is loaded. The inspection covers roadworthiness, mechanical condition, mileage verification and compliance with Kenyan standards.
We book the inspection, attend it where possible, and — critically — make sure the original certificate travels with the shipping documents. Photocopies are not accepted at Mombasa. Units arrive without their originals more often than you would think, and the vehicle then sits in the yard accruing charges while paperwork is chased across continents.
No certificate, no clearance
A vehicle that arrives at Mombasa without its original inspection certificate cannot be cleared. In the worst case it is returned to origin at the importer's cost.
Service 03
Ocean freight & marine insurance
Booked on scheduled sailings to Mombasa, with cover that actually pays out.
RoRo
Roll-on roll-off. The vehicle is driven onto the vessel deck. Cheaper, faster to load, and the right choice for most standard saloons and SUVs.
Container
Sealed and protected end to end. Costs more, but it is the safer option for high-value, low-clearance or classic vehicles — and it allows consolidated shipping.
Whichever route we take, you receive the vessel name, the sailing date, the bill of lading and a realistic ETA. Japan to Mombasa typically runs 25 to 30 days at sea. We arrange marine insurance so damage in transit is a claim, not a catastrophe.
Service 04
Mombasa port clearance
The stage where money is won or lost. Speed here is worth more than a bargain at auction.
On arrival at the port of discharge, our clearing agent presents the full document set, lodges the customs entry, settles port handling and secures release. Because entries are lodged before the vessel berths, units move off the yard quickly instead of sitting there while charges accumulate.
Documents presented at clearance
- Original inspection certificateIssued at pre-shipment inspection in the country of export.
- Original 1st and 2nd copies of the bill of ladingBoth originals are required — not photocopies, not scans.
- Original certificate of exportProof the vehicle was legally de-registered and exported.
- Commercial invoiceThe declared transaction value supporting the customs entry.
The consignee separately furnishes the agent with copies of their national ID and KRA PIN.
Full requirements breakdown
Service 05
Duty computation & KRA compliance
Five separate charges make up the tax bill. We compute them off the correct customs value, pay them, and hand you the receipts.
| Charge | Applied to | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | Customs value (CIF) | The headline tariff on the vehicle entering the country. |
| Excise duty | Customs value + import duty | Rate varies by engine capacity and fuel type. Electric vehicles attract the lowest band. |
| VAT | Customs value + duty + excise | Charged on the cumulative total, which is why it is the largest single line. |
| Import Declaration Fee (IDF) | Customs value | Levied on the declaration lodged for the consignment. |
| Railway Development Levy (RDL) | Customs value | Infrastructure levy applied to imports. |
Customs value is not the price you paid
KRA values vehicles using its own retail price schedule with depreciation applied — not your invoice. A cheap auction win does not automatically mean a cheap duty bill. We work off the correct base so your quote survives contact with the customs entry.
Service 06
Registration & delivery
The part where it stops being a shipment and becomes your car.
- NTSA registration. Lodged in your name, with number plates issued and fitted.
- Logbook processing. Followed through to issue so ownership is clean and unambiguous.
- Countrywide delivery. Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret or anywhere else you name.
- Pre-handover service. Fluids, filters, a full valet and a road test before we give you the keys.
- Financing introductions. If you would rather not pay cash, we can point you at asset-finance lenders who fund imports.
Keys in handRegistered, plated and delivered
What we import
Not just saloons
If it is road legal, inside the age rule and passes inspection, we can land it.
7-seaters & 4×4s
Prado, Land Cruiser, Pajero, Fortuner. Built for the roads you actually drive on.
Commercial vehicles
Pickups, canters, prime movers and trailers for business fleets.
Lower excise
Hybrids & EVs
Electric units sit in the lowest excise band, which changes the maths considerably.
PSV & buses
Matatus, shuttles and staff buses, imported to the right body and seating spec.
Specialist
Executive & luxury
G-Class, Range Rover, LX and the like — high-value units shipped in containers with enhanced marine cover.
German saloons
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and VW, usually sourced out of the UK or Germany.
Compact crossovers
Mazda CX-5, Vezel, Juke and Note — the sweet spot for city driving and fuel bills.
Which part do you need help with?
Take the whole import or just the leg you are stuck on. Tell us where you are and we will quote only that.