Kenya Vehicle Import Rules - How Duty Regulations & Customs Requirements Work
Before importing a vehicle from the UK, here are some tips on what to bear in mind (See Video Guidance Below):
Most Kenyans import their vehicles from Japan. However, those Kenyans looking to spend more money in order to obtain higher end and quality vehicles, then the UK is their best option, given the quality of cars from the UK.
There is wide range of popular vehicle choices with high quality and reliability, ranging from “mini” vehicles like the Toyota Auris or VW Polo, to extravagant examples like Bentley’s and Aston Martins.
The year the car was manufactured is not necessarily the same year as the date the car was registered. For example, an Alfa Romeo can be manufactured in December 2018, but only brought to the UK and registered in February 2019, duty and age will be calculated based on the registration date (in 2019, only cars of 2012 and newer are allowed).
Unlike previous years, the invoice you produce, or the amount you claim to have paid for the car, is irrelevant for customs purposes. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) publishes on its website, vehicle prices that all clearing and forwarding agents, are bound to use when calculating and paying duty. If you bought a Mercedes C-Class for £3,000 and the KRA website indicates that this is £8,000, the dutiable value will be KRA’s figure (See KRA Import Duty Calculator below).
The larger the engine capacity, the higher the import and customs duty you will pay, and manuals and diesel vehicles will also be cheaper to import.
At Car Exporters UK, we have various services to assist in your importation process. You can select a vehicle from our online database, select a vehicle from another website or dealer (and we will inspect, negotiate, and buy on your behalf), you can import a relative’s vehicle in which case we will provide shipping, or you can make a bespoke customised order and we will source the exact vehicle for you to import into Kenya at the most competitive prices, from either our own vehicles or from our dealership network across the UK.
* Will be subject to roadworthiness inspection by a KEBS appointed inspection agent in the country of export. In the UK, this pre-inspection is undertaken by QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) for a standard fee of £200 as stipulated by KEBS.
* Must be Right Hand drive
Most Kenyans import their vehicles from Japan. However, those Kenyans looking to spend more money in order to obtain higher end and quality vehicles, then the UK is their best option, given the quality of cars from the UK.
There is wide range of popular vehicle choices with high quality and reliability, ranging from “mini” vehicles like the Toyota Auris or VW Polo, to extravagant examples like Bentley’s and Aston Martins.
The year the car was manufactured is not necessarily the same year as the date the car was registered. For example, an Alfa Romeo can be manufactured in December 2018, but only brought to the UK and registered in February 2019, duty and age will be calculated based on the registration date (in 2019, only cars of 2012 and newer are allowed).
Unlike previous years, the invoice you produce, or the amount you claim to have paid for the car, is irrelevant for customs purposes. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) publishes on its website, vehicle prices that all clearing and forwarding agents, are bound to use when calculating and paying duty. If you bought a Mercedes C-Class for £3,000 and the KRA website indicates that this is £8,000, the dutiable value will be KRA’s figure (See KRA Import Duty Calculator below).
The larger the engine capacity, the higher the import and customs duty you will pay, and manuals and diesel vehicles will also be cheaper to import.
At Car Exporters UK, we have various services to assist in your importation process. You can select a vehicle from our online database, select a vehicle from another website or dealer (and we will inspect, negotiate, and buy on your behalf), you can import a relative’s vehicle in which case we will provide shipping, or you can make a bespoke customised order and we will source the exact vehicle for you to import into Kenya at the most competitive prices, from either our own vehicles or from our dealership network across the UK.
Kenya Vehicle Importation Process
What are some of the regulations for importing a car in Kenya?
The vehicle must comply with the Kenya Bureau of Standards requirements of Legal Notice No. 78 of 15th July 2005 (Verification of Conformity to Kenya Standards Imports Order, 2005) and KS1515:2000 Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles. In Particular, The Imported Vehicle;
* Will be subject to roadworthiness inspection by a KEBS appointed inspection agent in the country of export. In the UK, this pre-inspection is undertaken by QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) for a standard fee of £200 as stipulated by KEBS.
* Must be Right Hand drive
How much is Kenya car import duty?
The following taxes/duties are payable for motor vehicle imports based on customs value ( This is the value of an import as determined by customs department of the Kenya Revenue Authority. It is essential in determining the amount of duty that must be paid on an imported item).
Import Duty (25% of customs value)
Excise Duty This duty varies with vehicle category.
* Private passenger vehicles of Diesel engine whose engine capacity exceeds 3000cc (30% of customs value)
* All Other Vehicle Categories (20% of customs value)
Value Added Tax (VAT) (16% of customs value)
Import Declaration Fees (2% of customs value)
Railway Development Levy (1.5% of customs value)
Benefits accrued to returning residents when importing a motor vehicle
Returning resident: A person changing residence from a place outside Kenya to a place within Kenya where that person has been residing outside Kenya for a period of at least two years and has not resided in Kenya for a period(s) amounting in aggregate to ninety days or more within the two years immediately before this return to Kenya.
A returning resident may import one exempt motor vehicle "(excluding buses and minibuses of seating capacity of more than 13 passengers and load carrying capacity exceeding two tonnes)" Provided that:
* the person has attained the age of eighteen years; and
* the vehicle was used by him outside Kenya for at least three hundred and sixty days (excluding the period of voyage in the case of shipment)
* the vehicle is owned and registered in his name and/or his spouse, and where the motor vehicle is purchased on hire purchase terms, the first instalment in respect thereof was paid and delivery taken at least three hundred and sixty days prior to importation.
Clearance through Customs
To clear the vehicle through Kenya Customs, an importer will have to contract a licensed clearing agent to process their declaration in the Simba 2005 system.
The clearing agent will lodge an import entry in Simba system, pay the required duties and taxes and present all the relevant documentation for Customs to pass the entry.
The documents required are:
* Original Commercial Invoice.
* Original Bill of Lading.
* Import Declaration Form obtained from Customs.
* Authentic Original Logbook from the country of importation that has been cancelled from the country of origin, as this will be required by National Transport and Safety Authority to give you an original Kenyan Log Book
* Copy of your PIN certificate/ Copy of certificate of Incorporation (applicable to companies)
KRA shall not accept a Certificate of Export issued by Dubai Police or any other authority as a substitute for a foreign log book.
If the logbook is in a foreign language, an English translation issued by the respective Embassy, High Commission or a consulate based here in Kenya, must be furnished to Customs to authenticate the foreign logbook.
* Cancellation of the foreign Logbook
* Certificate of Inspection by JAAI
* Any other document that may be required by Customs
Note: The vehicle must meet Kenya Bureau of Standards KS 1515:2000 – Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.
Inspection of motor vehicles
All importers of used vehicles coming from the above mentioned countries including returning residents are required ensure that their vehicles are inspection by any of these companies and a certificate of road-worthiness issued before they are shipped.
Vehicles originating from countries other the above mentioned ones will be subject to local inspection at a fee provided that such vehicles are Right Hand Drive and not more than eight (8) years old from the year of first registration (the difference between this year and the year of manufacture should not be more than one year).
In addition to verifying the road-worthiness of vehicles in accordance with KS 1515:2000, the companies will also undertake verification of the odometer for tampering. Any discrepancies established between the regulatory/supporting documents e.g. export certificates, registration documents, de-registration documents, regulatory periodic inspection documents, auction sheets etc., and the actual odometer reading at the time of inspection, will constitute a failure and such vehicles will be issued with a Non- Conformity Report (NCR) in which case they shall not be allowed into Kenya.