How to Import a Car from Japan to Kenya.
What it costs, what each charge is, and every step from auction to registration. Updated October 2026.
The short answer
The total cost is the CIF Mombasa price we publish for every car, plus KRA duties, plus clearing charges, port charges and registration.
KRA does not tax the price you paid. It applies import duty, excise and VAT to its own valuation of the make, model and year, so the same CIF price can lead to very different totals on different cars. We therefore quote the duty for the exact car before you buy, instead of publishing a rough multiplier that would be wrong for many models.
What makes up the cost
Seven parts, in the order they appear on a typical import.
- 1.CIF Mombasa price
- The price of the car at the Japanese auction or dealer, plus inspection and sea freight to the port of Mombasa. This is the price we publish on every vehicle page.
- 2.Import duty
- Charged by KRA on its own valuation of the car, not on what you paid. KRA uses its CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) schedule for the make, model and year, adjusted for age.
- 3.Excise duty
- Also assessed on the KRA valuation, in bands that depend on engine size. Larger engines attract higher bands.
- 4.VAT
- Applied on the KRA valuation plus the duties above.
- 5.IDF and RDL
- The Import Declaration Fee and the Railway Development Levy, both small percentages charged on the customs value.
- 6.Clearing and port charges
- Port handling, a clearing agent, and any storage if the car sits at the port.
- 7.Registration, insurance and any required inspection
- Pre-shipment inspection of the used vehicle if required by law (for example on commercial cars), then NTSA registration and number plates in Kenya, and insurance before the car goes on the road.
Rates and valuations change with each Finance Act and CRSP update, which is why we do not print a duty percentage here. Ask for a quote and you get the current figure for your car.
The import process, step by step
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1
Choose the car
Browse our stock or tell us what you want. Most vehicles come with the original Japanese auction sheet, which shows verified mileage, condition grade and any repairs.
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2
Get the full quote first
Before you pay anything, we give you the CIF price and the KRA duty for that exact car. KRA values each make, model and year differently, so we quote it per vehicle rather than guess.
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3
Confirm eligibility
Kenya limits the age of imported used vehicles, measured from the year of manufacture. We confirm that the car qualifies before you commit.
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4
Buy and pay
We purchase the car at auction or from the dealer once you approve the quote and pay the deposit.
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5
Shipping
The car is shipped to Mombasa, with pre-shipment inspection where it is required. From auction purchase to delivery in Nairobi usually takes six to ten weeks, depending on the shipping schedule.
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6
Clearing at Mombasa
We handle customs declaration, pay KRA, and clear the car at the port.
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7
Registration and delivery
The car is registered with NTSA, you get your plates and logbook process started, and the car is delivered to Nairobi or arranged for collection.
Start with the car you want
Every page shows the CIF price and current stock.
Questions about importing
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Kenya?
The total is the CIF Mombasa price plus KRA import duty, excise duty, VAT, IDF and RDL, plus clearing charges, port charges and registration. KRA does not tax the price you paid; it applies the duties to its own CRSP valuation for the make, model and year, adjusted for age and engine size, at the rates in the current Finance Act. Because those rates and valuations change, we quote the duty for the exact car before you buy.
What is the CIF price?
CIF means cost, inspection and freight. It is the price of the car in Japan plus inspection and sea freight to Mombasa. It is the price we show on every vehicle page, and it is the starting point for the total cost, not the final one.
Why is KRA duty not based on the price I pay?
KRA assesses duty on its own valuation (CRSP) of the make, model and year, not on the invoice. For some models the valuation is well above the auction price, which is why the same CIF price can lead to very different duty on different cars.
How long does it take to import a car from Japan?
Usually six to ten weeks from auction purchase to delivery in Nairobi: auction processing 1–2 weeks, sea freight to Mombasa 3–5 weeks, then KRA clearance and inland transport 1–3 weeks. We confirm the timing for your car when we quote it.
Can I import any used car from Japan?
No. Kenya limits the age of imported used vehicles, measured from the year of manufacture, and the car must pass the required inspection. We check eligibility before you commit.
What is an auction sheet?
The official inspection report from the Japanese auction. It shows verified mileage, an overall condition grade, exterior and interior grades and any repairs or damage. About 90% of our vehicles come with the original Japanese auction sheet. We are the only company that can buy cars from official dealerships that are not for export to other countries. Those cars do not have auction sheets, but they come with warranties instead.
Is it cheaper to import than to buy locally?
Often, because a local dealer pays the same KRA duty and then adds a margin, yard costs and finance. Compare a dealer quote against our CIF price plus the duty quote for the same car. The gap is usually widest on models that were not sold through local dealers.
Does Tuminion handle the whole process?
Yes: sourcing, auction bidding, inspection, shipping, clearing at Mombasa and registration, with delivery to Nairobi.
Get the full cost for your car
Tell us the model and year you want. We send the CIF price and the KRA duty for that exact car before you pay anything.