To import a used car to Kenya you pay five KRA taxes, all calculated on the car’s CRSP value, not the price you paid abroad: import duty, excise duty, VAT, the import declaration fee (IDF) and the railway development levy (RDL). On top of the taxes you pay shipping, port charges, a clearing agent, and registration. All in, the landed cost typically adds roughly 45 to 50% or more on top of the Japan or UK purchase price against current CRSP, and the car must be right-hand drive and less than eight years old. Use the full landed-cost calculator below to get your number, because the tax-only calculators everywhere else leave out the port, clearing and registration that you actually pay.
The five KRA taxes, and how they stack
KRA works out a customs value from the CRSP (see below), then applies the taxes in order, each stacking on the last. Indicative current rates, to confirm against the KRA schedule before publishing: import duty at 35% of the customs value; excise duty, which varies by engine size and fuel type (lower for small engines and electric, higher for large petrol) ; VAT at 16%; the IDF at 2.5%; and the RDL at 2%. Because excise and VAT apply on top of the value plus the earlier taxes, the effective total is much more than adding the headline percentages. This is why a rough rule of thumb is that taxes alone often come to a similar order as the car’s own value on bigger engines.
What is the CRSP, and why 2025 matters
The Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) is KRA’s official price list for every make, model and variant, and it is the base every tax is calculated from, adjusted down for the age of the car. KRA overhauled the CRSP schedule from 1 July 2025, the biggest change since 2019, which reset the duty on thousands of models. That reset is exactly why importers and buyers are confused right now, and why an accurate, maintained CRSP is worth having.
The costs the other calculators leave out
The five taxes are only part of the landed cost. On top you pay shipping and marine insurance from the source country, port and shipping-line charges at Mombasa, a clearing agent (indicatively KES 10,000 to 30,000 ), possible demurrage if clearance is slow, the pre-shipment inspection (JEVIC or QISJ), and registration with number plates at NTSA. A realistic figure for port-plus-clearing-plus-registration extras runs to around KES 150,000 or more per car . Our calculator adds these so you see the true drive-away cost, not just the tax.
The rules before you buy
The car must be right-hand drive, and it must be less than eight years old from the year of first registration, so in 2026 that means a 2019 model year or newer. It must pass a pre-shipment inspection (JEVIC, QISJ or similar) for roadworthiness and mileage before it ships, or it will be rejected at Mombasa. Buying a car that breaks the eight-year rule is the most expensive mistake first-time importers make.
How importing works, step by step
Pick a compliant car (right-hand drive, under eight years, inspectable). Confirm the full landed cost on the calculator before you pay a shilling. Buy through a reputable exporter or a local importer, and get the inspection done in the source country. The car ships to Mombasa, your clearing agent lodges the entry and pays the KRA taxes, you settle port and agent charges, and once cleared the car is transported up and registered at NTSA with number plates. Then insure it before it moves.
Avoiding the scams
Car importing attracts fraud, from fake exporter websites taking deposits for cars that do not exist to agents who quote a low tax figure and surprise you with charges at the port. Pay exporters through traceable channels, never a personal mobile-money number for a whole car, confirm an agent is real before you hand over clearance money, and treat any quote that leaves out port and clearing as incomplete. Our rated directory below lists clearing agents and importers we have checked.
Importing a car to Kenya, frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to import a car to Kenya?
The five KRA taxes plus shipping, port, clearing and registration, which together typically add roughly 45 to 50% or more on top of the purchase price. Use the calculator for your exact model.
How is car import duty calculated?
On the CRSP value, not what you paid: import duty, then excise by engine and fuel, then VAT, IDF and RDL, each stacking on the last.
What is the CRSP?
KRA's official price list that every tax is based on, reduced for the age of the car. It was overhauled in July 2025.
Can I import a car older than 8 years?
No. It must be under eight years old and right-hand drive, or it is rejected.
Which is cheaper, an importer or doing it myself?
Doing it yourself can save the importer margin but exposes you to the risks above. Compare a full landed-cost quote either way.
Verified line: Tax structure from KRA. All rates and the KES cost ranges are marked and must be checked against the current KRA CRSP schedule and duty rates before publishing. Last checked 8 September 2026. paybillke is an independent guide, not KRA or a clearing agent. Confirm duty on the official KRA calculator.