Last checked: October 2026. Confirm current requirements with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) before you buy.
Every used car shipped from Japan to Kenya has to pass an inspection before it leaves Japan. The inspection is done by QISJ, and the document it produces — the Certificate of Roadworthiness — is one of the papers your clearing agent needs at Mombasa. This guide explains who QISJ is, what the inspection covers and what happens if a car arrives without a certificate.
Who is QISJ?
Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) is the company KEBS has appointed to carry out Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) for used motor vehicles, mobile equipment and used spare parts. In May 2026 KEBS renewed QISJ’s contract for a further three years.
QISJ inspects vehicles in Japan, and also in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Thailand. For a car bought in Japan, the inspection happens in Japan before the car is loaded on the ship.
What is the Certificate of Roadworthiness?
The Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) is the document QISJ issues when a used vehicle passes its pre-export inspection. KEBS requires every used motor vehicle exported to Kenya from the countries above to be accompanied by a CoR issued by QISJ.
The CoR records the vehicle’s identity and confirms that it meets the Kenya Standard KS 1515 for road vehicles — including the age limit, which in 2026 means a year of first registration of 2019 or later. See Kenya’s age limit explained.
What the inspection checks
The inspection is a check of the car’s identity, documents and basic roadworthiness. It typically covers:
- Identity: the chassis number matches the documents
- Documents: the export certificate and the year of first registration
- Right-hand drive
- Mileage: the odometer reading is recorded
- Roadworthiness: brakes, steering, lights, tyres, suspension and visible body or structural damage
A car that fails can often be repaired and re-inspected before shipping. A car that does not meet the age limit cannot be fixed — it simply cannot go to Kenya.
Who arranges the inspection?
In practice the exporter in Japan books the inspection, takes the car to the inspection site and receives the certificate. As the buyer, you should:
- confirm with the seller before you pay that the car will be inspected by QISJ for Kenya;
- ask for a copy of the Certificate of Roadworthiness once it is issued, together with the other shipping documents;
- give the CoR and the other documents to your clearing agent in Kenya.
What if a car arrives without a CoR?
Arriving without a Certificate of Roadworthiness is expensive and slow. KEBS requires importers of used vehicles that arrive without a CoR to submit copies of the logbook, deregistration certificate or export certificate from the country of last registration to a QISJ office for validation, followed by inspection at the destination. There are fees for both the validation and the destination inspection, and clearance is delayed while this is done.
If the validation shows that the car does not meet KS 1515 — for example, it is too old — it is rejected at the importer’s expense.
Checklist before you pay for a car for Kenya
- First registration date is 2019 or later (for arrival in 2026), taken from the Japanese registration documents.
- The car is right-hand drive.
- The seller confirms a QISJ inspection before loading and will send you a copy of the CoR.
- You will receive the bill of lading, export certificate, commercial invoice and CoR for your clearing agent.
- You pay only into the exporter’s company bank account in Japan.
How we handle it at Autocom Japan
For cars going to Kenya, our team arranges the QISJ inspection in Japan before shipping and sends the Certificate of Roadworthiness with your shipping documents. If you have questions about a specific car, speak to our staff at our offices in Mombasa and Nairobi — see Autocom Japan in Kenya — or browse our stock.
For the whole import process, from choosing a car to registration with NTSA, read our Kenya import guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QISJ inspection mandatory for cars from Japan to Kenya?
Yes. KEBS requires used motor vehicles exported from Japan to Kenya to be accompanied by a Certificate of Roadworthiness issued by QISJ.
Which inspection company does Kenya require?
For used vehicles from Japan, the inspection company appointed by KEBS is QISJ. Other countries use different inspection bodies.
Can I get the inspection done after the car arrives in Kenya?
A car that arrives without a CoR has to go through document validation and destination inspection. It takes longer, costs more and carries the risk of rejection, so it is far better to inspect in Japan.
Does a CoR guarantee the car’s condition?
No. It confirms that the car met the inspection standard when it was checked. For the car’s full condition, look at the auction sheet and the exporter’s own inspection report.
Sources: KEBS public notice on the renewal of the QISJ contract (May 2026); KEBS notices to importers of used motor vehicles; KEBS requirement for validation of vehicles arriving without a CoR (July 2025).
