Last checked: October 2026. Import rules change — confirm the current position with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) before you buy.
If you are buying a used car in Japan for Kenya, the first question is not the price or the model. It is the year the car was first registered. Kenya’s age limit decides whether a car can be cleared at Mombasa at all, and a car that misses the cut-off by even a few days is rejected at the importer’s expense.
This guide explains how the rule works in 2026, how to check a car before you pay, and what to watch for as the year comes to an end.
The rule in one sentence
In 2026, Kenya only accepts right-hand-drive used vehicles whose year of first registration is 2019 or later. A car first registered in December 2018 is refused; a car first registered in January 2019 is eligible.
The rule comes from the Kenya Standard KS 1515 (the code of practice for inspection of road vehicles), which limits imported used vehicles to eight years from the year of first registration. KEBS usually issues a public notice before the cut-off moves.
It is the registration year, not the model year
KEBS counts the age from the year of first registration. That is the date the car was first registered on Japanese roads. It is shown on the car’s Japanese registration certificate (shaken-sho) and on the export certificate issued when the car is taken off the Japanese register.
This is where buyers get caught out:
- Model year is not registration year. A “2019 model” can have been built and registered in 2018. The advert may say 2019; the registration documents may say 2018.
- Manufacture and registration can fall in different years. In Japan most cars are registered soon after they are built, but not always. A car built in December 2018 and first registered in January 2019 meets the 2026 rule, because KEBS goes by the registration year.
- The date that counts is on the documents. Ask for a clear copy of the Japanese registration details before you pay, and check the first registration date yourself.
Arrival date matters, not purchase date
The cut-off is applied when the car arrives in Kenya. KEBS has set the same pattern each year: vehicles registered in the oldest eligible year must be shipped and arrive before 31 December; anything that arrives after the new cut-off takes effect is rejected at the importer’s expense.
In practice this means:
- A car first registered in 2019 is eligible in 2026, but it has to arrive in Kenya by 31 December 2026.
- If the rule rolls forward on 1 January 2027 as it has in previous years, only cars first registered in 2020 or later will be accepted after that date. KEBS normally announces the change in advance — check its notice before you commit.
- If you are buying a 2019-registered car late in the year, ask for the vessel’s expected arrival date before you pay. If there is any doubt, choose a 2020-registered car instead.
Other conditions the car must meet
- Right-hand drive only. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive, so this is rarely a problem.
- Pre-export inspection. Every used vehicle shipped from Japan to Kenya needs a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) issued by Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), the inspection company appointed by KEBS. See our guide to the QISJ inspection.
- Genuine documents. The CoR confirms the car’s identity and registration date. KEBS checks documents against records to stop cars with altered papers from getting through.
How to check a car before you pay
- Get the first registration date in writing from the seller — from the Japanese registration documents, not from the advert.
- Compare it with the cut-off for the year the car will arrive in Kenya, not the year you buy it.
- Confirm the car will get a QISJ Certificate of Roadworthiness before it is loaded.
- Ask for the expected departure and arrival dates once the car is booked on a ship, especially between September and December.
- Pay only into the exporter’s company bank account in Japan. See how to avoid scams.
What happens if a car does not qualify
A vehicle that arrives outside the age limit is treated as non-compliant with KS 1515 and is rejected at the importer’s expense. It cannot be registered in Kenya. That is why the registration date has to be checked before payment, not after the car is on the water.
How we handle this at Autocom Japan
When you ask about a car for Kenya, our sales team can check the first registration date on the Japanese documents against the current KEBS cut-off for you before you pay, and arrange the QISJ inspection before the car is loaded.
You can also speak to our staff in person at our offices in Mombasa and Nairobi. See Autocom Japan in Kenya for addresses, or browse our stock and ask us to check any car.
For the full import process — clearing, duty, registration with NTSA — read our step-by-step Kenya import guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kenya age limit counted from the year of manufacture or the year of registration?
KEBS counts it from the year of first registration. In 2026 that means first registration in 2019 or later.
Can I still import a 2018 car?
No. Since 1 January 2026, cars first registered in 2018 or earlier are rejected at Mombasa.
What changes on 1 January 2027?
If KEBS rolls the eight-year limit forward as it has in previous years, the cut-off moves to cars first registered in 2020 or later. A 2019-registered car must arrive in Kenya by 31 December 2026. Check the KEBS notice for the new year before you buy.
Does the rule apply to commercial vehicles too?
The eight-year limit under KS 1515 applies to used motor vehicles generally, including vans and pick-ups. If you are importing a special-purpose vehicle, confirm with KEBS first.
Who checks the car’s age?
QISJ records the vehicle’s details on the Certificate of Roadworthiness before shipping, and KEBS and the Kenya Revenue Authority check the documents on arrival.
Sources: KEBS public notices to importers of used motor vehicles (December 2023, November 2025) and the KEBS notice on renewal of the QISJ contract (May 2026).
