Importing a car to Kenya isn't complicated once you understand the components. This guide breaks down every shilling — from the auction bid in Japan to the moment your NTSA logbook lands in your hands.

The 6 Cost Components of a Kenyan Car Import

Every imported car in Kenya is made up of six stacked costs. Understanding each protects you from hidden surprises.

1. 01CIF — Cost, Insurance, Freight (what the car actually costs delivered to Mombasa)
2. 02KRA Import Duty — 25% of CIF for vehicles above 3 years old
3. 03Excise Duty — 25% to 35% depending on engine size and vehicle type
4. 04VAT — 16% applied on top of CIF + Duty + Excise
5. 05IDF & RDL — Import Declaration Fee (3.5%) and Railway Development Levy (2%) on CIF
6. 06Clearance & Registration — Port clearance, transport to Nairobi, NTSA registration, number plates

Real Example: 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado from Japan

Let's cost out a real Prado TX-L 2.8L diesel from a Japanese auction:

• ◆Auction hammer price: KES 2,800,000
• ◆Japan-side fees + shipping to Mombasa (CIF add-on): KES 400,000
• ◆CIF total: KES 3,200,000
• ◆KRA Import Duty (25%): KES 800,000
• ◆Excise Duty (25%): KES 1,000,000
• ◆VAT (16%): KES 800,000
• ◆IDF (3.5%) + RDL (2%): KES 176,000
• ◆Clearance, transport, NTSA registration: KES 220,000

How Roskyways Simplifies This

When you buy from our inventory, every one of these costs is already paid. What you see is what you drive away with — no surprise duties, no clearance headaches, no registration follow-ups. If you're sourcing a specific vehicle we don't stock, our Import Request service gives you a fixed all-in quote within 48 hours.

Common Mistakes That Blow Up Import Budgets

• ◆Under-declaring auction value (KRA verifies and back-charges + fines)
• ◆Choosing vehicles over 8 years old (Kenya restricts imports over 8 years)
• ◆Ignoring the difference between petrol vs diesel excise rates
• ◆Buying from unlicensed importers without proper documentation
• ◆Missing the KRA CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) valuation table

Every vehicle at Roskyways is fully KRA-compliant, NTSA-registered, and comes with a transparent duty receipt. Talk to us on +254 768 377 047 to see what's currently in stock — or request a specific import.