How is car import duty calculated in Kenya?

Kenya charges five taxes on the CIF value (car price + freight + insurance): Import Duty 25%, Excise Duty 25%–40% depending on engine size, VAT 16% (charged on CIF + Import Duty + Excise), an Import Declaration Fee (IDF) of 3.5%, and a Railway Development Levy (RDL) of 1.5%. Together they usually add up to about 70%+ of the CIF value.

How much tax will I pay to import a car to Kenya?

For a small-engine car the total taxes are roughly 75%–80% of CIF; for a larger engine (over 2,500cc) it can reach about 90% of CIF because the Excise Duty rises to 40%. Use the calculator above for an estimate, then ask CarHappy on WhatsApp for a full landed cost.

CIF stands for Cost, Insurance and Freight. It is the car price plus the ocean freight to Mombasa plus marine insurance. Kenya import taxes are calculated on this CIF figure, not on the car price alone.

Does KRA use my purchase price to calculate duty?

No. KRA values the car using its official CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) table, which lists a reference value for 5,200+ models. Your duty is based on that table value, so the final figure can differ from this estimate. CarHappy can check the CRSP value for your exact model and year.

What is the 8-year import age rule in Kenya?

Kenya accepts right-hand drive vehicles up to 8 years old based on the year of first registration. From 1 January 2026, only vehicles first registered after 1 January 2019 are accepted. A KEBS Certificate of Roadworthiness (issued by QISJ in Japan) is also required before shipment.

Are there any other costs after the import taxes?

Yes. On top of CIF and the import taxes you should budget for KEBS inspection, port handling and clearing-agent fees, and registration. CarHappy can give you a full door-to-door estimate before you commit.

Kenya Car Import Duty Calculator & Guide (2026)

Estimate Kenya car import duty in seconds. Free CIF-to-tax calculator plus a clear guide to Import Duty, Excise, VAT, IDF, RDL, the 8-year rule, and Mombasa clearance.

This public CarHappy Japan page is available at https://carhappy.jp/guides/kenya-import-duty.