KEBS 8-Year Rule: Which Cars You Can Import in 2026

Updated 25 October 2026

Quick answer: in 2026 you can only import a used car that was first registered on or after 1 January 2019. Kenya’s standard KS 1515:2000 bans used vehicles more than eight years from their year of first registration, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) applies it by calendar year. The cutoff moves forward every 1 January. Check any car’s age and taxes in our car import duty calculator, which flags cars that are too old.

Where the Rule Comes From

KS 1515:2000 is the Kenya Standard Code of Practice for the Inspection of Road Vehicles. Clause 2.5 says a used vehicle imported into Kenya must not be more than eight years old from its year of first registration. The standard also requires right-hand drive. KEBS enforces it through pre-shipment inspection in the exporting country and checks at the port, and KRA’s motor vehicle import procedures repeat the requirement.

How the Cutoff Works Year by Year

KEBS counts by calendar year, not to the day. A car first registered in December 2018 is out in 2026, even though it may be only seven years and a month old when it lands. A car first registered in January 2019 is fine all year.

First Registration Versus Year of Manufacture

This is the detail that catches people out. KEBS uses the year of first registration. KRA’s tax template uses the year of manufacture to set depreciation. Most Japanese cars are registered within a few months of being built, so the two years usually match. When they do not, for example a car built in late 2018 and first registered in early 2019:

• KEBS allows it in 2026, because first registration is 2019.
• KRA may depreciate it as a 2018 car, which slightly lowers the tax.

The first registration date appears on the Japanese export certificate. Read it yourself before paying, rather than trusting a listing that says “2019 model”.

What Happens If a Car Is Over Age

An over-age car should fail pre-shipment inspection in Japan and not be loaded. If one is shipped anyway, it will not be cleared for use in Kenya. The usual outcome is re-export at the owner’s cost, with port storage running every day the car sits at Mombasa. Under the Kenya Ports Authority tariff in force since September 2025, storage for a car after the five free days is US$20 to US$25 a day for most saloons and SUVs. There is no fine you can pay to keep it.

Pre-Shipment Inspection

Every used car from Japan must pass a roadworthiness inspection by KEBS’s appointed inspection body before loading. The inspector checks the first registration date, right-hand drive, mechanical safety and emissions-related items under KS 1515, and issues a Certificate of Roadworthiness. Your clearing agent presents it at Mombasa. Ask your exporter for the certificate number as soon as it is issued.

Are There Exceptions?

A few categories are treated differently, for example returning residents and diplomats under specific conditions, and vehicles for special purposes. These exemptions are narrow and handled case by case. If you think one applies to you, get written confirmation from KEBS before buying. Ordinary buyers importing a family car or a business vehicle should assume no exception.

Classic cars are also handled separately. The Finance Act 2026 added a 50% excise rate for antique or classic cars that are at least 30 years old and worth at least KSh 10 million. Such a car could never meet the 8-year rule, so the rate does not affect normal used-car imports.

How to Use the Rule to Your Advantage

• Buy early in the year if you want the oldest allowed car: a 2019 car bought in January 2026 has a full year to arrive.
• Avoid cutting it close in November and December. A 2019 car bought in December 2026 must arrive by 31 December, or it becomes over age in January 2027.
• Weigh age against duty. An older car gets more depreciation, so lower tax, but less resale value.

A Checklist Before You Pay a Deposit

1. Ask the seller for a photo or scan of the export certificate and read the first registration date.
2. Confirm the car is right-hand drive. Some grey imports from other markets are not.
3. Check that the seller will book KEBS’s pre-shipment inspection and send you the certificate number.
4. Look at the sailing schedule and make sure the car can land at Mombasa before 31 December if it is close to the cutoff.
5. Run the car through the duty calculator so you know the tax bill before you commit.

If any of these answers is vague, walk away. There are thousands of cars that meet the rule, and an over-age car is one of the few import mistakes that cannot be fixed by paying more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 8-year rule apply to cars bought in Kenya?

No. It applies only to used cars being imported. Cars already registered in Kenya can be sold locally at any age.

Does it apply to motorcycles and trucks?

KS 1515 covers road vehicles generally. Check the specific rules for heavy commercial vehicles with KEBS, as age limits and inspection requirements can differ.

Read next: how to import a car from Japan step by step and calculate your import duty.