Importing a Used Car from Korea to Kenya

Start here: the honest truth about Korea-to-Kenya

Kenya is a right-hand-drive (RHD) market, like Japan, the UK, and most of East Africa. South Korea is a left-hand-drive (LHD) market, like most of the world. Kenyan import rules explicitly require RHD vehicles for road use — so the typical Korean used car you see on a Korean dealer site cannot be imported to Kenya for normal registration.

Most exporters don't lead with this — they'll happily take your money and ship a car you can't register. We don't want you to be that buyer. So here's what's actually possible.

Your three real options if you're in Kenya

Option 1: Source a Japanese used car (recommended for most Kenya buyers)

Japan is the natural source for RHD used cars and is the largest single supplier into Kenya. If you're buying for daily use in Kenya, a Japanese RHD car will almost always make more sense than trying to find an RHD Korean export model. We're transparent: we specialise in Korean exports, so if Japan is the right answer for you, we'll say so.

Option 2: Find a Korean-built RHD export-spec model

Hyundai and Kia build RHD versions of many models (Tucson, Sportage, Sorento, Santa Fe, etc.) for export markets such as the UK, Australia, South Africa, and East Africa — but these are rarely available on the Korean domestic used market because they were never sold in Korea to begin with. Occasionally, an export-bound RHD car ends up on a Korean auction; we can source these on request, but they take time to find.

Option 3: LHD with special-use registration

Kenya does allow LHD vehicles in a narrow set of cases (diplomatic, special-purpose, certain commercial vehicles). For an individual private buyer, this is usually not practical. Confirm with KRA and the NTSA before pursuing this path.

Assuming you have an RHD Korean car — here's the full rule set

1. Age limit: 8 years

As of January 1, 2026, only RHD vehicles first registered from January 1, 2019 onward are eligible for import. This is the strict application of standard KS 1515:2000, which sets a maximum vehicle age of 8 years from the year of first registration. (KEBS announcement)

2. Pre-shipment inspection (mandatory)

Before shipping, the car must pass an inspection by a KEBS-approved agent in the country of export. For Korean exports, this is performed by an inspection company appointed by KEBS that operates in Korea. Failing to complete this can trigger a 20% penalty at clearance.

3. KRA duties and taxes

Kenya Revenue Authority calculates customs value using its Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule, updated July 2025. On that customs value, you pay:

Import Duty: 35%
Excise Duty: 20–35% (varies by engine size and category)
VAT: 16%
Import Declaration Fee (IDF): 3.5%
Railway Development Levy (RDL): 2%

These taxes compound — VAT is calculated on the customs value plus duty plus excise — so the effective tax burden is typically 50–65% of the customs value, depending on engine size. (AutoMag Kenya)

4. Process and timing

Source & inspect (1–2 weeks). Find the car; KEBS-appointed agent inspects it in Korea.
Korean export paperwork (1 week). Export declaration, deregistration, and bill of lading.
Shipping (4–6 weeks). Korea to Mombasa, typically via RoRo or container.
Customs clearance (7–14 working days). KRA calculates duties from the CRSP schedule; you (or your clearing agent) pay them.
NTSA registration. ~KES 13,000 registration + KES 800 NTSA sticker; receive your logbook and Kenyan plates. (AutoMag Kenya)

What works well for Kenya

Compact and mid-size SUVs: Tucson, Sportage, Sorento, Santa Fe — when available in RHD.
Diesel: well-suited to Kenya's mix of urban and long-distance roads.
Year of first registration 2019 or later (to stay within the 8-year window through 2027).

How we approach Kenya buyers

We're Korean export specialists. If you're in Kenya, our first question is always: is a Korean RHD export model actually the right fit, or would you be better served by a Japan-sourced car? If the answer is "Korean RHD," we'll source it. If the answer is "Japanese," we'll point you to trusted Japan-based exporters. Honest answers build long-term relationships, and we prefer those to one-off sales.

Sources

Rules change. Always confirm current age limits, the CRSP schedule, and required inspections directly with KRA, NTSA, and KEBS before purchase.