Kenya's eight-year age limit, explained

The rule

Kenya will not register a used vehicle more than eight years old, counted from the year of first registration. In 2026 that means 2018 and newer. A car outside the window cannot be registered, and a unit that arrives outside it is either re-exported at your cost or destroyed.

The year that matters is first registration in Japan, which appears on the export certificate. It is often a year later than the model year quoted in the listing, and occasionally a year earlier. We check the certificate, not the advert.

Timing near the edge

A car that is legal when you bid can be illegal when it lands. If a unit is in its eighth year, the shipment has to arrive and be registered before the calendar turns. We will not let you buy into that gap without saying so in writing first.

The other standing requirements

Alongside age, every import has to satisfy three conditions:

• Right-hand drive, unless you qualify for a returning-resident exemption.
• A pre-export inspection certificate from a KEBS-appointed agent, covering roadworthiness and mileage.
• The vehicle must not have been previously registered in Kenya.