Importing a car from the UK to Kenya step by step

Before you decide to import a car into Kenya, there three basic rules you need to be aware of:

 * The vehicle should not be more than 8 years old, and this is a very strict law as stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards KS1515:2000. Cars older than 8 years old will be destroyed.

 * The car imported in Kenya must be the Right-hand drive, as Left-hand drive vehicles are not allowed for registration unless under very special circumstances.

 * The vehicle must pass a safety and mechanical inspection by by QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) who are authorised by Kenya Bureau of Standards to inspect vehicles. The cost of inspection by QISJ is set by KEBS at £200.

If you wish to import a vehicle from the UK, the following are the steps that you will need to undertake:

Stage 1 – Find a supplier

You will need to find a reliable and credible car supplier and exporter. It’s a good idea to consider one that is recognised and listed in the UK Government’s Department for International Trade, for vehicle export services.

Stage 2 – Car Selection

There are various ways that you can express your interest in exporting a vehicle from the UK.

1) You can search an online database, select a vehicle and submit a request for a shipping quotation to Kenya.

2) If you cannot find a vehicle that matches your requirements, you may get in touch with a trusted supplier by phone, emails, or online enquiry, to order a specific vehicle. You would need  to provide details of the vehicle you want, such as its make, model, year of manufacture, colour, transmission, engine size, etc. They would then provide you with several vehicles from either their own database or vehicles or network of car dealers across the country. 

3) In this internet age, you may also do your own research for vehicles online through other avenues like auction. You may locate vehicle through a UK car dealer, a private seller, or UK car website. In that case, you must find an agent to act on your behalf, and inspect, negotiate, purchase, and ship the vehicle to you. This would safeguard your money since the agent will first ensure that it is not a fraudulent sale or a stolen car, or one that has been written off and is being sold as a lemon. Your agent would simply need the details of the seller to initiate this process.

Stage 3 – Vehicle Identified

Once there is an agreement on the vehicle you wish to export, make sure you get high quality pictures and if possible a video walkthrough so that you can be satisfied of the vehicle you are purchasing. Also request the inspection and background reports.

Stage 4 – Booking and Invoicing

If you are happy to proceed with the purchase and export of the vehicle following the reports and pictures, you will be issued with a proforma invoice for the vehicle and shipping costs. You will give your full name, address, contacts, and a government issued ID, which will  be used for customs declarations.

Stage 5 – Payment

When you have received the invoice, you will need to make payment promptly, as vehicles cannot be reserved for a prolonged period of time unless funds are received. Find out the payment methods accepted, but payment by bank transfer is most preferable.

Stage 6 – Shipping and Export

Once payment is received, your agent will start making arrangements for the collection from supplier and delivery of the vehicle to the UK port. He will make sure it is cleaned and fully tested before being loaded onto the ship, and we if there’re really good they will send you pictures of the vehicle and mileage when being loaded into the ship. The vessel would then depart with your vehicle destined for the next stop in Mombasa.

Step 7 – Customs Clearance & Documentation

Your agent will submit customs declarations to Her Majesty’s revenue service, they will prepare insurance if you pay for it, we would prepare shipping documentation which include the Bill of Lading, then they will collate all these documents and ship them to you mostly by tracked DHL which takes about 3 days to get to Kenya, well in advance of the ship’s arrival. These are the documents your Kenyan agent will need to clear the vehicle when it gets to Mombasa. Read about the clearing process and duty calculation.