Why buy cars from Japan?
Put simply, used Japanese cars are good value. The Japanese car auctions and wholesalers are selling huge volumes of cars every day. There sell many of the cars you already know and some lesser known Japanese makes too. They can very widely in condition and price, so you would be smart to know how to identify the cars in good condition. How fluent are you in Japanese? Time to get familiar with Google translate.
What is the cost of importing a car from Japan to Kenya?
Having searched the Japanese car stocklists and found a car that stands out, you’ll need to know the true cost to buy it and import it. The cost of importing your car from Japan to Kenya divides into two parts: costs to buy and export from Japan and costs to import a car to Kenya.
To buy a car from Japan,
you should expect to pay for:
Agents fees
Auction fees (if buying from auction)
Transport to the port
QISJ inspection
Port charges for loading
Shipping to Kenya
Marine insurance
If you are buying from a car importer then they will include all these costs in your purchase price. This may feel like the car of your dreams is becoming more expensive than you need, thankfully at MHH Japanese cars we keep our costs as low as possible to give you the best price. Take a look at our Japanese car stock list and then get in touch with the team.
Costs to import a car to Kenya.
When your car reaches Kenya, you will need to pay for the following.
Import Duty (25%)
Excise Duty (varies)
Value Added Tax (14%)
Import Declaration Fees (2%)
Railway Development Levy (1.5%)
To help calculate your car duty, we have developed a prestige car duty calculator for Kenya.
Guidelines for importing a car from Japan to Kenya
What are the regulations for importing used Japanese cars to Kenya?
Japanese used cars must conform to the KEBS Standards: Verification of Conformity to Kenya Standards of Imports Order 2018. Read the import standards in full.
~ Imported vehicles must be right hand drive.
~ All vehicles must pass the roadworthiness inspection by a KEBS appointed agent in the country of export. In this case it will be a QISJ pre-export inspection.
What is the Age Restriction for Imported Cars in Kenya?
The age limit for imported cars to Kenya to 8 years. This means that a vehicle but be under 8 years old from the date it was first registered.
What documents are needed when importing cars from Japan to Kenya?
Importing a car to Kenya needs the following documents:
Original Commercial Invoice
Original Bill of lading
Original Logbook from the country of importation that has been cancelled from the country of origin. This will be required by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to give you an original Kenyan Log Book.
Pre-shipment inspection certificate (certificate of road worthiness). This is currently QISJ.
Copy of your PIN certificate
How to check a Japanese used car
If you can see the original documents for a car before you buy it from Japan, you will get all the information you need about the condition on the exterior and interior, the tyre quality, year of manufacture, colour and specification.
How to check the mileage of a Japanese car
To check your cars mileage is genuine, you can cross check it on the auction sheet, the service records and the export certificate. You can also call on QISJ to verify the mileage for you. This is detailed our blog about verifying mileage on Japanese cars.
How to read the auction sheet
The auction sheet is fascinating once you understand it. You will be able to see the month of registration, exterior grade, interior grade, chassis code, model, trim level, engine size, gearbox, mileage, drive train and number of seats. Our blog explains how to read an auction sheet for Japanese cars.
How to understand the condition report
With the auction sheet you will also see the condition report. This uses a key of numbers and letters to grade the condition of the exterior and interior of a car. You get to find out whether a car has a small scratch or a big hole (!), the tyres have good tread and whether the windscreen is cracked and needs replacing! Our Japanese condition report guide shares the details to help you read and understand it.
Why import a used car from Japan?
Importing a used car from Japan may take longer than buying a Japanese car in Kenya, but you get more choice and you get to see the mileage records, auction sheet and condition reports before you buy a car. So you can verify the mileage as genuine, understand the specification of the car and the options that it has added. And importantly, you get to see the official condition that the car was when sold in Japan. This way you can be sure you are buying a good condition car and not buying a cheap car which needs a lot of maintenance costs.
Choose the best way to buy a Japanese car with MHH Japanese Cars.
We recommend buying your car from Japan with a reputable dealer. Our import service to Kenya makes buying your car very simple and stress free. We offer finance via NCBA Bank and I&M Bank and have a team in Kenya to help you. We buy cars from all of the large auctions and wholesalers in Japan, so you can get the best deal in Japan. We will only buy cars which are grade 4 and above and our cars are checked prior to shipping. This guarantees you get the best quality car and the best value for your money. When your car reaches Kenya, our team in Kenya will manage clearing and deliver your car to Nairobi for you. So you can be confident we have everything taken care of. Get in touch today and let our team help you find your perfect car from Japan.
