Cars registered before 2019 must reach Kenyan ports by December 2025 - KEBS
The restriction is part of the government’s ongoing plan to raise road safety standards and reduce the number of older units that do not meet environmental and mechanical requirements.
Kenya’s second-hand car market is set for major changes after new rules were issued restricting the age of imported vehicles beginning next year.
From January 1, 2026, the country will only allow the entry of used cars first registered in 2019 or later, a directive that will reshape how importers, dealers, and buyers operate.
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In a notice released on Thursday, November 13, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) said the new age limit will apply to all right-hand drive vehicles brought into the country.
The Bureau noted that the directive complies with the eight-year age cap set under the Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles (KS 1515:2000).
“We wish to notify all importers of used/second-hand motor vehicles, including returning residents, diplomatic staff and the general public, that in observance of clause 2.5 of KS 1515:2000 on the eight (8) year age limit requirement, only Right Hand Drive (RHD) motor vehicles whose year of first registration is from 1st January 2019 and later shall be allowed into the country effective 1st January 2026," KEBS said in a statement.
The restriction is part of the government’s ongoing plan to raise road safety standards and reduce the number of older units that do not meet environmental and mechanical requirements.
KEBS said older vehicles tend to release higher emissions and often fail to meet the safety checks needed to operate on Kenyan roads.
Cars registered before 2019 will still be allowed in, but only if they reach Kenyan ports on or before December 31, 2025 and have a valid certificate of roadworthiness.
Any unit registered in 2018 or earlier that fails to arrive before the deadline will be declared non-compliant and rejected at the importer’s cost.
“Vehicles exported to Kenya shall be expected to comply with KS 1515:2000 Kenya Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles, while vehicles from countries where KEBS has an inspection agency (i.e. Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, and South Africa) shall be accompanied with a Certificate of Roadworthiness (COR) issued by Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), which is an inspection company contracted by KEBS,” the authority added.
Importers seeking a COR must subject their vehicles to detailed mechanical checks covering the engine, suspension, steering, brakes and other vital systems. The inspection also includes a review of all documents to ensure the vehicle’s registration records match the inspection details.
This directive follows earlier steps tightening controls on used car imports, including a recent cap on units manufactured before 2018. KEBS believes the stricter rules will encourage the uptake of newer vehicles and support local assembly firms by easing competition from older imports.
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