Route rate sheet · Sea freight · Japan to Kenya
Ship a car from Japan to Kenya
Yokohama, Kobe, Nagoya to Port of Mombasa in a sealed container. One price covers ocean freight, export handling in Japan and marine insurance; destination port charges, duty and VAT are shown separately below.
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
11,170 km great circle · 24-40 days
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
At a glance
Japan to Kenya car shipping: cost, time and rules
Shipping a car from Japan to Kenya with IPAS Express costs from $8,405 port to port for one car in its own 20ft container, with sea transit of 24-40 days. Kenya admits right-hand-drive cars less than 8 years old, counted from the year of first registration. Import duty is 35% of customs value.
Kenya drives on the left and allows right-hand-drive cars only, so Japanese-market cars match local steering.
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Kenya drives on the left. Japanese-market cars are right-hand drive, so they match.
- Age limit
- Less than 8 years old
- Age is the year of import minus the year of first registration, and it must be 7 or less. In 2026 the oldest importable car was first registered in 2019.
- Pre-export inspection
- Used cars: KEBS-appointed inspection
- Used vehicles need a roadworthiness inspection by a KEBS-appointed inspector in the country of export.
- Main charges
- Import duty 35%, excise 20% to 35%, VAT 16%
- Also Import Declaration Fee 2.5% and Railway Development Levy 2%. Excise depends on engine size and fuel. A battery-electric car pays 10% excise.
- Customs value
- KRA valuation
- The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) values cars from a retail price schedule less depreciation by age, so its figure can differ from the invoice.
- Destination port
- Port of Mombasa (KEMBA)
- Clearance is with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
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Rate sheet · Port of Yokohama → Port of Mombasa
What it costs, line by line
Insurance is figured on a declared value of $7,600 (reference vehicle: 2026 Suzuki Fronx). Every line comes from the same tables the calculator reads, so the quote you get matches this sheet.
1 car · own 20ft container
Any car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available
$8,405per car $8,405- Ocean freight
- $6,200
- Export handling
- $2,105
- Insurance
- $100
- Destination est. (at port)
- $1,745
2 cars · 40ft high-cube
Two cars you ship together, or a group booking
$10,865per car $5,433- Ocean freight
- $7,850
- Export handling
- $2,815
- Insurance
- $200
- Destination est. (at port)
- $1,745
3–4 cars · racked 40ft HC
Compact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking
Quoteper car from ~$2,900- Ocean freight
- $7,850
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- per value
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
RoRo · per car
Oversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars
On requestper car —- Ocean freight
- on request
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- —
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
Scroll for line-by-line costs →
| Shipping option | Total · IPAS price | Per car | Ocean freight | Export handling (Japan) | Insurance 0.2% | Destination charges · est., payable at port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 car · own 20ft containerAny car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available | $8,405 | $8,405 | $6,200 | $2,105packaging $600 · THC $220 · clearance $255 | $100 | $1,745THC $245 · customs handling $1,500 |
| 2 cars · 40ft high-cubeTwo cars you ship together, or a group booking | $10,865 | $5,433 | $7,850 | $2,815packaging 2×$600 · THC $330 · clearance $255 | $200 | $1,745THC $245 · customs handling $1,500 |
| 3–4 cars · racked 40ft HCCompact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking | Quote | from ~$2,900 | $7,850 | on request | per value | — |
| RoRo · per carOversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars | On request | — | on request | on request | — | — |
Door pick-up within the port's standard radius adds about $660 per car. Insurance is 0.2% of the declared vehicle value, with a per-car minimum. Destination charges are paid at Port of Mombasa on arrival and are not part of the total. Duty and VAT are not in this table either: see the landed-cost examples below or run CarImport.AI. Ocean figures are our current route rates and update when the rate table changes.
Included in the IPAS price
- Included: Export packaging, chocking and lashing inside the container
- Included: Export customs clearance in Japan
- Included: Terminal handling at Port of Yokohama
- Included: Ocean freight Port of Yokohama → Port of Mombasa
- Included: Marine insurance at 0.2% of the declared value
- Included: Bill of Lading, packing list and tracking
Not included
- Not included: Destination port charges (shown per row; paid at Port of Mombasa on arrival)
- Not included: Kenya customs duty and VAT
- Not included: Conformity certification and registration inspection
- Not included: Inland collection unless door pick-up is selected
- Not included: Storage or demurrage after the port's free days
- Not included: Personal effects: the car ships empty
Ports & inland reach
Where your car leaves and arrives
Load ports · Japan
Japan
Port of Yokohama
Yokohama / Tokyo region
Port of Kobe
Kobe / Kansai
Port of Nagoya
Nagoya / Chubu
Discharge ports · Kenya
Kenya
Port of Mombasa
Mombasa / Kenya
Timeline
Booking to keys in hand
- 2–5
1. Booking and export documents in Japan
days
- 2–4
2. Container loading and export customs
days
- 24–40
3. Ocean transit
days
- 1–3
4. Arrival and discharge at Port of Mombasa
days
- 3–7
5. Customs clearance and duty payment
days
- 2–10
6. Registration and collection
days
Typical door to door: 5–10 weeks.
Documents
Paperwork on both ends
We prepare the shipping set; you supply the ownership and identity documents.
Export side · Japan
Before the car can load
- 01Export certificate (deregistration certificate)輸出抹消登録証明書
- 02Commercial invoice
- 03Bill of lading
- 04KEBS-appointed pre-export inspectionRequired for used cars, done in Japan before shipping.
Import side · Kenya
To clear and register in Kenya
- 01Customs entry with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)Duty, excise, VAT, IDF and RDL are paid here.
- 02Proof of year of first registrationSets the age under the less-than-8-years rule.
Landed-cost examples · Kenya
Cars worth importing to Kenya
Landed-cost examples for Kenya, from other origins.
Available now in Japan
Export-ready units from Japan
Importing to Kenya
Registering a car from Japan in Kenya
What buyers shipping from Japan need to know about Kenya's import duties, steering rules and registration.
Kenya imposes total import taxes of roughly 79-101% on CIF value, combining customs duty, excise, VAT, and two levies. Only right-hand-drive vehicles are permitted, and the car must be manufactured within 8 years of import. KEBS pre-shipment inspection and registration on Kenyan CRSP reference values are mandatory.
Import Process: Kenya
- 1
Verify age and RHD eligibility
Confirm the vehicle is RHD and was first registered abroad within the last 8 years; older units are refused entry at Mombasa.
- 2
Book KEBS PVoC inspection
Engage an approved PVoC agent (Intertek, SGS, QISJ, or Bureau Veritas) in the origin country to issue a Certificate of Conformity before loading.
- 3
Ship to Mombasa Port
Most imports arrive via RoRo or container to Mombasa, the only viable vehicle port for Kenya and landlocked neighbours.
- 4
Clear customs with licensed agent
Appoint a KRA-licensed clearing agent to file the entry, pay duties on CRSP value, and release cargo from KPA.
- 5
Register with NTSA
Submit import documents, PVoC certificate, and duty receipts to NTSA to receive logbook, registration number, and plates.
- 6
Complete roadworthy inspection
Obtain NTSA motor vehicle inspection certificate and arrange insurance before driving the vehicle on Kenyan roads.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Shipping a vehicle older than 8 years from first registration
Fix
Check the origin logbook date, not the build date; Kenya counts from first foreign registration and will reject on arrival.
Skipping KEBS PVoC inspection before loading
Fix
Book the PVoC agent in the origin country prior to shipment; post-arrival inspection is not accepted and triggers re-export penalties.
Budgeting duty from invoice price instead of CRSP
Fix
Use the latest KRA CRSP schedule to estimate duty; the reference price is often higher than your actual purchase cost.
FAQ
Japan to Kenya shipping questions
With IPAS Express, shipping one car from Japan to Kenya costs from $8,405 port to port in its own 20ft container, with sea transit of 24-40 days. Import duty and taxes in Kenya are paid on arrival and are not included.
Yes. Kenya allows right-hand-drive cars only and drives on the left. Japanese-market cars are right-hand drive, so they match local rules.
The car must be less than 8 years old, counted from the year of first registration. Age is the year of import minus the year of first registration, and it must be 7 or less. In 2026 that means first registered in 2019 or later.
Import duty is 35% of customs value. Excise is 20% up to 1,500 cc and 25% above it, with 35% on petrol above 3,000 cc and diesel above 2,500 cc. A battery-electric car pays 10% excise. VAT is 16%, the Import Declaration Fee is 2.5% and the Railway Development Levy is 2%.
Sea transit is 24-40 days depending on the Japanese loading port. Nagoya and Kobe are 24 to 34 days. Yokohama is 33 to 40 days. Add time for export documents, loading, discharge at Mombasa and customs clearance.
Nagoya (JPNGO) and Kobe (JPUKB) are the shortest at 24 to 34 days. Yokohama (JPYOK) takes 33 to 40 days and suits cars in the Tokyo region. All cars arrive at the Port of Mombasa.
Kenya allows vehicles up to 8 years old, measured from the year of first registration at origin, not manufacture date. A 2018-registered car can be imported during 2026 but not in 2027.
KRA calculates duty on the Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP), a Kenyan reference value published for each model and year. Your invoice is ignored if lower than the CRSP benchmark.
Pre-Export Verification of Conformity is a mandatory pre-shipment inspection by KEBS-approved agents in the origin country. Without a valid Certificate of Conformity, KPA will not release the vehicle at Mombasa.
Clearance typically takes 7-14 days after vessel arrival, depending on documentation completeness, CRSP verification, and agent responsiveness. Missing PVoC or incorrect HS codes can extend this to several weeks.
NTSA registration can be self-filed via the TIMS portal if you hold a KRA PIN, but most importers use a clearing agent to handle duty payment, PVoC submission, and logbook issuance together.
Keep exploring
Related routes and guides
Other origins → Kenya
Japan → other destinations
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