The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on July 8, 2025, announced new requirements for the importation of used motor vehicles into Kenya.

In a notice, the bureau emphasised that all used cars must be “not more than eight years old from the Year of First Registration (YoR)”, in line with KS 1515:2000 – Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.

KEBS stated that importers, traders, or sellers bringing in vehicles without a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) must now validate key documents, including logbooks, export certificates, and deregistration certificates.

Why KEBS emphasises the new guidelines

“To ensure that all vehicles imported into Kenya without a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) meet this requirement at destination,” read part of the notice.

“It is important for the importers, traders or sellers to validate the import document with a reliable and authorised database,” KEBS advised.

Additionally, the bureau noted that the move was aimed at curbing fraud in the importation process.

“This will help prevent cases of the importation of motor vehicles with forged or fraudulently acquired documents,” KEBS further explained.

To implement the directive, KEBS has engaged Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) to verify import documents at the destination.

The main purpose is to confirm that vehicles meet the eight-year age restriction.

“Consequently, the Kenya Bureau of Standards has engaged Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) to carry out validation…for purposes of age limit verification,” the statement said.

Also Read: KEBS Suspends Company, Orders Recall of Construction Materials

Importers must pay a validation fee of Ksh 12,000 per vehicle at local QISJ offices, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards also confirmed that the service timeline will be within the four working days.”

Previous KEBS guidelines issued on special motor vehicles

Importers of vehicles without a CoR are required to submit copies of relevant documents, such as the logbook or export certificate from the last country of registration to any QISJ local office for verification.

This comes after the Kenya Bureau of Standards previously announced the specific type of used second-hand motor vehicles that will be allowed into the country

The Bureau said only Right-Hand Drive (RHD) motor vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 2018, will be allowed for importation into Kenya.

Furthermore, the bureau clarified that vehicles exported to Kenya shall be expected to comply with KS 1515.2000- Kenya Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.

Also Read: KEBS Issues Notice to Importers of Special Motor Vehicles

Additionally, vehicles from countries where KEBS has an inspection agency, like Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, and South Africa, were to be accompanied by a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR).

The CoR is issued by Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), which is an inspection company contracted by KEBS

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