Car Import Duty Calculator Kenya 2026
Estimate import duty, excise, VAT, IDF and RDL on an imported car using its CRSP value and age.
Enter your figures above to see the result.
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Why the taxes on a car can be so high
Importing a vehicle into Kenya involves several charges that stack on top of each other, so the total taxes can be a large share of the car's value. They are worked out on a customs value that KRA sets, not on what you paid for the car, so a cheap purchase can still produce a large bill.
Step one: the customs value
For used vehicles KRA works from the Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP), a published list of values by make, model and engine. KRA then applies depreciation based on the vehicle's age, to reach the customs value. Older cars get more depreciation and a lower customs value. The calculator uses the CRSP value you enter, and the depreciation schedule held in the rates for this site, which you can see in the "rates used" table below.
You can find the CRSP on KRA's website, and it should match your car's make, model, body type and engine size. Different engine sizes of the same model have different values.
Step two: the age limit
Kenya limits the age of imported vehicles to 8 years from the year of manufacture. A car older than that cannot be cleared for general use, and the calculator says so instead of producing a bill. The age is measured from the year of first registration to the date you choose.
Step three: the taxes
On the customs value, the calculator works out, in order:
- Import duty, at 35% of the customs value.
- Excise duty, as a percentage of the customs value plus import duty. The rate depends on engine size and fuel: 20% up to 1,500cc, 25% above 1,500cc, 35% for petrol engines above 3,000cc and diesel engines above 2,500cc, and 10% for fully electric vehicles.
- VAT, at 16% of the customs value plus import duty plus excise.
- Import Declaration Fee (IDF), a percentage of the customs value with a minimum amount.
- Railway Development Levy (RDL), a percentage of the customs value.
The sum is the total taxes payable to KRA.
A worked example
A petrol car with a CRSP of KES 2,000,000 and a 1,500 cc engine, first registered three years ago, has a customs value after depreciation of KES 1,400,000.00. The total taxes come to KES 1,293,880.00. The result lists each tax so you can see what contributes most.
Landed cost
The calculator can also show a landed cost if you enter the purchase price, shipping and clearing charges. This is the total you spend to have the car in Kenya, before registration and insurance. The landed cost calculator covers other goods.
Other costs
Remember other costs that are not taxes: the agent's clearing fee, port charges and storage, transport from Mombasa, inspection by the Kenya Bureau of Standards or its agents, registration fees and number plates, and insurance. Delays in clearing add storage charges, so plan the paperwork.
Points to check before you buy
- Confirm the CRSP for the exact model and engine, and the year the car will count from.
- Confirm the car is under the age limit on the day it arrives, not only on the day you buy it.
- Ask the clearing agent for a quotation that matches this estimate.
- For hybrids and electric vehicles, check the current excise treatment, which has changed.
About the estimate
The depreciation, excise, IDF and RDL values are held as editable rates; the excise bands were checked against the Excise Duty Act as at 1 July 2026. KRA's own assessment at clearing is final. This calculator is an estimate for information only.
Reading the result
Look first at the customs value, because every tax is built on it. If it is much higher than you expected, check that the CRSP you entered matches your car's exact engine size, body type and drive configuration. Then check the excise line: it is the tax most sensitive to engine size and fuel, so a car just over a threshold can cost noticeably more than one just under it. Finally compare the total with the landed cost, which includes purchase and shipping, to decide whether a locally registered car would be cheaper.
Guides, tools and templates for this topic
Read next: Excise duty on imports and vehicles: what it is and when it applies, How much does it cost to import a car to Kenya? Duty, VAT and fees explained, Importing a used car: inspection, clearance and registration
Related calculators: Car Age Eligibility Checker, Landed Cost Calculator, Motorcycle Import Duty Calculator
More in the blog and the template shop, or ask for a custom template.
Rates used
| Rate | Value | Since |
|---|---|---|
| vehicle.import_duty_rate | 35% | 1 Jan 2020 |
| vehicle.excise | electric: 0.1 rate top: 0.35 rate large: 0.25 rate small: 0.2 diesel top cc: 2,500 petrol top cc: 3,000 diesel cc threshold: 1,500 petrol cc threshold: 1,500 | 1 Jul 2023 |
| vehicle.idf | rate: 2.5% minimum: 5,000 | 1 Jul 2023 |
| vehicle.rdl_rate | 2% | 1 Jul 2023 |
| vehicle.max_age_years | 8 | 1 Jan 2015 |
| vehicle.depreciation_schedule | rate 0, max age 1 rate 0.20, max age 2 rate 0.30, max age 3 rate 0.40, max age 4 rate 0.50, max age 5 rate 0.55, max age 6 rate 0.60, max age 7 rate 0.65, max age 8 | 1 Sep 2023 |
| vat.standard_rate | 16% | 2 Sep 2013 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the CRSP?
The Current Retail Selling Price list published by KRA, used as the starting value for customs valuation of used vehicles.
How old can an imported car be?
Up to the limit in the rates, counted in years from the year of manufacture. Older cars cannot be cleared.
Is the result what I will pay?
It is an estimate. KRA's assessment at clearing is final, and agent, port and registration fees are extra.
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Estimates for information only. Not tax or financial advice. Confirm with the relevant authority or a registered professional. KenyaTax is independent and not affiliated with any government body.