It is a common sight to see dynamic and fast cars from Japan zooming on roads here in Kenya. With so much emphasis on an amazing performance, advanced tech, and great fuel efficiency, only a handful of countries can stand up to the stringent demands of Kenyan consumers for quality cars.
Japan is one such auto nation that fulfils these stringent demands very well for a used car in Kenya. They compete with US and Germany to import long-lasting pre-owned cars.
Japanese used cars offer amazing value for money with their low maintenance cost and incredible on-road reliability.
Are you intrigued about what factors help you pick the ideal car to be imported from Japan to Kenya? Then read this post ahead. We take you through the most vital factors that you need to know when you buy cars from Japan.
1 – Consider the bad month of importing the car
It is vital to consider the month and year of manufacturing/registration of the car. For example, let’s say you liked a December 2014 Mazda sedan. You decide to get it shipped to Mombasa port on October 2021.
You need to keep in mind that your taxation will be determined by the manufacturing month (December 2014). But since it is a ‘bad’ month, the taxation will be as per 2015 and not 2014. This means that customers will have to pay 10% more tax.
So, check with your dealer on this point to save on taxes on the import. Click here how to find dealer invoice price.
2 – Consider the duty payable on the import of used car in Kenya
You need to consider the overall cost of the car. It will be more than the invoice value paid to the exporter. You will need to bear some mandatory duties as below
– 25% import duty charge
– Excise duty tax is segregated into two groups
- Private cars 3000cc or above capacity are taxed at 30%
- Private cars with 2500cc or above capacity are taxed at 25%
– Universal import declaration fee of 2%
– Value added tax works out to 16%
3 – Consider the age of the car
It is mandatory that only cars that are 8 years or less are allowed to ply on the roads here in Kenya. This is a strict criterion that needs to be followed in Kenya.
Make sure that you check the manufacturing and registration year of the car before you put down the deposit for a used car in Kenya. This is a part of the government’s mission to not let very old cars run on the roads.
Take, for instance, that you want to buy cars from Japan in 2022. You cannot look at any option before 2014. If the manufacturing date of the car is before 2014, then it will not be allowed to ply on Kenyan roads.
4 – Landing port
It is important to pick the right landing port when you buy used car in Kenya. This means that you need to comply with this norm so that there is no legal complication later on.
As per the government directive only one port is selected as the hub to let all used cars from Japan to enter Kenya. It should be done through the Mombasa Port.
It will be wise to get in touch with a used car dealership to facilitate the proper shipping of the car that is hassle-free and prompt.
To wrap it up
These were some crucial points worth knowing if you want to buy cars from Japan to Kenya. If you are looking for a great source to select cars that deliver awesome performance, then check out Bizupon.
We have a wide inventory of used cars in Japan from genuine exporters. We take care of customs formalities in Japan and Kenya. We also arrange for its shipping so that you can take delivery of a great car here in Kenya.
