Once you have decided to purchase a car, one of the most difficult decisions you have to make is whether to import or buy one locally. The biggest question on your mind at this point is, ‘what will I gain or lose either by buying locally or importing?” As car dealers, we understand that each option has its advantages and disadvantages, but we acknowledge that in the end, you should go with what works best for you. It does help, however, to have all the information. In this article, we hope to make your decision simpler by discussing the merits and demerits of importing a car or buying one locally.

What are the Advantages of Importing a Car from Japan?

Importing a car from Japan has numerous advantages, some of which include:

A Large Pool of vehicles to choose from

When you import your car from Japan, you will benefit from the availability of thousands of cars in the auctions. This means that you can get a car fitting your specifications, such as make, model, color, mileage, interior, and most importantly, price. This is unlike at a local yard where you might have to choose between four of five vehicles of the model you want.

 Value for your money

Countries like Japan have well-maintained roads and carefully used vehicles. Even if you import a 7-year-old vehicle, it is likely to be in superb condition. This means that you can even import a vehicle with slightly higher mileage for a lower price and still end up with a car that will serve you diligently for several years.

A smooth Buying Process

Buying a car locally can be a tedious process, especially when you are looking for particular specs. This is because you will have to move from one yard to another while making a million calls in between. Why not save that energy and import? When you use a reliable import agent, they will do all the work of finding the right car for you, including shipping, clearing, and registration. All you have to do is pay and sit back and wait for your vehicle to arrive without any hustles. 

 Latest Number Plate

When your car arrives at the port of Mombasa, it will be registered as a new car by the NTSA. This means that you will get the latest number plate on the road. You can also book (at an extra fee) for a special number plate, such as triple letters.

Whole History of the car

The Japanese are stringent in their car inspections. Every car available in the auction has an auction sheet. The auction sheet gives the history and the general condition of the car. Once a car is imported from Japan, you can have it physically inspected and find that it matches exactly what was in the auction sheet.

Genuine Mileage

The auction sheet also outlines the mileage of the car. The mileage is genuine and verifiable by using the chassis number to check once the car has been purchased and inspected by QISJ or other bodies contracted by KEBS.

Cars with Unique Features

With the auction having a large pool of vehicles, one can choose a car with extras that they admire, think of things like a roof rail, fancy lights, unique colors, etc.

Are there any Disadvantages to Importing a Car from Japan?

Like everything else, importing does have some angles that might be considered disadvantageous, depending on where you stand. Some of them are:

You may have to wait longer

To import a car from Japan takes around 6-8 weeks. If you want your car immediately, the waiting period might put you off.

It may cost slightly more

Sometimes importing can be considered expensive compared to buying a car locally. This mostly happens due to exchange rate fluctuations. Similarly, low mileage cars will be more costly than high mileage cars.

There could be Unforeseen Delays

The car import process takes around 45-60days, but there could be other unforeseen delays. These mainly happen at the port of Mombasa, either with KRA or NTSA systems. Occasionally there have been challenges with the availability of physical number plates.

What are the Advantages of Buying a Car in the Local Car Yards?

Immediate Purchase

When you realize that you don’t have bread in the house and you need it for breakfast, all you have to do is rush to the local kiosk or supermarket to get one. You will find bread from different companies on the shelves, and you will settle for the one you prefer. The point is, your need is satisfied immediately, which is similar to buying a car locally. If you need a car in a hurry, all you have to do is visit various car yards and pick one.

Physical Inspection

When you import a car from Japan, you will rely on an auction sheet to give you information on the car. When the car is locally available, you will walk into the yard or showroom to look at the car. You will be able to touch it, feel it and even test drive it.

Ability for Comparison

There are thousands of yards in Kenya, most of them located in Nairobi and Mombasa and set closely together. This gives you a perfect chance to ‘window shop.’ If what is found in one yard does not appeal to you, you can shop in other yards until you find what you are looking for.

Import Financing

The majority of the banks or financial institutions in Kenya prefer to finance cars already in the country. Buying a car from a local yard means that you can secure bank finance quickly, compared to the process of importing.

Are there any Disadvantages to Buying a Car from the Local Yards?

The Mileage Question

Well, not everyone you deal with will be above board, and some unscrupulous dealers may alter the odometer to make a car look more attractive. A car could have a genuine mileage of 180,000km, but someone may be tempted to rewind it to 80,000km to make it more marketable. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to verify mileage in a car that is already here.  With an imported car, it is easier to know the car’s genuine mileage using the chassis number.

History of the car

When you intend to purchase a car, you move from one yard to another, looking for something that will suit your specifications. Once you find exactly what you want or something close to it, then you make an offer. But face value only does not give you the history of the car. Even an accident repaired car may look good to you.

Expenses

A car in the yard needs to be maintained to be in good condition once you come to view it. The yard may incur extra costs related to this, including security, buffing and cleaning costs, etc. Sometimes these service costs are transferred to the customer.

After much anticipation, your car has finally arrived at the port of Mombasa. You may have some questions about what happens next, which we have tried to answer here:

Do I require a clearing agent to help me clear my car at the port of Mombasa?

Yes, you do. It is not possible to clear a car at the port of Mombasa as an individual. This is because clearing agents are empowered by the KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority) to conduct this process. They undergo specific training which allows them to access the online Simba Tradex System which requires specific credentials. You will find a list of qualified clearing agents from the KRA website.

What documents are required to clear a car at the port of Mombasa?

To clear your car at the port of Mombasa, your clearing agent will require the following documents:

•  KRA PIN
• National ID
• Original Bill of Lading
• Inspection Certificate
• Export Certificate
• Translated Export Certificate (where the original is not in English)
• If the vehicle will be registered under a company, the company PIN and Certificate of Incorporation
• NTSA TIMS account

How long does customs clearance take at the port of Mombasa?

It takes about 10 working days to clear a car from the port of Mombasa,  barring any unforeseen delays. On occasion, there have been delays with the KRA and NTSA online systems and other delays occasioned by shortage of physical number plates.

What happens when my car arrives at the port of Mombasa?

When your car is offloaded from the vessel, it is driven to a pre-determined CFS (container freight station). This is where it will be stored in the duration that it is in the port. A few days before the car arrives at the port  or when it arrives, the clearing agent logs into the KRA system and submits an Import Declaration Form (IDF). This is a document declaring that a certain car has been imported into the country. They are then able to generate an entry sheet which shows the amount of taxes to be paid to KRA.

How do I pay the import duty for my car?

The entry sheet allows you to pay KRA taxes. As an individual, you can pay the taxes directly at any bank by presenting the entry sheet and the money. Please ensure that you are issued with an original receipt which will be needed as proof of payment.

Alternatively, your import agent/ clearing agent can pay the taxes on your behalf, as per your agreement.

How do I get a number plate for my imported car?

Your clearing agent in Mombasa will help you with registration, upon which NTSA will allocate you a number plate. For this process to take place, you will be required to create an account with NTSA. The clearing agent will then access this account and apply for registration. When the registration is successful, your car details, including the new number plate will now reflect on your account. The NTSA will issue you with the latest number plate available. The agent will then collect the physical plates on your behalf and fix them on the car.

How much does it cost to clear a car at the port of Mombasa?

The amount of money you pay to clear your car from the port of Mombasa will vary with the size of the car and other factors. There are  fixed and non-fixed charges such as port charges, shipping fee, clearing fee, processing fee, registration fee, radiation fee, marine Levy and import duty. You could also incur extra transport costs depending on how you plan to transport your car from Mombasa to your location.

How can I get a reliable clearing agent in Mombasa?

All (legitimate) clearing agents at the port of Mombasa are trained and licensed by KRA. You can easily confirm whether you are dealing with a legitimate agent on the KRA website where they are listed. As with any industry beware that there may be some rogue elements, and due diligence is recommended.

Do you need help to clear your car from the port of Mombasa?

Are you importing a vehicle from Japan or the UK and you need the services of a clearing agent in Mombasa? Do you need help transporting your car from Mombasa to your destination? We can help! Email info@crotonmotors.com or call 0723676784 for more information.

If you are planning to import a car from Japan, the UK, or elsewhere, one of your biggest concerns will be the cost. There is the actual cost of buying the vehicle, often referred to as CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) in import lingo. Basically, this covers the value of the car to the port of Mombasa.  This part is easy to understand, but it is the second part that most people find complicated and even confusing- import taxes.

How exactly do import agents arrive at the taxes payable? In this article, we will break down exactly how car import taxes in Kenya are calculated.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is the body tasked with determining how much taxes you pay for importing a car, and to whom these taxes are paid.

KRA uses what is called a Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP), a database that lists the showroom (brand-new) costs of various models of cars. The CRSP prices are what form a basis of taxing second-hand imports based on a depreciation model.

Please note- you will not pay taxes based on how much you paid for your car  (purchase invoice) but rather, by the CRSP.

Before we explain how CRSP depreciation works, it is important to note that other factors will affect the total cost of a used car. These include:

• Make- e.g., Subaru, Toyota, Nissan
• Model- e.g., Forester, Prado, Juke
• Year and month of manufacture, e.g., Nov 2014
• Engine transmission- e.g., automatic, manual
• Engine capacity-e.g. 1600cc, 1800cc, 2000cc
• Fuel type- e.g., petrol, diesel
• Class – e.g., wagon, hatchback, sedan

CRSP Depreciation

For vehicles manufactured between 2017 and 2019, KRA depreciates the CRSP price of the respective car by 5% per year  to arrive at the customs value.

For vehicles manufactured between 2020 and 2024, KRA depreciates the  CRSP price of the respective car by 10% per year to arrive at the customs value.

For instance, if you import a 2017 Mazda CX5, the CRSP price will depreciate by 65%, the year 2018 will depreciate by 60%, 2019 by 55%, and so forth. This means that unlike other countries, in Kenya, the older a car is, the lower the taxes and the newer a vehicle is, the higher the taxes.

The customs value we mentioned will then be subjected to several charges as follows:

• Import duty- 35%
• Excise value- 25% + import duty
• Value added tax – 16% + import duty + excise duty
• IDF (Import declaration fee)-3.5%
• Railway Development Levy-2%
• Additional charges- Marine Levy & Radiation Check

Let us look at a practical example. Let us say you want to import a 2000cc, petrol engine, 2017 Mazda CX5. This is how your import duty will be calculated.

This means the total import duty you will pay for a 2000cc 2017 Mazda CX5 is 752,375KES.

***These figures are meant as a guideline and are not absolute. KRA may change the CRSP without notice.

Metallic Blue Mazda CX5

Other Importation Costs

Now that you have an idea of how KRA arrives at taxes, it is time to look at other costs that you will incur at the port of Mombasa. These include:

• • Port charges– This is paid to the CFS (container freight station) where your car is being stored and varies based on the size of your vehicle
  • Shipping– This is paid to the shipping line that shipped your car
  • Registration fee– Paid to NTSA for registration & physical plates
  • Import agency fee– This is the fee agreed upon with your import agent for handling the whole import process on your behalf.
  • Clearance fees– Fees paid to the clearing & forwarding company that will clear your car from the port
  • Transportation to your location (either by road or car carrier)- You can choose to drive your car/ have it driven from Mombasa or use a car carrier
  • Insurance– This will be issued by your preferred insurance agent. We recommend that you get Comprehensive insurance

If you are looking to import a clean, low mileage vehicle  from Japan hassle free, speak to us today!

Used car dealers in Kenya have breathed a sigh of relief as the High Court in Mombasa suspended the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) bid to raises taxes on used cars.

KRA had issued a new CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) on 7th July 2020, which would have increased taxes for used car imports considerably. The CRSP is a list of prices for new vehicles, which makes the basis for which used imports are taxed based on a depreciation formula.

Upon the release of the new prices, the Car Importers Association of Kenya, which represents over 80 dealers, filed a petition in court to stop it. Among their reasons is that they were not consulted as required by the law and that the CRSP was grossly inflated.

The CRSP is fashioned after ‘showroom prices’ of brand-new models, which is then depreciated by 10% per year. Currently, Kenya only allows the importation of 8yr old vehicles. In making its argument in court, the Car Importers Association argued that KRA had given higher value for some models than was available for brand—new cars at the local dealerships.

For instance, as reported by the Business Daily, the new CRSP gives the Subaru Forrester a value of 6.39 million, while the same goes for 4.38 million locally.

In another example, the new CRSP failed in common sense by rating a small hatchback such as the Honda Fit at 3.8 million, but pricing the more luxurious Mercedes Benz B 180 at 3.1 million.

KRA has defended its actions by saying that it conducted public participation between April- May as required by law.

In delivering her judgment, Justice Mugure Thande suspended the new prices and ordered both parties to make submissions by 1^st September. The case will be mentioned on 22^nd September.

In the meantime, importers will continue using the older CRSP until the court determines the way forward.

Its sleek, luxurious, strong, and announces itself quietly but confidently.

Meet the all-new 2020 Land Cruiser Prado TX-L ‘Black Edition’

Released on 3^rd August, the Black Edition is based on the TX-L model and comes with a black interior and exterior finish.

Other than the black body colour, some of the new exciting ‘black’ features include:

Exterior:

• The radiator grill, grill inner bar, headlamp garnish and the dedicated fog lamp bezel
• 18” tires & alloys
• Also, in black are the roof rails, door mirrors and the back door garnish

Interior:

• The center cluster panel and front cup holder
• The ornament panel and center console end panel

Land Cruiser Prado “Black Edition” Options

You can select the 2.8-liter diesel engine or the 2.7-liter gasoline engine. Both come with 7 seat and 5 seat options.

New Updates to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Family

The TX ‘L Black Edition’ also benefits from recent upgrades to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado family that include:

• A power up to the 2.8-liter engine turbo charger from 177ps to 204ps, giving you more driving power
• Improved safety sense functions including enhanced pre-crash safety detection range to support pedestrians, lane departure alert, road sign assist and advance vehicle start notification
• Optional 9-inch display audio compatible with smartphones
• Optional rear cross traffic alert detecting vehicles approaching from the rear left or right
• Paddle shift function for the top of range TZ-G model allowing quick shift changes only with the fingertips

If you like your luxury in black, then this is for you.

We import new & used cars from Japan, talk to us today and you could be driving your ‘black edition’ within no time!

When the first COVID 19 case was confirmed in China in December 2019 nobody could predict how it would change the way the world operates. Suddenly, wearing masks and sanitizing have become the buzz words that we have live with.

Worldwide, this pandemic has affected business across all industries. With movement cessations in place in different countries, the car import industry has been one of the most hit. For a country like Kenya where 80% of the vehicles on the roads are second hand imports, this is an issue of great concern.

If you are in the market for a new import, or were in the process of importing before COVID 19 and you are now ready to proceed, here are a few things that you should know:

Brace for longer timelines

Everything is much slower, and will inevitably take more time than it should. Japan, which is the major exporting market for used cars, imposed a state of emergency in mid-April. This was characterized by restricted movement, working from home and rigorous standards of social distancing.

While some car auctions remained open, they had fewer cars than usual. The processes of de-registering, inspecting and shipping were also taking longer than usual.

While Japan has now opened up and things are slowly getting back to normal, it will still take time. Expect some delays in buying and shipping of cars.

Expect delays at the port of Mombasa

When your car finally leaves Japan for Mombasa, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

 However, with Kenya’s response to the pandemic there will be fewer KRA and NTSA staff at the port.

This means more delays. For instance, it is taking up to a month to get a logbook, down from a few days in the past.

Transportation from Mombasa

The issue of transportation is another difficulty that you might encounter.

Some car carriers such as Corner Garage have stopped their operations indefinitely.

This means that other than your car taking much longer to reach you, you may have to pay more to find one of the few car carriers still in operation.

Overall costs may be higher

Owing to global market shocks caused by the pandemic, the Kenyan shilling has weakened considerably against the dollar. This may impact the cost of importing a car.

Delays are expensive, and waiting at every stage of the car import process means that you are spending money directly or indirectly.

Is it all doom and gloom?

No, it is not. As the COVID 19 pandemic settles around the world, things will continue to stabilize. We have already seen much improvement in the various processes and this can only get better.

At Croton Motors we are open and ready to help you import your dream car from Japan to Kenya. Visit our website www.crotonmotors.com for a wide selection of vehicles in Japanese auctions, as well as information on our import process.

Once again, the holidays will soon be upon us. The month of December involves quite a bit of travel as people go upcountry and to other tourist destinations.

Unfortunately, in Kenya, the holidays are also a dangerous time on our roads, where we see a sharp increase in road accidents and deaths. Statistics show that road accidents are a leading cause of death in Kenya, claiming an average of 29 lives out of every 100,000 people. In fact, Kenyan roads are ranked as some of the most dangerous in the world.

According to NTSA, some of the contributors to high road accident deaths in Kenya include:

• Over speeding
• Reckless driving and overtaking
• Drunk driving
• Non-use of safety belts
• Driver fatigue
• Non-compliance with traffic rules
• Use of non-designated crossings by pedestrians

The Kenya Police in conjunction with NTSA has mapped out some of the most dangerous blackspots in various parts of the country. These are spots that have registered high numbers of accidents over the years.

Here is a rundown of the deadliest blackspots that you should be aware of in various areas as you travel this December:

The Rift Valley

The Nairobi- Nakuru- Eldoret Highway is one of the most accident-prone roads in the country. Blacks pots to be aware of on this road include:

Kinungi- Naivasha- Gilgil Toll Station

Gilgil- Mbaruk Road Section

Molo G.S.U Camp – Salgaa

Salgaa-Migaa-Sachangwan-Kibunja

Timboroa – Burnt Forest Section

Kericho – Litein Road Section

Endebes Eldoret Road Section

Central Kenya

Kiganjo- Naromoru Road

Kibirigwi – Sagana Road Section

Thika Blue Post – Sagana Bridge Road Section

Kiriaini – Muranga Road Section

Nyeri – Nyahururu Road

Western Kenya

Mbale – Vihiga Road Section

Kakamega Chavakali Road Section

Kakamega – Kisumu – Ilesi Museno

Kakamega – Mumias Rd – Makunga

Bungoma – Eldoret – Chemoi

Kitale Webuye – Lugulu Misikhu

The Coast

Tsavo – Maungu – Voi Road Section

Wundanyi – Mwatate Road Section

Maungu – Tsavo East Gate Road Section

Maktau – Taveta Road Section

Mazeras Miritini Road Section

Rabai Ribe Road Section

Kaloleni Dzitsoni Road Section

Kilifi – Vipingo Road Section

 Kibarani – Changamwe Makande Kwale Matuga Junction Road Section

Kibarani Area

Nairobi Area

Kasarani G.S.U Stretch

Waiyaki Way near Kangemi Fly Over

Mombasa Road near Cabanas

Westlands Museum Roundabout

Jogoo Road near Maziwa Stage

Westlands Kabete Road

Eastern Bypass

Nyanza Region

Awasi Ahero Road Section

Kiboswa Kisumu Road Section

Daraja Mbili – Bondo Junction

Oyugis – Katitu Road Section

Migori Kakrao Road

Gucha Bridge

Migori Township

Ogembo Nyanguso Road

 Kisii Township Main Road

Mwembe Area Kisii Town

Kisii Daraja Mbili

Eastern Region

Nkubu – Embu Road Section

Konza Junction To Salama Road Section – Mombasa/Nrb At Chumvi Area

Salama – Sultan Hamud Road Section

Emali Simba Market To Kibwezi

Mtito To Tsavo River Stretch

Nanyuki To Isiolo Junction At Subuiga

Machakos – Wamunyu Road Section At Kithangathini

Mlolongo – Small World Club – And Junction To Namaga And At Mto Wa Mawe Bridge

North Eastern Region

Garissa Madogo – Kbc Station

Modogashe – Habaswein

Ukasi – Bangale

Bangale – Hola Road Junction

Buna – Gurar

Do you know that you can now apply for a smart Driving License from NTSA?

If you are like most Kenyans, you have at one time, or another found the red book like driving license unattractive or even cumbersome.

Well, those days are now gone. You can now easily exchange your old driving license for the new digital one by just following a few steps online.

Before we go to the application process, here is some 411 about the new digital driving license:

The new smart driving license from NTSA costs 3,050kes, and everyone will be required to have migrated to it by January 2021.

It will also contain a host of information, including your blood type, biometrics, and any traffic offenses you might have committed!

This information will be contained in a chip that can only be read by special card readers to be used by NTSA.

This digital DL, which looks much like your ID, will work on a point system where points will be docked for bad behavior on the roads.

Different offenses will carry different point’s value.

You will be started with 100 points, and if these fall to 40, your driving license will be revoked for 6 months or even permanently. So stay woke people!

But that’s not all. As the system settles down, this digital DL could have several other implications.

Because the card will record all your driving behavior, this information will be useful to insurance companies when determining how to insure you and your car.

NTSA is currently in talks with insurance companies to have good drivers rewarded with low premiums, and bad drivers punished with high premiums.

In future, your driving history will also be valuable to employers.

There might be some ethics involved here, but employers run background checks all the time.

Nothing like your driving history (multiple offenses, warnings, etc.) to tell them whether you are a risky employ or not.

Focusing on the positive, you will no longer have to carry the red book around with you much longer!

Before you can apply for a smart DL, you need to have an account on the Transport Information Management System (TIMS) run by NTSA.

To create the account:

1. Go tims.ntsa.go.ke.

2. If you already have an account, all you have to do is log in.

3. If you don’t have an account, click on the register button at the bottom of the page.

4. This will redirect you to the page below. Select ‘individual’ option and input your ID Serial Number.

5. You will then fill in other required details such as KRA PIN, names, and phone number.

6. If all the information is correct, request for a verification code which will be sent to your phone.

7. Input the code on the verification tab, and you are now registered with TIMS.

To Apply for the Smart DL

1. Once you have created an account with TIMS, go back to tims.ntsa.go.ke and sign in.

2. You will be given several options- select ‘Driving License’.

3. This page will have all the details of the current driving license that you are holding.

4. On the left-hand side of the page, select the option ‘Apply for smart DL.’

5. You will be taken to a page with your current DL details where you will be asked to verify that all information, specifically the class, is correct.

6. If all the information is correct, then you should proceed to apply by clicking the ‘next’ button at the bottom of the page.

7. If there is something that you would like to correct, do so using the red link at the top of the page. You will have to wait for your information to be corrected before proceeding with the application.

8. On the next page you will be asked to make payment, and you will be redirected to a payment page with several payment options:

9. After making payment successfully, you will be required to book an appointment with NTSA.

10. At the appointment, NTSA will take your photo, fingerprints, and any other relevant details.

11. Typically, your smart DL should be ready in 5 working days. NTSA has, however, been experiencing a backlog, and you might have to wait a little bit longer than that.

Is My Car Safe at the Port of Mombasa as it awaits Clearing?

This is one of the most common questions we get from clients who import cars from Japan to Kenya through us.

And it is a valid one. If you import a car through us, you can be sure that your car is safe at the port.

When cars arrive at port of Mombasa, they are offloaded and taken to respective terminals. At Croton Motors, we nominate all our cars to the Regional Logistics Center Terminal (RLC).

Regional Logistics has been in business for close to 20 years. This means that they have the experience and logistics required to ensure smooth processes.

RLC has a large yard that can hold up to 1500 vehicles. It is secure, and vehicles are handled by a professional team of drivers.

– Because we nominate this terminal specifically, we enjoy 45 days of free storage. This means that even in cases of unexpected delays you are unlikely to incur demurrage charges. Cars that are not nominated to any terminal have only a 3 day free facility.

As seen above, you have no reason to worry about your car’s safety while at the port of Mombasa- well, as long as you import with Croton Motors! We can’t speak for the other guys!

Let us help you find the right car for you!

If you are importing a car from Japan, chances are that you have come across an auction sheet. It could have been sent to you by your importer or you could have seen it online. Obviously if you don’t read Japanese characters then understanding it might be difficult. Yet, it contains all the relevant information on the car you are buying so understanding some to most of what it says is important.

Japanese auctions sell hundreds of cars every day. The auction system is quite efficient and has been developed so that people from far away (such as us in Kenya) can reliably buy vehicles in Japan without seeing them. It also helps to sell cars from every corner of Japan.

Before being taken the auction all the cars undergo extensive checks. These are done by professionals employed by the auction houses. These inspectors check for mechanical soundness as well as interior and exterior conditions based on a set of given standards.
They then fill out the auction sheet based on what they find. This system works and is trusted by buyers and sellers all over the world.

Guide to Auction Grades

While the auction sheet contains detailed information about the car, the auction grade gives you an idea of the general condition of the car. It is almost always enough to tell you whether to consider the car or to pass. Here is a guide on the auction grades:

There are 2 types of grading:
1. Overall grade- usually a number, based on exterior and mechanical condition of the car
2. Interior grade- usually a letter, based on the interior condition of the car. Some auction houses may use numbers 1-5.

Overall Grading

GRADE 6/7/8/S- These are brand new cars, mostly used by the manufacturers for demo purposes or with only delivery mileage

GRADE 5- The car is exceptionally clean, good as new. It will probably have very low mileage. This grade is often hard to get.

GRADE 4.5- Again very clean but slightly used, might have slightly higher mileage than grade 5. Often in great condition, sometimes as good as new.

GRADE 4- Visibly used but clean, good condition regardless of mileage

GRADE 3.5- Good condition but might have visible scratches, dents and other minor issues. Might also need minor repair work.

GRADE 3- Average condition and might be damaged, will often have very high mileage.

GRADE 2– Very poor condition, might have dents, blemishes, dirt and rust, not to mention very high mileage

GRADE R/RA – Accident repaired vehicles, or highly modified such as a whole part being replaced. Can end up being very poor quality.

Interior Grading

This denotes the interior condition of the car and will usually be graded as follows:
A- Excellent
B- Average
C- Below average

Some auction houses may use numbers 1-5, with 5 being the best, going downwards.

What is in an Auction Sheet?

After you have seen the overall grading of the car, before deciding whether to buy you need to see the rest of the details. The auction sheet will have several sections filled out in Japanese. This is what those sections represent as in the illustration below:

After you understand what each section stands for, on the illustration of the car such as in the above diagram you will see a series of letters and numbers in some of the sections. This is what they mean:

E3 – Some dents which are barely visible
U1 – A dent which is the size of a thumb
U2 – A dent which is the size of a palm

U3 – A dent which is more than size U2
Y1 – A tear which is the size of a thumb
Y2 – A tear which is the size of a palm
Y3 – A tear which is more than size Y2
W1 – A panel which has been repaired slightly, and is in good condition
W2 – A panel which has been repaired slightly, and has a slightly wave

W3 – A panel which has been repaired slightly, and has a conspicuous wave
S1 – Rust which is the size of a fist
S2 – Rust which is more than size S1
 C1 – Major rust corrosion which is the size of a fist
C2 – Major rust corrosion which is more than size C1
X – A panel which needs to be replaced
 XX – A panel which has been replaced

What is TIMS?

TIMS (Transport Integrated Management System) is an online platform created to enable citizens to access NTSA (National Transport & Safety Authority) services conveniently.

All government services offered by NTSA have now been migrated to this platform. Some of these services include:

• Motor vehicle registration
• Motor vehicle inspection booking
• Motor vehicle transfer of ownership
• Motor vehicle record search
• Application for smart DL
• Application for duplicated logbook
• Application for reflective number plate

It is mandatory for anyone looking for any of the above services to register for a TIMS account. Account registration is FREE and can be done easily on the NTSA website at http://www.ntsa.go.ke/

Here is How to Create an Account on TIMS

1. Go to the NTSA website http://www.ntsa.go.ke/

2. Here you will find two sub domain options- one for the NTSA Index website and one for TIMS. Select TIMS.

3. You will now be rerouted to https://tims.ntsa.go.ke/

4. On the top right hand side of the page you will find several options such as:

• Sign in using e-citizen (please note you can use this option if you already have an e-citizen account),
• Sign in (this is for people who already have an account)
• Register an account (this is for people who have no account)
• Subscribe SMS (this service allows you to receive notifications on passwords, security codes and other relevant information).

5. Select Register an account

6. You will now find several options requesting you to choose whether you are an individual, dealer, agent, financial institutions, company or driving school.

7. On the same page confirm whether you are a citizen or alien and input your ID serial number

8. You will then be prompted to input your KRA PIN and your mother’s maiden name, your phone number and profession on the next page.

9. You can now proceed to get a verification code which will be sent to your phone.

10. Key in this code to finish the registration process

11. You can now go back to the home page and sign in to access NTSA services