Duty Free Car Imports

Duty Free Car Imports for Diplomats & Expatriates

You have just been posted to Kenya on a new work assignment, congratulations and Karibu Kenya! You are probably already dreaming of safaris (yay Masai Mara!) and driving on the vast open roads as you explore the beautiful countryside.

Not forgetting getting to and from work, obviously! As such, a vehicle is already at the top of your to-do list.

If you are looking to import a quality, low mileage pre-owned vehicle from Japan duty-free, here is a flow of how you would go about it:

1. Think of the car you want- There are a few things to consider here. Are you looking for a vehicle to use in the city such as a sedan, or you want a car that can hold its own during safaris, camping trips and other outdoor adventures such as a 4*4?
2. Obviously, you will have friends and family visiting during your stay- do you want a 5 or 7 seater?
3. Select a reputable Import Agent such as Croton Motors
4. Agree on Car Specs and other related matters, i.e. make, colour, mileage, budget, payment schedule, timelines etc.
5. Give import go-ahead

As your car is en route to Mombasa duty exemption documents should be prepared. Depending on your organizations status, it could be the Pro 1B or DA1. These documents will be prepared by the protocol officer in your organization.

To prepare duty exemption papers, 3 things are needed:

• Commercial invoice of the vehicle
• Bill of Lading
• Inspection Certificate

The Pro 1B or DA1 documents are prepared in duplicate. Your protocol officer will be issued with one, and the second one circulates internally in the relevant government offices. The second duplicate will be compared to the one your clearing agent submits at the port.

For customs clearing at the port of Mombasa the following documents are needed:

• Original diplomatic passport
• If working for the UN or UN-affiliated organizations the Laissez-Passer
• Original job ID
• Original Pro 1B or DA1
• Original car documents (Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, Inspection certificate) which your import agent will have

From here, your agent will carry out customs clearance in the usual way. We will then transport the car from Mombasa and deliver it to you as agreed. Registration plates will be provided to you by your protocol officer. Here are eight things you should do after receiving your car.

NOTE: Your original passport is required to clear the vehicle at customs. On average, and barring any unforeseen delays- this could take up to 10 working days. It is best not to plan any overseas trips within this time frame.

At Croton motors, we have helped many diplomats & expatriates to quickly and seamlessly import vehicles upon their arrival in Kenya. We could do the same for you!

Duty-free vehicle imports for Diplomats / Expatriates

We have imported duty-free vehicles for staff in various organisations/ embassies such as:

• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
• Business Sweden
• Embassy of The Czech Republic in Nairobi, Kenya
• South African Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya
• Irish Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya
• International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
• Trade and Development Bank (TDB)

Car Imports for Returning Residents from LHD Countries

Have you been living aboard and planning to return to Kenya permanently? There are exciting new things to look forward to in the good old motherland - not to mention nyama choma to catch up with, relatives to visit, trips to take, and well, the hustle.

If you are coming from a left-hand driving (LHD) country things just got even better!

In 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that Kenyans living abroad in LHD countries such as the USA, China, France, and Germany would be allowed to import right-hand vehicles to Kenya, duty-free, upon their return.

This offer, in effect, allows permanently returning residents to ‘replace’ their LHD vehicles with right-hand drive cars for use in Kenya.

This excellent offer comes with some conditions, however. To qualify for this duty-free facility:

• • You must be over 18 years old.
  • You must be returning to Kenya permanently and not only visiting for some time.
  • You must prove that you owned an LHD vehicle in the country you resided in, and which you used for at least one year before returning to Kenya.
  • You must show proof of disposal (transfer of ownership) of the LHD vehicle previously owned before relocating to Kenya.
  • The price of the newly acquired right-hand vehicle must not be higher than the previously owned LHD vehicle.
  • The imported right-hand vehicle must be of the same category as the previously owned LHD vehicle in terms of make, engine rating and year of manufacture.
  • You must meet all conditions outlined in the 5th Schedule of the East African Community Management Act of 2004 regarding the importation of personal effects by a returning resident.
  • This vehicle replacement offer does not apply to buses or minibuses with more than 13 seats and load carrying vehicles with a capacity of more than two tons.

• The right-hand vehicle replacement must comply with all necessary Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) requirements such as it must not be more than 8 years of age at the time of import and must undergo KEBS mandated inspection in the country of export.

Ambiguity in the Conditions

It is worth noting that there is a degree of ambiguity in some of the conditions set forth, which in effect leaves a lot to the discretion of the KRA officers at the port of Mombasa.

For instance, Regarding year of manufacture: KRA requires that one import a car of the same year of production as the one disposed of. What happens in the case that the LHD vehicle that one has been using was manufactured over 8 years ago, in which case a similar car cannot be imported into Kenya considering the KEBS requirement that vehicles imported into Kenya must not be more than 8 years old?

Regarding Make: This is a significant grey area for returning residents. In some documents KRA indicates that the replacement vehicle should be of the same make as the LHD vehicle. There will be instances where one’s LHD make is not available in other markets or has been discontinued etc. What happens then?

These are questions we shall keep raising with KRA for more clarity and will advise our customers accordingly.