Importing a car into Kenya in 2026 may sound straightforward, but without the right steps and support it can quickly feel overwhelming. That said, companies like Seaways Kenya and its Garimoto portal are helping make this process more predictable and less nerve-wracking. Below I walk you through the full journey, including how Seaways Kenya fits into each stage.
1. Choose and Source Your Vehicle
Picking the right car usually starts online. With the Garimoto portal by Seaways Kenya, you can browse thousands of available units from trusted auction houses (Japan, UK, Singapore, Dubai, etc.). The portal lets you filter by make, model, year, engine size, mileage and price so you narrow down options faster. Garimoto
A frequent misconception is that you just buy the first cheap car you see. In reality, checking details like mileage, condition history reports, and previous ownership records often saves you money and surprises later.
2. Get an Instant Quote and Estimate Costs
Once you’ve found a car you like on Garimoto, Seaways lets you:
• See a customs duty estimate before you pay anything. Seaways Kenya Limited
• Understand total clearing costs (including local taxes). logistics.seaways.net
• Generate a quote you can save and revisit. logistics.seaways.net
This is crucial because Kenya’s import taxes (duty, excise, VAT, and levies) often add up to a significant portion of a car’s value. They change year to year, so estimating up front can remove guesswork.
3. Prepare Your Documents and Inspection
Before shipping your car you’ll typically need:
• Original Bill of Lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Original Logbook from the exporting country
• Inspection Certificate (roadworthiness test done abroad – often by QISJ or similar)
Most reputable sellers include the pre-shipment inspection as part of the deal, but it’s worth confirming.
Seaways can help you manage these documents via its portal, so you don’t lose or misplace any key paperwork.
4. Ship the Car to Kenya
Once the car is paid for and documents are in order, it’s time to ship. Whether you pick Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) or container shipping, Seaways works with trusted shipping lines and gives you updates from departure to arrival — oftentimes through email or SMS. Seaways Kenya Limited
Shipping from Japan to Mombasa usually takes about 45–60 days, so patience is part of the game.
5. Clearance at the Port of Mombasa
When your car arrives in Mombasa, it must clear customs before you can drive it. Seaways’ logistics and customs brokerage teams handle that for you, including:
• Calculating exact duties and taxes. logistics.seaways.net
• Submitting clearing documents on your behalf. logistics.seaways.net
• Paying port handling fees and liaising with authorities. logistics.seaways.net
They aim to clear most cars in just a few days, though real-world delays (like port congestion) sometimes extend that. What makes a big difference here is having a licensed clearing agent on your side — doing this yourself often wastes time and costs more in penalties.
6. Insurance and After-Delivery Services
Seaways also offers comprehensive insurance (including marine insurance and motor insurance), often at negotiated fleet-discounted rates, so you don’t get hit with high premiums after paying import taxes. Seaways Kenya Limited
After delivery, they can assist with:
• Advice on servicing stations
• Accessories like alarms or window tints
• Spare key cutting or storage
• Resale support if you decide to sell later Seaways Kenya Limited
7. Final Licensing and Registration
Once the car has cleared customs, your final step is to register it with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and get Kenyan plates. Most people do this with an NTSA agent or with help from their clearing company.
In short: Importing a car into Kenya still involves paperwork, taxes and patience, but services like Seaways Kenya + Garimoto can take the confusion out of each step so you avoid surprising fees and delays.
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