KEBS issues new guidelines for validation of used vehicle imports to Kenya
By Valerian Khakayi, July 8, 2025The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued new guidelines for the validation of second-hand vehicle imports to Kenya.
KEBS, in a notice on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, said that the guidelines which require all used motor vehicles imported into Kenya to be no more than eight years old from their Year of First Registration (YoR) aim at reinforcing existing age restrictions under KS 1515:2000 – Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.
KEBS emphasised that to ensure compliance at the point of destination for vehicles arriving without a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR), importers, traders, or sellers must validate import documents such as logbooks, export certificates, and deregistration certificates against a reliable and authorised database.
“Among the standards enforced by KEBS is KS 1515:2000-Code of practice for inspection of road vehicles, which requires that all used motor vehicles being imported into Kenya are not more than 8 (eight) years old from the Year of First Registration (YoR),” the KEBS notice reads.
“To ensure that all vehicles imported into Kenya without a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) meet this requirement at destination, it is important for the importers, traders or sellers to validate import documents such as Logbooks, export certificates and/or deregistration certificates with a reliable and authorised database.”
Additionally, KEBS noted that this measure would help prevent cases where motor vehicles are imported using forged or fraudulently obtained documents.
“This will help prevent cases of the importation of motor vehicles with forged or fraudulently acquired documents, “KEBS added.
KEBS on age limit
KEBS further announced that it had engaged Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ) to carry out validation of import documents for used motor vehicles arriving in Kenya for destination inspection, specifically for the purpose of verifying the eight‑year age limit.
“Consequently, KEBS has engaged Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (015) to carry out validation of import documents for used motor vehicles subject to destination inspection for purposes of age limit verification,” KEBS stated.
Additionally, KEBS instructed importers to pay a validation fee of Ksh 12,000 per vehicle, which must be paid at the local QISJ offices, adding that the validation process is scheduled to be completed within four working days.
“This engagement will be implemented as listed below. Validation fees per vehicle – Ksh 12,000 (To be paid by importer to local QISJ offices) and service timeline – within 4 working days,” KEBS added.
“Importers of used motor vehicles not accompanied by a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) are required to submit copies of the logbook or de-registration certificate, or export certificate from the country of last registration, to any of the QIS) local offices listed below, for validation.”
