Car Import Duty Calculator Kenya (KRA CRSP 2025)
Pick your car from KRA's current retail selling price (CRSP) list, choose the year it was first registered, and see what KRA will charge to clear it.
Rates checked 20 Oct 2026 against official sources (listed below).
Your car
Loading the KRA price list…
Figures are KRA's current retail selling price (CRSP) for a new car of that model, from the KRA CRSP list of July 2025.
Estimated KRA taxes
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Customs value
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Depreciation
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Total landed
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| Tax | Amount |
|---|---|
| CRSP (new car retail price) | — |
| Customs value KRA works back to | — |
| Import duty (35%) | — |
| Excise duty (20%) | — |
| VAT (16%) | — |
| Import declaration fee (2.5%) | — |
| Railway development levy (2%) | — |
| Total taxes | — |
KRA works out the customs value from the CRSP, not from what you paid: it removes a 25% dealer margin, takes off depreciation for age, then strips out duty, excise and VAT. The tax isn't final until KRA assesses your entry, and clearing agent fees, port and shipping-line charges, and NTSA registration are extra.
The full explanation, with worked examples and what to watch for: Importing a Car to Kenya in 2026: New Age Rule, Duty and Full Cost Guide
About this calculator
The maths follows the valuation template KRA publishes with the CRSP list, so you see the same customs value KRA works from.
How KRA works out the tax on an imported car
KRA doesn't tax a used car on the price you paid in Japan or the UK. It starts from the current retail selling price (CRSP), which is what the same model would cost new in Kenya with all taxes paid, and works backwards:
- Remove the dealer margin. Divide the CRSP by 1.25.
- Apply depreciation for the car's age, counted from the year of first registration (table below).
- Strip out the taxes. Divide by 1.35 (import duty), then by 1 plus the excise rate, then by 1.16 (VAT). What's left is the customs value.
- Charge the taxes on that customs value:
- import duty: 35% (25% for fully electric cars)
- excise duty: a percentage of customs value plus import duty
- VAT: 16% of customs value plus duty plus excise
- import declaration fee (IDF): 2.5% of customs value
- railway development levy (RDL): 2% of customs value
Excise duty by engine size
| Engine | Petrol or hybrid | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 cc | 20% | 20% |
| 1,501–3,000 cc (petrol), 1,501–2,500 cc (diesel) | 25% | 25% |
| Above 3,000 cc (petrol), above 2,500 cc (diesel) | 35% | 35% |
| Fully electric | 10% | None |
Depreciation for direct imports
| Age since first registration | Depreciation off CRSP |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | 0% |
| Over 1, up to 2 years | 20% |
| Over 2, up to 3 years | 30% |
| Over 3, up to 4 years | 40% |
| Over 4, up to 5 years | 50% |
| Over 5, up to 6 years | 55% |
| Over 6, up to 7 years | 60% |
| Over 7, up to 8 years | 65% |
What popular cars cost to clear in 2026
These use the July 2025 CRSP for the model named, for a direct import cleared in 2026:
| Car (CRSP model) | First registered | KRA taxes |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda Demio 13S, 1,298 cc | 2019 | about KES 488,000 |
| Toyota Corolla Axio, 1,496 cc | 2019 | about KES 509,000 |
| Toyota Vitz Hybrid F, 1,496 cc | 2019 | about KES 543,000 |
| Nissan Note e-Power X, 1,198 cc | 2020 | about KES 575,000 |
| Toyota Corolla Fielder EX, 1,496 cc | 2019 | about KES 615,000 |
| Subaru Forester 2.0i-L, 1,995 cc | 2019 | about KES 713,000 |
| Toyota Harrier 2.0, 1,998 cc | 2020 | about KES 1.31 million |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX diesel, 2,800 cc | 2020 | about KES 1.44 million |
The Prado shows what the 35% excise band does: its CRSP is close to the Harrier's, but because the diesel engine is above 2,500 cc, its tax bill is higher.
Buying locally instead?
If you buy a used car from a private seller in Kenya, use a car sale agreement that covers the logbook, the NTSA transfer and who pays fines before handover.
Frequently asked questions
How is car import duty calculated in Kenya?
KRA takes the CRSP for your exact model, removes a 25% dealer margin, deducts depreciation for age, and strips out duty, excise and VAT to get a customs value. It then charges 35% import duty, 20–35% excise duty depending on engine size, 16% VAT, a 2.5% import declaration fee and a 2% railway development levy.
What is CRSP?
The current retail selling price is KRA's list of what each vehicle model would sell for new in Kenya. KRA revised it in July 2025, the first update since 2019, and it now covers over 5,200 models. KRA uses it instead of your invoice so that under-declared prices don't lower the tax.
How old can an imported car be in Kenya?
Under the Kenya Bureau of Standards rule (KS 1515), a used car must be under eight years old, counted from the year of first registration. For cars arriving in 2026, that generally means first registered in 2019 or later.
Why is my duty higher than my friend's for the same car?
The CRSP depends on the exact trim, engine and model code, and two cars that look the same can sit on different lines of the list. A year's difference in first registration also moves the depreciation by 5–10 percentage points.
Are hybrids cheaper to import?
No. Petrol hybrids pay the same duty and excise as petrol cars of the same engine size. Only fully electric cars get lower rates: 25% import duty and 10% excise.
Does this include clearing and registration costs?
No. On top of the KRA taxes, budget for a clearing agent, port and shipping-line charges, and NTSA registration and number plates.