This regulation, enforced by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), limits the importation of used vehicles based on their year of first registration (YOR) — not the year they were manufactured (YOM).
KEBS uses the first registration date, not the production date, when determining eligibility. That distinction matters: a vehicle manufactured in one year but first registered a year or two later is assessed against its registration date, not the factory build date.
In practice, this means every vehicle we source for you is screened against the current 8-year window before it's shortlisted — so you never fall in love with a car that can't legally land in Mombasa.
How Safari Imports handles this for you
- We verify the year of first registration on every vehicle before purchase, not after.
- We flag borderline cases (cars approaching the 8-year cut-off) so you can decide with full information.
- We keep this page and our sourcing checklist aligned with the latest KEBS guidance.
Have a specific car in mind?
Talk to our team before you commit — we'll confirm import eligibility and give you a realistic cost and timeline.
Request Import Consultation