Vehicle Import & Transit Clearance
Kenya NTSA registration (8yr rule), transit cars to Uganda (15yr rule) and no-age-limit transit to Juba, South Sudan.
Importing a car from Japan to Mombasa? At Dettra Logistics we clear vehicles at Mombasa Port RoRo & container — for Kenya NTSA registration, transit to Uganda (Kampala), and transit to South Sudan (Juba).
Kenya allows only vehicles up to 8 years old, Uganda allows up to 15 years, and South Sudan has no age limit. We clear all three. Send your chassis number on WhatsApp for a free duty estimate.
Three destinations for your Japan car via Mombasa
| Car year | Kenya NTSA? | Uganda URA? | South Sudan Juba? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–7 years old | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| 8–15 years old | Not allowed | Allowed (15yr rule) | Allowed (no limit) |
| Older than 15 years | Not allowed | Not allowed | Allowed — any age |
If your car is 2018 or older, transit to Uganda or Juba via Mombasa is usually the better route than trying Kenya registration.
Option 1 — Kenya registration (NTSA), 8-year rule
KRA duty uses CRSP (not your invoice price) multiplied by a depreciation schedule, then taxed: Import Duty 35% + Excise 20–35% (by engine size) + VAT 16% + IDF 3.5% + RDL 2%.
Our Kenya clearing fee of KES 80,000 includes KRA declaration, KPA shore handling, KEBS/JEVIC verification, NTSA TIMS registration with plates and logbook, and delivery to Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret or Mombasa — with a 48hr port-exit guarantee.
Option 2 — Transit to Kampala, Uganda (15-year rule)
Uganda allows cars up to 15 years old, opening the door to cheaper 2011–2018 stock that Kenya rejects. Mombasa transit clearing (C28 + RCTG bond + RECTS) runs around $300 per car, with trucking to Kampala from $900–$1,500 depending on how many cars share a carrier. Typical transit time is 4–5 days via Malaba or Busia.
Option 3 — Transit to Juba, South Sudan (no age limit)
South Sudan has no vehicle age restriction, so older, cheaper 4x4s — Land Cruisers, Prados, Hilux double cabs — move well here, with strong demand from NGOs, traders and government buyers. Mombasa transit clearing plus SSRA permit is around $400 per car, with trucking via Nimule to Juba from $2,500–$3,000 (single carrier) and typically 7–9 days transit.
Step by step: importing from Japan to Mombasa
- Buy in Japan: request the auction sheet and chassis number, and arrange a JEVIC inspection before shipping — skipping it risks a customs penalty at Mombasa.
- Freight: RoRo (cheapest for a single car), or container for 2–4 cars — we can consolidate cars from different auctions into one container to save on freight.
- Documents: export certificate, bill of lading, JEVIC certificate, commercial invoice, KRA PIN or transit IDF, and marine insurance.
- Mombasa clearance: we handle NTSA registration, or transit paperwork for Uganda/Juba, depending on your destination.
- Delivery: NTSA plates and logbook for Kenya deliveries, or yard handover at the destination bond for transit cars.
Why dealers choose Dettra Logistics
- Free duty estimate for all three destinations from your chassis number
- JEVIC-partner inspection in Japan, including a check for accident repair before you buy
- 48hr port exit — avoids storage costs and theft risk at the port
- One team covering NTSA (Kenya), URA (Uganda) and SSRA (South Sudan) — one invoice
- Live GPS tracking for transit trucks with photo proof on delivery
Send your chassis number, model, year, CC, and destination (Kenya / Kampala / Juba) on WhatsApp — we reply within 5 minutes with the applicable age-limit check and an estimated duty and landed-cost breakdown.