Estimate the total cost of importing a vehicle into Kenya, including customs duty, excise duty, IDF, RDL, and VAT.
Importing a used car into Kenya isn't taxed on the price you paid for it abroad — KRA taxes it on its own CRSP-based valuation, reduced for age, then run through the same duty-excise-VAT cascade as any other import. This calculator walks through that full chain: CRSP value, depreciation, import duty, excise duty, IDF, RDL, and VAT, to estimate the total cost of clearing a vehicle at a Kenyan port.
What Is CRSP and Why Does It Matter?
CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) is KRA's own published valuation for a given vehicle make, model, and year — the price of that vehicle brand new in Kenya today, according to KRA's list, not what you paid for it overseas. KRA taxes imports using this CRSP figure (adjusted for age) instead of your invoice price, so two buyers who paid different amounts for the identical make, model, and year owe the same duty. Look up your vehicle's CRSP value on KRA's published schedule or through a licensed clearing agent, then enter it into this calculator.
How Does Vehicle Age Reduce the Taxable Value?
KRA applies a standard depreciation percentage to the CRSP value based on how long the vehicle has been registered, in six-month to one-year bands: 5% for a vehicle over 6 months old, rising in 5-point steps to 40% for a vehicle in its 7th or 8th year. The result — CRSP minus depreciation — is the vehicle's customs value, the figure every subsequent charge is calculated from. NTSA bars importing any vehicle older than 8 years, so 40% is the maximum depreciation this schedule allows.
How Is Import Duty Calculated on a Vehicle?
Import duty is a flat 25% of the customs value — the standard EAC Common External Tariff rate for finished goods, which motor vehicles fall under. This is the first charge applied, before excise duty or VAT.
How Is Excise Duty Calculated on a Vehicle?
Excise duty on motor vehicles is banded by engine capacity, charged on customs value plus import duty: 20% for engines up to 1500cc, 25% for 1501cc–2500cc, and 35% above 2500cc. Fully electric vehicles get a preferential flat excise rate of 10% regardless of motor output, reflecting Kenya's lower e-mobility tax treatment. These bands and the EV rate change with each Finance Act, so confirm the current rate for your exact engine size before relying on this figure.
What Are the IDF and RDL on a Vehicle Import?
The Import Declaration Fee (3.5% of customs value, minimum KES 5,000) and the Railway Development Levy (1.5% of customs value) apply to a vehicle import exactly as they do to any other commercial import — flat percentages charged regardless of duty or excise band.
How Is VAT Calculated Last?
VAT at 16% is charged last, on customs value plus import duty plus excise duty — not on the original CRSP figure and not including IDF or RDL. This mirrors the same cascading order used for any general import: duty first, excise second, VAT on top of both.
How Do I Use the Motor Vehicle Import Duty Calculator?
Enter your vehicle's CRSP value in KES, select the age band that matches its registration date, enter the engine capacity in cc, and choose the fuel type. For petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles, excise duty is calculated from the engine capacity bands; for electric vehicles, engine capacity is ignored and the flat 10% EV rate applies instead. The calculator shows the customs value, each duty and levy in sequence, and the total cost of importing the vehicle.
Verify with KRA: This calculator uses KRA's standard depreciation schedule and the Excise Duty Act's engine-capacity bands, but your vehicle's actual CRSP value, exact age-band cutoff, and any applicable exemptions can only be confirmed against KRA's published CRSP list. Confirm your figure with KRA or a licensed clearing agent before committing to an import. For the cost of insuring the vehicle once it lands, see the Motor Insurance Calculator; for financing it, see the Car Loan Calculator.
What is CRSP and where do I find my vehicle's CRSP value?
CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) is KRA's own published valuation for a vehicle's make, model, and year — the price of that vehicle brand new in Kenya today. KRA taxes imports on this CRSP figure, adjusted for age, rather than what you actually paid for the car. Look it up on KRA's published CRSP list or ask a licensed clearing agent.
How much is import duty on a car in Kenya?
Import duty on a vehicle is a flat 25% of its customs value (CRSP minus age-based depreciation), the standard EAC Common External Tariff rate for finished goods.
How does vehicle age affect import duty in Kenya?
KRA reduces the taxable CRSP value with a standard depreciation schedule: 5% for a vehicle over 6 months old, rising in 5-point steps to a maximum of 40% for a vehicle in its 7th or 8th year. NTSA bars importing vehicles older than 8 years, so 40% is the cap.
How is excise duty calculated on an imported vehicle?
Excise duty is banded by engine capacity: 20% up to 1500cc, 25% for 1501cc–2500cc, and 35% above 2500cc, charged on customs value plus import duty. Fully electric vehicles get a preferential flat 10% excise rate instead.
Is VAT charged on top of import duty and excise duty for a vehicle?
Yes. VAT at 16% is charged last, on the customs value plus import duty plus excise duty combined — not on the CRSP value alone.