The rules around Japanese imports have quietly shifted in 2026. If you last imported a car in 2023, here is what you need to know before wiring funds to any auction agent. ## Age limit stays at 8 years The Ministry of Transport confirmed the 8-year cap remains. A vehicle first registered on 01 January 2018 must be shipped and cleared before 31 December 2026 — that means bidding by early October at the latest. ## KEBS PVoC tightened JEVIC and QISJ inspections now flag odometer tampering more aggressively. Cars failing pre-shipment inspection can no longer be re-inspected at Mombasa — they are turned around at cost to the importer. ## The yen is helping At roughly KES 0.87 per JPY, landed costs on a mid-range Prius or Fielder are 12–15% cheaper than they were 18 months ago. ## Timeline you should expect - Auction win → shipping departure: 10–18 days - Sea transit Yokohama → Mombasa: 30–42 days - Port clearance + upcountry transit: 7–14 days Total: **roughly 8–10 weeks** door-to-door if paperwork is clean. Work with a sourcing partner (like us) who publishes the auction sheet and the CFS invoice in full — the surprises always live in the small print.

Importing From Japan in 2026: What Has Actually Changed