Help
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Your main decision point comes before we bid. Once we identify options that match your brief, we send you photos, vehicle details, the inspection sheet, and our cost breakdown for that specific vehicle. You review and approve before we commit any funds on your behalf. After that, we handle everything. You track progress through your client dashboard, which updates at each milestone, you are never left guessing where your vehicle is.
From the time we purchase your vehicle to delivery in Nairobi, the current timeline is 8 to 10 weeks under current conditions. We do not route shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, but the disruptions there have had a knock-on effect on global shipping schedules, and our routes are not immune to that.
Every vehicle we purchase from Japan comes with an auction sheet from a recognised Japanese auction house, produced by an independent inspector, not the seller. It covers the overall grade, exterior and interior letter grades, recorded mileage, mechanical concerns, and a diagram marking any scratch, dent, repainted or replaced panel. Accident repairs are also declared. This gives us a more accurate picture of a vehicle than a physical walk-around in Kenya ever could. We share and translate the sheet with you before any commitment is made. For vehicles sourced from other markets such as the United Kingdom or South Africa, we can arrange an independent inspection through a trusted third party. The full report is shared with you before any commitment is made.
Japanese car auctions are the primary source for new and used cars in Japan and the world's largest marketplace for used vehicles. Every week, around 100,000 cars pass through auction houses across Japan, covering every body type, budget, and specification you can think of. The major networks include USS, TAA, CAA, and JU, with USS being the largest. The auctions are not open to the public. Only licensed dealers can participate, which is why buyers outside Japan work through a registered importer or agent who bids on their behalf. What sets Japanese auctions apart from any other used car market is the inspection process. Every vehicle is assessed by an independent inspector before it goes under the hammer. The inspector grades the exterior, interior, mileage, and mechanical condition, notes any accident history, and maps every scratch, dent, repainted panel, or replaced part onto a diagram. In 2024, Japanese auctions sold over 1.5 million vehicles. The scale, the transparency, and the consistency of the grading system are why Japan remains the dominant source of quality used vehicles for Kenya and most of the world.
Every car entering a Japanese auction is inspected and assigned three things: an overall numeric grade, separate letter grades for the exterior and interior, and a diagram of the car with every scratch, dent, and repair marked by location and severity. The overall grade runs from 2 to 6: Grade 6 / S: Effectively new. Under 12 months old, under 10,000 km, immaculate inside and out. Grade 5: Excellent condition with minimal imperfections requiring little to no work. Grade 4.5: Very clean condition. This is our minimum preferred grade and the standard we aim for when sourcing vehicles. Grade 4: Above average condition with minor surface blemishes and no accident history. The strongest balance of price and quality. Grade 3.5: Noticeable scratches, dents, or prior repair marks. Interior may show wear. Condition within this grade varies widely. Always request the full auction sheet before making a decision. Grade 3: Visible bodywork damage and interior wear. Repairs likely needed before the car is presentable. Grade 2: Poor condition, often with corrosion or significant structural concerns. Not worth importing. R / RA: Accident history. R means damage may or may not have been repaired. RA means minor accident damage that has been repaired to a reasonable standard. These sit outside the numeric scale entirely and require careful consideration. The exterior and interior are graded separately on an A to D scale, with A being clean and tidy and D indicating significant wear, staining, or damage. A car with a strong overall grade but a weak interior grade tells you something important about how it was used and maintained. Always read all three together, never the overall grade alone.
The auction sheet is the inspection report produced for every vehicle sold through a Japanese auction. It is prepared by an independent inspector, not the seller, and covers the overall grade, exterior and interior letter grades, recorded mileage, mechanical observations and a diagram marking every scratch, dent, repainted part or panel. Accident repairs are declared. Mileage concerns are flagged. No other used car market in the world produces a document this detailed as standard. It gives you a more accurate picture of a vehicle's true condition than a physical inspection in Kenya ever could. We share and translate the auction sheet with every client before any commitment is made.
Before any car ships from Japan it goes through a mandatory pre-shipment inspection where the odometer is recorded. You can verify that figure independently using NipponCheck with the chassis number of the vehicle. If the dashboard reading and the NipponCheck figure do not match, the odometer has been tampered with after export.
Once a quote has been shared and you are happy to proceed, we require a deposit before we begin sourcing live options and bidding on your behalf. The deposit can be as low as 10% of the vehicle value. Once we have committed to a unit, at least 50% of the Cost and Freight value is required to secure it. The remaining balance is due before the vehicle ships from Japan. We confirm the full payment schedule with you before any commitment.
Yes, but only if you fall into one of three categories: Returning residents. If you have lived abroad for at least two consecutive years, you are eligible to import one personal motor vehicle duty free, provided the vehicle was owned and used abroad for at least 12 months and is imported within 90 days of your return. The vehicle must also not be more than eight years old from the date of manufacture. Diplomats and accredited staff. Kenya grants vehicle tax exemptions to eligible diplomats and international staff under established reciprocity agreements. This covers officials of foreign embassies, consulates, and recognised international organisations. Persons with disabilities. Kenyan law provides duty exemptions on vehicles imported for personal use by persons with disabilities, subject to KRA approval and supporting documentation confirming the disability. If you believe you qualify, make sure your eligibility is confirmed by KRA before starting the import process. The documentation requirements are strict and missing paperwork can result in delays, penalties, or disqualification from the exemption entirely.