Driving in Kenya: A UK Expat's Guide to Licences, Roads and Car Import

A UK driving licence permits driving in Kenya for up to 90 days as a visitor, alongside an International Driving Permit which is easy to obtain from the Post Office before travel. For residents staying longer, converting to a Kenyan licence is required, which involves an application through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), a straightforward theory and practical assessment for UK licence holders, and typically takes 2-4 weeks to process.

Kenya drives on the left, matching the UK, and major roads such as the Nairobi-Mombasa highway are generally well maintained, though rural and secondary roads can be poorly surfaced with significant potholes, especially during the long rains (March-May) and short rains (October-December). Driving standards and enforcement differ notably from the UK — matatus (shared minibuses) and boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) often disregard lane discipline, so defensive driving is essential, particularly in Nairobi's notoriously congested traffic.

Kenya's right-hand-drive road system makes it one of the most natural markets for UK used cars, and Mombasa's port has well-established RoRo infrastructure specifically geared towards vehicle imports. The used-import market is large and well understood by local mechanics and parts suppliers, which is a major advantage over importing a left-hand-drive vehicle into a right-hand-drive market.

Kenya restricts vehicle imports to those no older than eight years from the date of manufacture, calculated at the time of import, not purchase. This is strictly enforced and there is no exemption process, so always verify the manufacture date against this rule before finalising a purchase intended for Kenyan import — see our duty calculator guide for how this interacts with the overall cost.

Kenya's duty structure combines import duty (25%), excise duty (20-35% depending on engine size), and 16% VAT applied cumulatively, which together typically bring the total tax burden to 60-90% of CIF value. This makes accurate budgeting essential before committing to a purchase — a car that looks like a bargain in the UK can become expensive once landed costs are included.

RoRo shipping from Southampton to Mombasa typically costs £950-£1,300 and takes 3-4 weeks, making it one of the more efficient and cost-effective routes from the UK. Booking 6-8 weeks ahead is recommended during peak demand periods, and our shipping checklist covers exactly what to prepare before drop-off.