Owning a Car as A Foreigner in Kenya – All You Need to Know

If you have lived in Kenya for a while, you may already be sick of using taxis to get around and you may be asking yourself if you are able to own a vehicle as a foreigner in Kenya. I did some research:

You are allowed to own a car in Kenya as a foreigner as long as you have an alien ID (Non-Resident ID and a Tax Number called a KRA PIN (Kenya Revenue Authority Personal Identification Number). To get these documents, you must have legally entered Kenya and obtained a legal pass into the country & not as a tourist but as a resident.

Since public transport is not an option for you as a foreigner (find out why in this article I wrote about why foreigners should avoid public transport), owning a car becomes the best solution for you if you are going to be staying in Kenya for a few months. In this article, I am going to outline all you need to know as you plan on owning your own personal car.

Am I allowed to own a car as a foreigner?

As a foreigner, you are allowed to own a car in Kenya but there is a certain condition that has to be met. That is you must own an alien card and a pin number. This is basically an identification card for foreigners. Like any other property you would wish to own, this is a basic requirement.

With an alien card and a pin number, you will be able to have a car registered under your own name and that way you will legally own it.

Can I legally drive as a foreigner?

After you own your own car or hire one, the next big question is whether you will be allowed to drive it or you’ll have to hire a licensed Kenyan driver to drive you around. Well, yes, you will be legally allowed to drive it yourself but you must have a domestic driver’s license. I wrote an article on why you are not allowed to drive without a Kenyan Licence as a foreigner. Check out that article for details on what you need to drive legally in Kenya.

Is the process of owning a car in Kenya different for foreigners than it is for citizens?

Definitely being a foreigner there are some hurdles which you will come across as you plan on owning a car. First, you’ll have to get the legal documents which will permit you to own a car as a foreigner. For a citizen, they have their national identity card which they use in acquiring their car but for a foreigner, you’ll need an alien card and a pin number(as mentioned earlier) which you’ll have to obtain from KRA(Kenya Revenue Authority), Secondly, if you are purchasing a car, for a foreigner the taxes will be a bit higher than for Citizens. So the price will definitely be higher. But hey, if you want to cut down on the expenses, you may opt to buy a car locally instead of importing.

What documents do I need when looking forward to owning a car in Kenya as a foreigner?

As mentioned earlier, you need some documents so as to legally own a car in Kenya as a foreigner, which is an alien card and pin number. This makes it easy for the government to identify you and it also helps the government to curb terrorist activities hence guaranteeing your safety.

(Below is a link to where you can apply for an alien card online in Kenya)

https://fns.immigration.go.ke › infopack › fns › fns

For the pin number, you have to get it via KRA, the link to where you can apply for it online down below

https://www.kra.go.ke/en/services/apply-for-pin

Can I own more than one vehicle?

When you already have the right papers, there is no limit to the number of cars you may want to own. Go ahead, stuff your garage with as many wheels as you like.

Can I sell my car as a foreigner in Kenya?

When you arrive in Kenya, buy a car and finally, you want to leave, the big question is What will you do with that big machine you bought? Well, leaving it will be a huge loss to you so, the most sensible thing to do is to sell it. Are you allowed to sell your car as a foreigner? Well, yes you are as long as you have the legal papers which are the car’s logbook Alien card as well as the pin number, you are definitely allowed to sell it.

What kind of insurance should I get for my car as a foreigner?

You should make sure your car is insured so that just in case you incur an accident, most of the costs will be catered for by the insurance as well as covering lawsuits including legal fees brought against you as a result of an accident. The insurance cover which I would highly recommend is the comprehensive insurance cost.  This is simply because unlike other insurance types, this one covers other incidents other than accidents such as fire, theft, vandalism, animal damage, the weather, and falling objects. That way you’ll have insured your car to almost everything bad which may happen to it. The only throwback to this type of insurance is that it costs much more than the other types of insurance but it is definitely worth it.

Is it advisable for me as a foreigner to buy a car locally or I should import it from outside the country?

Where to buy a car first of all mainly depends on your budget. This is because buying a car locally is cheaper than importing it. Secondly, it also depends on the quality of the car you want, if you need a good brand new car, then importing will be the best choice but if you don’t mind a second-hand car then you can always buy it locally. Besides, most of the second-hand cars are usually in very good condition. Finally, I also think that the duration of your stay in Kenya may also influence where you want to buy a car. If you don’t plan to stay in Kenya for long, then buying locally will be better than importing.

Which would be the best car for me to buy as a foreigner?

This choice mainly depends on the purpose you have by buying that car as well as your budget. If you would like to get a car so as to help you move about as you tour the country, I would advise you to buy an off-road car, since the terrain will be rough and bumpy. But if you are here for business purposes or you will be hanging around the city area, a normal SUV car will do.

Are the road rules different for me as a foreigner than those followed by locals?

No. All the road rules apply to all drivers whether you are a local or a foreigner

What are the basic rules for driving on Kenyan roads as a foreigner

As a foreigner, you may find that there are some driving rules which are a bit different from what you have in your country for example: In the country, you come from, perhaps one should drive on the right side of the road while in Kenya, you should drive on the left side of the road.

So below is a list of the basic road rules you should know

• First and foremost is what I just mentioned to you earlier, You should keep to the left side of the lane
• The speed limit is 100kmph though for some parts of the road the speed limit may go as low as 40kmph so its best if you watch out for the road signs
• You should not overtake in a one-way lane
• Be an experienced driver
• Finally, DO NOT offer or give any bribes if caught on the wrong

What are some tips I should know about as a foreigner owning a car in Kenya?

As a foreigner owning a car in Kenya, there are some tips you should know about car maintenance and upkeep such as the ones I would like to share with you below:

• Make sure it is insured
• Take it to the garage to be serviced regularly so that any fault will be seen early enough by a mechanic to avoid any accidents
• Be cautious of where you park your car, park it at a place where it is less likely going to be hit
• Also if you park your car around the town area be sure to pay your parking fee.

Steps required to buy a car as a foreigner

To buy a car as a foreigner, there are some steps which you will need to follow 

Get an alien card and a pin number

You will have to apply for an alien card from the Department of Immigration of Kenya and a pin number from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)

(The links to the two respective sites have been provided above under the subtopic

“What documents do I need when looking to own a car in Kenya as a foreigner?”)

Look for the best place to buy a car from

I would advise that you look for dealers who have been in the business of selling cars for some time since they will more likely sell to your a genuine car. Some cars are usually stolen and then they are sold to naive buyers who have no idea of the car’s origin. So for this reason, make sure you also get the car’s logbook with the history of all it’s previous owners.

Finally, choose the car which suits you best and pay for it

You will need to pay using a bankers cheque or direct bank deposit but this will depend on the person who you are buying the vehicle from.

Can a foreigner import their car to Kenya?

Just like buying, you will be allowed to import your own car. But you’ll have to pay for its duty fee at the port. This is more or less like paying for its transport from where it was into the country. The only throwback is that some country’s port may be too far from our country’s port which is in Mombasa hence making the transport of the car take some months before it reaches the country and this will also raise the duty fee for the car making it to be quite unprofitable. 

How long does it take to buy a car as a foreigner?

The length of buying a car in Kenya as a foreigner will depend on where you are going to buy it. If you are going to buy it locally, it may take as short as fifteen minutes and you’ll be driving your own car but if you import it, it will take a little bit longer because it may have to be ferried and as we know, water transport is quite slow so this will increase the duration it will take to buy a car.

Another thing is the Alien card and pin number. If you don’t have the two you’ll have to apply for them so that you can be permitted to buy a car as a foreigner. After application, it will take some time before you get them so this will also increase the time which it will take for you to buy a car.

Is it hard to get spare parts as a foreigner in Kenya?

Once you buy a car in Kenya, you’ll definitely want to change some of its parts such as the spring coils if the car is too low and you would want to raise it a bit higher or let’s say if the headlights or the side mirror gets damaged and you have to replace them. 

The big question at this point will be whether you will be allowed to buy spare parts considering you are a foreigner? Well, you are allowed to buy any spare parts you wish from any local car item shop. 

The ease of buying spare parts will mainly depend on the type of car you have. Some car spare parts are usually unavailable in the country thus you’ll have to import them from outside the country.

Repairing your Car as a foreigner.

Car repairs as a foreigner can be a tricky thing since most of the car repair industry in Kenya is informal. This, therefore, lends itself to the exploitation of those who don’t know how to work the system.

Here are a few tips to help you get your vehicle repaired as a foreigner in Kenya.

1. Use a  registered car repair company or the car dealership for repairs. This may be more expensive than the informal market but you stand a lower chance of getting taken advantage of this way. You can find good recommendations for such companies by asking around the city you live in. The popular ones in Nairobi are located in Industrial Area. I will try to get the names and update them here.
2. Sell your car when it starts accumulating mileage. The amount of frustration you will have dealing with mechanics once your car starts needing regular repair is not worth it. Replace your car as soon as it hits the mileage level that requires regular visits to a mechanic
3. Service your vehicle in Major Petrol Stations: When your vehicle is due for service, take it to any of the following major petrol stations if all you need is a basic oil change. Otherwise, take your vehicle to a vehicle repair company
   1. Shell Petrol Station
   2. Total Petrol Station
   3. Oil Lybia Petrol station (Now rebranded to OLA)
   4. Kenol Kobil Petrol Stations

Is car ownership different for foreigners than for locals?

There are some small differences in owning a car as a foreigner than for locals.

1. Taxes when Buying: First is that the registration fee for foreigners is a bit higher than for locals 
2. Insurance: secondly, the insurance fee for foreigners is as well higher than for locals.
3. Repairs: You will spend more for the same kind of repair than a local. This is simply because you will be considered to have more money than the locals and they will try to charge you more for the service than they would a local.

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article