Used Trucks for Export to Kenya
Sotrex Limited has been exporting right-hand drive commercial vehicles from the UK to Kenya for over 20 years. If you’re a fleet operator, dealer, or transport business in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, or anywhere else in Kenya looking to buy a used truck from the UK, here’s what you need to know about buying from us and shipping to your nearest port.
Why Kenyan buyers choose UK trucks
Kenya drives on the left, so UK trucks, built right-hand drive as standard, need no steering conversion and are ready to work the day they clear customs. UK commercial vehicles also run under some of the strictest MOT and maintenance regimes in the world, which means the trucks reaching Mombasa have real service history behind them, not just a low odometer reading.
Shipping to Kenya
We ship to the Port of Mombasa, Kenya’s principal gateway for used commercial vehicle imports from the UK. Typical transit time by RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) vessel from the UK is in the region of 4–6 weeks, depending on sailing schedules and vessel availability. We’ll confirm exact timing when you book.
Import rules you should know before you buy
Kenya’s vehicle import requirements are set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) under KS 1515:2000, and they’ve recently been tightened:
- Right-hand drive only: Left-hand drive vehicles are not permitted for general road use.
- Age limit: KEBS enforces an eight-year age limit from date of first registration for passenger vehicles, with stricter enforcement now in effect from January 2026. Commercial trucks can be subject to different thresholds and documentation requirements than passenger cars, so we recommend confirming the current age and category rules for your specific vehicle type with KEBS or your clearing agent before you commit to a purchase.
- Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR): Vehicles shipped from the UK require a CoR issued through KEBS’s appointed inspection agency before they can clear customs at Mombasa.
- Documentation: You will need the original logbook (V5C), export certificate, and CoR. We prepare and provide the UK-side documentation as standard with every export sale.
Import regulations change periodically and enforcement has tightened recently, always confirm current requirements with KEBS or a licensed clearing agent before finalising a purchase. We’re happy to point you toward the current guidance we’re working from.
Popular trucks for the Kenyan market
Based on what we regularly export to East Africa, the models Kenyan buyers ask for most are:
How buying from Sotrex works
- Browse or ask, check our current stock, or tell us what you need and we’ll source it.
- Inspection and documentation, every truck is inspected before export, with photos and video available on request via WhatsApp.
- Purchase and paperwork, we handle UK-side export documentation.
- Shipping to Mombasa, we arrange or coordinate shipping and keep you updated through to arrival.
- Clearance in Kenya, your local clearing agent handles customs; we’ll provide the documents they’ll need
Frequently asked questions
Typically 4–6 weeks by RoRo vessel,depending on sailing schedules.
Yes, a licensed clearing agent handles customs declarations and NTSA registration on the Kenyan side. We can put you in touch with contacts we’ve worked with before if you don’t already have one.
Yes. With extensive contacts across the UK motor trade, we regularly source specific makes and models to order.
The original logbook (V5C), export certificate, and full details for KEBS Certificate of Roadworthiness processing.
Get in touch with our export team to discuss current stock or a sourcing request for the Kenyan market.
Sotrex Limited
Saltworks
Paradise Lane
Church Minshull
Nantwich
CW5 6EE
