Hyundai Sonata → Kenya (Mombasa) — Shipment Case Study

Vehicle & Shipment Specs

Brand / Model	Hyundai Sonata YF (Y20)
Year	2014
Mileage	165,000 km
Chassis No.	KMHEC41EBEA0XXXXX
Color	Silver
Condition	Used (sedan)
Destination	Kenya — Mombasa
Origin Port	Incheon Container Terminal
Container	MSCU805XXXX (40ft HC) (40ft HC (shared with 3 other sedans))
Shipping Line / Ref	MSC
Transit Time	34 days port-to-port
Method	Container (FCL shared) + PVoC certificate
FOB Price	~5,500–7,500 typical
Destination Duty	25% import duty + 16% VAT + 2.25% IDF + 1.5% RDL

Timeline From Inquiry to Delivery

Day 0

Kenyan retail buyer inquiry via WhatsApp

Nairobi-based individual buyer requested a Sonata with documented service history and Kenya 8-year age compliance.

Day 2

Vehicle proposed and confirmed

2014 Sonata YF selected. Year of manufacture confirms compliance with Kenya 8-year limit (counted from year of first registration).

Day 4

PVoC application started with SGS

SH GLOBAL submitted Request for Certification (RFC) to SGS Korea with full document set. PVoC is mandatory for Kenya import — applied in parallel with de-registration.

Day 9

De-registration certificate issued

Local Si/Gun/Gu office confirmed 2014 manufacture year and issued the certificate. Cross-checked against PVoC application chassis number.

Day 11

SGS physical inspection

SGS inspector visited Suwon lot. Verified chassis number, odometer, lights, brakes, tires. RHD vehicles flagged at this stage are rejected — Sonata is LHD, accepted.

Day 14

PVoC certificate issued

SGS issued PVoC certificate matching chassis number. Certificate validity 12 months.

Day 16

Export declaration + container loading

Korea Customs export declaration filed. Vehicle loaded into 40ft HC container with 3 other sedans. Container sealed at Incheon.

Day 17

Vessel departure to Mombasa

MSC vessel via Singapore transshipment. ETA 30 days.

Day 47

Arrival Mombasa

KRA clearance using original B/L, PVoC certificate, de-registration certificate, and Korean Customs export declaration.

Day 51

Vehicle released to buyer

Vehicle registered with NTSA. Total inquiry-to-Nairobi 56 days.

Documents Provided to Buyer

Korean Customs Export Declaration
Vehicle De-Registration Certificate
Korean Performance Inspection Report
PVoC Certificate (SGS Korea, mandatory for Kenya)
Original MSC Bill of Lading
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
Container loading photos + seal close-up

All seven document types are available as masked samples on the /proof page — same format as what every SH GLOBAL buyer receives.

Buyer Concern

Kenya 8-year age limit and KRA penalty exposure if PVoC fails.

How SH GLOBAL Addressed It

SH GLOBAL applied for PVoC before container loading rather than after vessel departure. This avoided the typical 15% penalty + 3–5 week destination inspection delay. Buyer cleared Mombasa in 4 working days.

FAQ — Kenya import questions

What is Kenya's import age limit for Korean used cars?

Kenya enforces an 8-year manufacture-year cap on used vehicle imports (KRA rule). A 2026 import must be model-year 2018 or newer. SH GLOBAL filters every Korean listing against the destination age cap before quoting so the buyer never pays for a vehicle KRA will reject at Mombasa.

Are Korean used cars left-hand or right-hand drive — which works for Kenya?

Korean domestic-market vehicles are LHD (left-hand drive), but Kenya drives on the left and requires RHD (right-hand drive). LHD imports are not registrable in Kenya. SH GLOBAL only quotes Kenya buyers RHD models — sourced from Korea-spec re-export channels or specifically RHD-converted units with documentation.

How long does shipping from Korea to Mombasa take?

Ocean transit Busan/Incheon → Mombasa (often via Singapore transshipment) is typically 25–35 days. Total inquiry-to-delivery (including Korean Customs export, PVoC certification with SGS Korea, container loading, and Mombasa clearance) is normally 50–60 days. PVoC is applied before container loading to avoid the 15%-of-CIF KEBS penalty for missing PVoC at arrival.

Which Korean cars are popular in Kenya?

Top Korean models in Kenya: Hyundai Sonata and Elantra (sedans), Kia Sorento and Hyundai Tucson (mid SUVs), Toyota Probox via Korean re-export (commercial/taxi), Hyundai Porter and Kia Bongo (light commercial). RHD-only selection. Mombasa-based clearing agents handle KRA registration.