Import a Toyota Alphard from France to Kenya: Eligibility and Checks

A Toyota Alphard listed in France needs an early steering-position check. French domestic-market cars are generally left-hand drive, and a France listing does not prove an Alphard is right-hand drive or eligible for Kenya. Ask for a current cabin photo and clear VIN/chassis photos before considering price.

KRA says standard used imports must be right-hand drive and less than eight years old from the year of first registration. The current KEBS contractor list does not name France, so confirm in writing which inspection route and documents apply to this VIN before paying or arranging shipment.

What should you verify on a France-listed Alphard?

• Check the steering wheel and dashboard in current photos; do not infer steering position from the model or a seller’s claim.
• Match the VIN/chassis number on the vehicle with the registration/ownership record, seller invoice and export documents.
• Ask where the car was first registered. If it was imported into France, request the earlier source-market and export records as well.
• Verify the official first-registration year, ownership history, mileage, service records and any accident repairs.
• Have unfamiliar documents translated and confirm that the translation preserves names, dates and chassis details.

If the vehicle is LHD, do not rely on a promise to convert it after purchase. Ask the responsible Kenyan authority or inspection agent for written confirmation that the exact VIN would qualify before paying.

Which Alphard condition checks are worth arranging?

Confirm the generation, model code, engine and hybrid status against the actual car. Have an independent inspector check body repairs, underside, suspension, tyres, warning lights and service history. Operate both powered sliding doors and the tailgate; test air conditioning, cameras and sensors. For a hybrid Alphard, request a diagnostic report for the battery and hybrid system rather than a verbal assurance.

Ask a Kenyan parts specialist about support for the exact model code and powertrain. Two Alphards with similar names can have different equipment and parts needs; compare the documented variant with the advert before agreeing a price.

How do you confirm inspection and landed cost?

KRA’s current motor-vehicle procedure describes the used-import eligibility and inspection requirements. KEBS’s published inspection-country list does not currently include France. Ask KEBS or your clearing agent whether destination inspection applies and which certificate or documents are required for this vehicle; see the KEBS destination-inspection guidance.

Before booking freight, ask who will arrange the required KEBS inspection and when the certificate will be issued. Make sure the certificate identifies the same VIN as the sale and export papers; a French roadworthiness record alone is not Kenyan import clearance.

Request a dated, itemized landed-cost estimate tied to the VIN, first-registration date, exact variant, invoice, freight and insurance. Keep valuation and taxes, inspection, port, clearing, registration and local delivery separate. A country-level figure cannot show the total for this Alphard and shipping route.

Compare local options before committing

Compare the candidate with similar vehicles in the SilverTorque inventory. To review a France-listed car, contact the team or WhatsApp SilverTorque with the VIN and available records before paying a deposit.

Frequently asked questions

Is a France-registered Alphard usually right-hand drive?

Do not assume it is. Verify the actual steering position; many vehicles built for the French domestic market are left-hand drive.

Can I rely on a steering conversion to meet Kenya’s rules?

No. Confirm the exact vehicle’s eligibility with the responsible authority or inspection agent before buying.