How To Apply For The New Number Plates In Kenya (with Applicable Fees)

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is a statutory body that brings about sanity on the roads by bringing various functions under one roof. Some of these services include transport licensing, inspection, registration, driver testing, and road safety. Recently, NTSA offered a guide on how to apply for the new number plates in Kenya.

In 2022, the government of Kenya introduced a new generation of number plates to fight duplication, forgery, and swapping. For newly imported cars, the plate is fixed at the entry point. Subsequently, the information is synchronized with NTSA and KRA systems to prevent tax evasion in the car import business.

What are the features of the new number plates?

The new generation number plates will have the following features;

• QR code
• A unique NTSA serial number (for both the front and rear plates)
• The Kenyan flag
• A hologram of the Big Five animals
• A microchip
• A watermark

From just the plates, police will be able to get key motor vehicle information such as:

• The year of manufacture
• Type of vehicle
• Colour of vehicle
• Engine number
• Transmission type
• Date of manufacture
• Place of manufacture
• Insurance details

How to apply for the new number plates

While newly imported vehicles will be fitted with the new plates upon registration in Kenya at the port of entry, vehicle owners with the old number plates will be required to apply for the new plates within 18 months. This applies to;

• Private automobiles
• Government-owned automobiles
• Diplomats’ cars
• International organizations’ cars
• Motorbikes
• Tuk-tuks

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) introduced the online application of new number plates to eliminate physical office visits while saving effort and time. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to apply for a new number plate in Kenya online:

1. Step 1: Log in to your eCitizen account

Log in to your eCitizen portal. Then:

• Key in your details to login
• Confirm you have logged into the right account by checking your details at the top of the page.
• Scroll to the agencies and select National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA)(New).
• Follow the prompts that will pop up until you're logged into the NTSA portal.
• Scroll down until you see the vehicle and motorcycles registered under your name.
• Click on the View option against the vehicle and motorcycle of your choice.
• Click on the Motor Vehicle Service button.

2. Step 2: Apply for reflective plate

• Click Apply against the Reflective Plate option
• Confirm the vehicle details and click next below.

The vehicle details include:

• Registration number and date
• Customs entry number
• Chassis
• Engine number
• Make of vehicle
• Type, condition, and model of the vehicle
• Colour, body, and fuel type
• Transmission type
• Tax class
• Driver sider
• Rating (cc)
• Tare weight (Kgs)
• Load capacity (Kgs)
• Gross weight (Kgs)
• Year of manufacture
• Number of passengers
• Number of Axies
• RFID status
• Duty Status

3. Step 3: Enter your vehicle particulars

• Under Reason for Reflective Plate, select New Generation
• Attach a PDF file with both the number plates and the logbook combined.

To put all the documents in one PDF, use your phone to take pictures of your logbooks and the front and back of your car with the number plates visible. Attach all three photos to a Word document and save the document as a PDF.

• Scroll down and choose the Reflective Plate Required

If you are applying for a car, choose both the front and back, but if you are applying for a motorcycle, choose the back plate only.

• Choose the type of number plate for the front and back. (Oblong means rectangle)
• Choose your preferred Notification Method; select SMS, Email, or both.
• Scroll down and enter the details of the Authorized Person to Collect plate.
• Under ID Lookup, choose national identification if you're a Kenyan citizen or any preferred option.
• Proceed to enter your ID number on the option provided
• Enter your first name, then click on the Search button
• The rest of your details will populate if the above information is accurate.
• Enter your phone number and email address.
• Lastly, tick the declaration box to confirm that the details you provided in the application are true.
• Scroll down and click on Preview.

If you are satisfied with the information entered, click the complete button.

4. Step 4: Make payment

Select a preferred payment method and pay the indicated amount. Some of the payment modes available include:

• Mpesa
• Kenya Commercial Bank
• Co-operarative Bank (KES)
• Airtel Money
• Absa Bank
• Pesaflow Direct
• Equity Cash
• RTGS
• National Bank

Once you've completed the process, click on complete to finish it. You will receive a success message confirming that the payment has been processed successfully after you complete it. 

How much does the new number plate cost?

It will cost you Ksh 3,000 to apply for the new plates for a motor vehicle and Ksh 1,500 for a motorcycle. In addition, you will need to pay an extra Ksh.50 as the service fee. The entire application process is done via the eCitizen portal. 

How long does the new number plate take?

From the point of payment, you will have to wait for seven working days. After that, the NTSA will notify you to collect the number plate once it's ready. When going to collect the new number plates, ensure you carry the following:

• Your original ID
• The old plates

Advantages of the new number plates

The new NTSA reflective number plate comes with the following advantages as compared to the older plates;

• To prevent easy modification, the new number plates have slightly disproportionate monospaced numbers and letters. This feature will also improve readability.
• The micro-chip feature has several anti-counterfeit security features, making the plates impossible to imitate.
• The unique and different serial numbers at the front and rear plates will be linked to the chassis number.

Deadline for the new number plates in Kenya

The current fifth-generation number plates started in September 2020 with KDA 001A. However, on 30th August 2022, the former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi launched the new number plates for old numbers.

Citizens with old number plates were given 18 months to apply for the new digital plates. However, the government revised this deadline.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is there a deadline for the new number plates in Kenya? The deadline was initially set for April 2023. However, the government has yet to disclose whether it will revise this deadline.
2. How to check if a new number plate is ready? The application status can be tracked via the portal, but you must wait for NTSA to text once the plate is ready.
3. How long does it take for the new number plate to be ready? The official waiting period is two weeks. However, you should be prepared to wait up to a month to get the new plates.
4. Does NTSA work on Saturdays? Yes. To facilitate their clients beyond the normal operating days, all NTSA offices are open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm.
5. What are the new working hours for NTSA? The authority adjusted its operating hours to Monday to Friday, from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm.
6. How much does the new number plate cost in Kenya? It will cost Ksh 3,050 to apply for the new plates for a motor vehicle and Ksh 1,550 for a motorcycle.
7. What do you need when collecting your new number plate? When collecting the new number plates, ensure you carry your original ID and the old plates.

Final word

Above is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to apply for the new number plates, thanks to the online application process introduced by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). The new plates have various anti-counterfeit security features, which makes them impossible to imitate.

Tuko.co.ke shared an informative article about the legal requirements for starting a business in Kenya. Kenya's vibrant economy and improved ease of doing business have made it an appealing destination for foreign investors.

Following the regulations that govern business operations in Kenya secures the validity of your company and opens the road for a successful enterprise in Kenya's business environment.