PSV License Requirements in Kenya: Badge, Vehicle Licence and Costs

Updated 24 October 2026

A PSV licence in Kenya is really two separate licences. The driver needs a PSV badge from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to drive a matatu, bus, taxi or ride hailing car for hire. The vehicle needs a PSV licence too, and under NTSA rules that licence is issued to a registered SACCO or transport company, not to an individual owner. This guide explains what each one requires, what it costs in KSh and the mistakes that delay applications.

Part 1: PSV badge requirements for drivers

The PSV badge shows NTSA has vetted you to carry paying passengers. You apply on the NTSA portal through eCitizen and upload these documents:

• A valid driving licence in the right class for the vehicle. For a saloon taxi or ride hailing car this is usually the B3 light vehicle class. Matatus and buses need the higher classes.
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (police clearance certificate) from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. It costs KSh 1,050 on eCitizen (KSh 1,000 plus a KSh 50 convenience fee) and usually takes two to six weeks.
• A medical certificate from a registered doctor confirming you are fit to drive.
• Your national ID and KRA PIN.
• A recent passport photo.
• Proof of PSV driver training where NTSA asks for it.

Transport guides commonly cite a minimum age of 24 and at least four years of driving experience for PSV drivers. Check the current conditions on the NTSA portal before you apply, since your application will be rejected if your licence history does not meet them.

The good conduct certificate is the step that holds up most applications. Our guide on how to apply for a certificate of good conduct covers fingerprinting and download, and you can confirm your licence class with the driving licence categories guide.

Why a criminal record can block a badge

The good conduct requirement is not a formality. In Kimanga v National Transport and Safety Authority (2023), the Transport Licensing Appeals Board upheld NTSA’s refusal to issue a PSV badge to a driver whose police clearance certificate carried an outstanding remark, because he could not produce the court record showing the case had ended. The Board relied on Regulation 6(m) of the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014, which requires the driving licence, ID and good conduct certificate of each person who will drive the vehicles. If your certificate has a remark, gather the court ruling or proof the matter was closed before you apply.

PSV badge fee and timeline

The badge itself costs about KSh 1,000 to KSh 1,050 including the eCitizen charge, and NTSA usually processes a new badge in around five working days once all documents are in order. Renewal is done on the same portal.

Part 2: PSV licence requirements for the vehicle

The 2014 PSV Regulations made it compulsory for public service vehicles to operate under a licensed SACCO or company. The SACCO applies for the road service licence and must itself meet NTSA conditions, including having at least 30 serviceable vehicles, the required staff, safety and management systems, and an approved code of conduct for its crews.

When the SACCO applies or adds a vehicle, NTSA expects documents including:

• The vehicle’s logbook, or a lease agreement where the vehicle is leased
• KRA PIN and tax compliance certificate for the operator
• The SACCO’s registration papers and audited accounts
• An inspection certificate showing the vehicle is roadworthy
• Valid PSV insurance covering passengers and third parties
• The driving licence, ID and good conduct certificate of each driver

Typical costs at a glance

These are the licensing costs only. Fuel, crew pay, SACCO daily charges and loan repayments decide whether a vehicle makes money, and our matatu profit calculator lets you run those numbers before you buy.

Step by step: getting a vehicle on the road as a PSV

1. Choose a SACCO that operates on your target route and confirm its NTSA licence is valid.
2. Pay the SACCO entry fee and sign its membership and code of conduct.
3. Book a motor vehicle inspection on eCitizen and fix any faults found.
4. Buy PSV insurance and make sure the policy names the vehicle correctly.
5. Have the SACCO submit the vehicle to NTSA for the road service licence, attaching the logbook, inspection certificate, insurance and driver documents.
6. Make sure every driver has a valid PSV badge before the vehicle carries passengers.

Common reasons applications are rejected

• A good conduct certificate that is expired or carries a remark
• The wrong driving licence class for the vehicle
• Insurance that has lapsed or is not a PSV policy
• A vehicle that failed inspection or has outstanding NTSA fines
• Applying as an individual owner instead of through a SACCO

Clear any instant fines first with our guide on how to pay NTSA instant fines, and check your licence on TIMS with how to check driving licence status. Drivers looking for work can browse driver vacancies on Jobinkenya.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to get a PSV badge in Kenya?

A valid driving licence in the right class, a Certificate of Good Conduct, a medical certificate, your national ID, KRA PIN and a passport photo, submitted on the NTSA portal.

How much is a PSV badge in Kenya?

About KSh 1,000 to KSh 1,050 including the eCitizen charge. The good conduct certificate costs another KSh 1,050.

Can I license my car as a PSV without a SACCO?

No. Under the 2014 PSV Regulations, public service vehicles must operate under a licensed SACCO or company, which applies for the road service licence.

How often are PSVs inspected?

Every six months.

Do Uber and Bolt drivers need a PSV badge?

Yes. Anyone driving passengers for hire needs a PSV badge, along with the right licence class and a good conduct certificate.

Sources: The National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014 (Legal Notice 23 of 2014); Kimanga v National Transport and Safety Authority, Transport Licensing Appeals Board, Appeal E044 of 2022, judgment of 14 August 2023; eCitizen DCI police clearance service; published fee guides for road service licences, inspection and SACCO membership. Fees can change, so confirm on eCitizen before paying.