How to Replace a Lost Driving Licence in Kenya: Duplicate DL Steps and Fee

Updated 26 October 2026

If your Kenyan driving licence is lost, stolen, damaged or defaced, apply for a duplicate (replacement) licence on the NTSA service portal through eCitizen, pay the replacement fee and collect the new card. The Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020 set the duplicate or replacement fee at KSh 1,000. If you have no copy and do not remember your licence details, NTSA’s eCitizen help page explains how to get your file reference number by SMS and USSD first.

A replacement is a separate service from renewal. Renewing only extends a valid licence; it does not print you a new card. This guide covers both cases, the reference number trick, what to do if the card was stolen, and how to follow up when the new card is slow to appear.

Replacement Licence at a Glance

Before You Apply: Find Your Licence Details

The application asks for details of the licence you are replacing. If the card is gone and you have no photocopy or reference number, NTSA’s eCitizen FAQ gives a two-step fix:

1. Send an SMS with the word DL to 22430 to subscribe to NTSA services.
2. Dial *512# and enter your ID number. You will receive your driving licence details, including the file reference number.

Use that reference number on the duplicate application. Standard SMS charges may apply on your line. You can also confirm the licence class and expiry on your account; our guide to checking your driving licence status shows where to look.

Step by Step: How to Replace a Lost Driving Licence

1. Report a theft. If the licence was stolen, especially with your ID or wallet, report it at the nearest police station and keep the abstract or OB number. It protects you if the card is misused, and have it ready in case the form asks for proof.
2. Log in to eCitizen and open the NTSA service portal. If you have trouble, see our guide to logging in to eCitizen.
3. Choose the duplicate driving licence service under driving licences.
4. Say why you need it. Select lost or stolen, or damaged or defaced. If the card is damaged, keep the old card; you may be asked to hand it in.
5. Enter your licence details, including the reference number from *512# if you used it.
6. Upload what the form asks for. Typical uploads are a passport photo and any supporting document. Use our eCitizen passport photo resizer and document upload compressor if a file is rejected.
7. Pay. The Rules set KSh 1,000 for a duplicate. eCitizen shows the final amount, including any convenience charge, before you confirm by M-Pesa or card.
8. Follow the collection instructions on your eCitizen account. Smart licences are handled at NTSA offices and Huduma Centres, so take your ID and payment confirmation. Our guide to booking a Huduma Centre appointment helps if you are sent to a Huduma Centre.

Lost, Damaged or Expired: Which Service Do You Need?

For the renewal side, our guide to renewing a driving licence online covers the one-year and three-year options and their costs.

Can You Drive While You Wait?

Losing the card does not cancel your licence: your record stays on NTSA’s system and the licence is still valid until its expiry date. Even so, carry your eCitizen payment confirmation, your ID and the police abstract (if the card was stolen) while the replacement is processed, so you can show you hold a licence and have applied for a new card. If you are stopped and fined, our guide to paying NTSA instant fines explains the official payment route and how to spot fake fine messages.

When the New Card Does Not Arrive

• Search the uncollected list. NTSA runs an uncollected Smart DL, number plate and logbook search where you enter your ID number for a driving licence. It also has a request follow up option for complaints.
• Check your eCitizen invoice. If the payment shows as pending, do not pay twice. Wait for the status to update or contact eCitizen support with the transaction code.
• Write to NTSA. Email info@ntsa.go.ke with your ID number, licence number and invoice number, or visit NTSA at Upper Hill Chambers, 2nd Ngong Avenue, Nairobi (P.O. Box 3602-00508).

Avoid These Mistakes

• Do not pay agents who promise a faster card. The duplicate is applied for on your own eCitizen account, and payment goes only through the eCitizen checkout.
• Do not apply for a new licence or a new test. You already hold a licence; you need a duplicate.
• Do not let the licence lapse while you wait. If expiry is close, renew it too.

If you also lost your national ID, deal with that first: eCitizen needs your ID number to log you in. For more licence topics, see our guide to driving licence categories and minimum ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to replace a lost driving licence in Kenya?

The Rules set KSh 1,000 for a duplicate or replacement licence. eCitizen shows the final amount before you pay.

I have no copy of my licence. Can I still replace it?

Yes. SMS DL to 22430, then dial *512# and enter your ID number to receive your licence details and file reference number.

Do I need a police abstract?

Report a stolen licence to the police and keep the abstract or OB number; have it ready in case the form asks for proof of loss.

Is a damaged licence replaced the same way?

Yes. Choose damaged or defaced on the duplicate application.

How do I know my new card is ready?

Use NTSA’s uncollected Smart DL search with your ID number, or follow up through info@ntsa.go.ke.

Rules and fees checked against the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020 on Kenya Law and NTSA’s eCitizen pages on October 25, 2026. eCitizen shows the amount that applies on the day, including any convenience charge, before you pay.