Updated 27 October 2026
Almost every National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) service, from a learner’s licence to a logbook transfer, is now applied for and paid on the NTSA service portal, which you sign in to with your eCitizen account. This page is our map of those services: what each one is for, the fee set in the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020 where the Rules set one, and our step-by-step guide for each.
Bookmark it. Use the tables to find your task, then follow the link.
Before Any NTSA Service
- eCitizen account. Kenyans sign up with their ID number and non-citizens with their foreigner certificate number. See how to create an eCitizen account.
- Uploads. Photos and scans must meet eCitizen’s size rules. Our eCitizen passport photo resizer and eCitizen document upload compressor fix most rejected uploads.
- Payment. Pay only on the eCitizen checkout (M-Pesa or card). The checkout shows the final amount, including any convenience charge.
- In person. Biometrics and some collections happen at NTSA offices or Huduma Centres; you can book a Huduma Centre appointment online.
Driving Licence Services
| Service | What it is for | Fee in the Rules | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional driving licence (PDL) | Learning with an instructor; valid three months, renewable once | KSh 600 | How to apply for a provisional driving licence (PDL) |
| Driving test | Booked by your driving school after its internal test | KSh 1,000 | How to apply for a provisional driving licence (PDL) |
| Interim and full licence | Interim valid six months; full licence issued within six months of it | KSh 3,000 for three years | driving licence categories and minimum ages |
| Renewal | Extending an expiring licence | KSh 3,000 for three years | How to renew a driving licence online |
| Duplicate or replacement | Lost, stolen, damaged or defaced cards | KSh 1,000 | How to replace a lost driving licence |
| Status check | Confirm class, validity and card status | Shown on eCitizen | How to check your driving licence status |
| Foreign licence conversion | Residents with a licence from abroad | KSh 5,000 | How to convert a foreign driving licence |
| International Driving Permit | Kenyans driving abroad | KSh 10,000 in the Rules | International Driving Permit |
The figures above are the ones printed in the Rules. Our renewal and IDP guides list the amounts charged in practice, which can differ slightly, so always go by the eCitizen checkout.
Which Licence Class Do You Need?
| You want to drive | Category | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Moped up to 50cc | AM | 16 |
| Motorcycle or boda boda | A1 or A2 | 18 |
| Automatic car | B1 | 18 |
| Manual or automatic car | B2 | 18 |
| Taxi | B3 | 21 |
| Matatu van up to 14 passengers | D1 | 22 |
| Light truck (3,500 to 7,500 kg) | C1 | 22, with two years on B2 |
The full list, with trucks, buses and plant, is in our guide to driving licence categories and minimum ages.
Learning to Drive
You cannot learn on a public road without a PDL and a licensed instructor. The school must give you yard training (at least four hours, plus a test on the first four units) before it arranges your PDL, and it applies for your NTSA test once you pass its internal check. While learning, you must display L plates visible from 20 metres, keep a zero blood alcohol level, carry at most one passenger and tow nothing.
Comparing schools? Start with Five Star Driving School fees, branches and contacts, and check any school’s NTSA licence before you pay.
Vehicle Services
| Task | Our guide |
|---|---|
| Inspection of a vehicle and booking a slot | NTSA motor vehicle inspection fees and booking |
| Transferring ownership when you buy or sell | How to transfer vehicle ownership |
| Checking who owns a car before you buy | How to check who owns a car (copy of records) |
| Replacing lost or damaged number plates | How to apply for replacement number plates |
Buying a used car? Do the ownership search first, then the transfer, and keep the logbook checks in the transfer guide in mind.
Public Service and Commercial Driving
Matatu, taxi and bus drivers need the right licence class plus PSV requirements. See PSV licence requirements. Professional categories (C, D and E) have a maximum age of 65 and experience rules on the class below.
Fines and Enforcement
NTSA instant fines are paid through official channels only; scam messages are common. How to pay NTSA instant fines lists the amounts and how to verify a fine.
Tracking an Uncollected Card, Plate or Logbook
NTSA runs an uncollected search for smart driving licences (search by ID number), number plates and logbooks (search by registration number), with a request follow up option for complaints. If that does not help, write to info@ntsa.go.ke or visit NTSA at Upper Hill Chambers, 2nd Ngong Avenue, Nairobi (P.O. Box 3602-00508).
If your licence details are lost entirely, NTSA’s eCitizen help page says to SMS DL to 22430, then dial *512# and enter your ID number to receive your licence details and file reference number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I apply for NTSA services?
On the NTSA service portal, signed in with your eCitizen account.
How much is a driving licence in Kenya?
The Rules set KSh 3,000 for a three-year licence, KSh 600 for a provisional licence and KSh 1,000 for the test.
How do I replace a lost driving licence?
Apply for a duplicate on the portal; the Rules fee is KSh 1,000.
Can foreigners drive in Kenya?
Yes, on a foreign licence for 90 days from entry, after which residents should convert.
How do I contact NTSA?
Email info@ntsa.go.ke or visit Upper Hill Chambers, 2nd Ngong Avenue, Nairobi.
Looking for driving or transport jobs? Browse openings on JobinKenya.
Rules and fees checked against the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020 on Kenya Law, NTSA’s eCitizen pages and the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi’s published NTSA conversion procedure on October 25, 2026. eCitizen shows the amount that applies on the day before you pay.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
