NTSA Issues Directive on Transfer of Vehicle Ownership

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has streamlined the motor vehicle transfer of ownership process, introducing a fully digital system that eliminates paperwork and reduces processing time to just a few minutes.

In a statement released on Monday, September 8, the authority outlined significant improvements to the vehicle ownership transfer system, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and fraud prevention measures.

The new system requires all motor vehicle transfer of ownership applications to be undertaken online through the NTSA service portal at http://serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke, with payments processed seamlessly through the eCitizen platform.

The process has been made entirely paperless, eliminating the need for physical forms or multiple visits to NTSA offices.

"The seller initiates the transfer online, the buyer accepts digitally; no physical forms or multiple visits to the NTSA office are required," the authority stated.

Internal verification and approval steps have been significantly reduced, with the average time to complete a transfer online application now just a few minutes.

To enhance transparency, each transaction generates a unique Application ID, allowing buyers and sellers to track real-time progress.

The authority emphasized the importance of conducting due diligence before vehicle purchases.

"Before purchasing a vehicle, always search through http://serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke and obtain a copy of the records," NTSA advised. "A motor vehicle copy of records provides critical information to help the interested party make an informed purchase and avoid costly mistakes."

Security and fraud prevention have been strengthened through digital audit trails and system-logged approvals. Upon completion of the transfer process, certificates of ownership and logbooks are processed within three working days.

After the three days, vehicle owners can collect their logbooks from the center identified during the application process. New owners must present the previous logbook and original identification document when collecting the new logbook.

In cases where applications are rejected, sellers are notified instantly via SMS, providing clear reasons for the Authority's decision.

Importantly, rejected applications can be corrected and resubmitted at no additional costs, ensuring accessibility and fairness in the process.

NTSA analyzed all services offered under the agency in a notice shared on September 5, highlighting significant improvements in processing times across multiple service categories.

Several services are now processed instantly, including copies of records, interim driving licenses, PSV badges, provisional driving licenses, and virtual driving licenses.

The authority has also reduced logbook processing times to three days, number plates to seven days, and smart driving licenses to five days. Motor vehicle inspections are completed within 60 minutes, while test uploads are processed within 48 hours.

The notice emphasized that all NTSA services are accessed online through the NTSA service portal, with no charges for the digital platform. However, statutory fees apply as law prescribes, and method charges may apply when using mobile money platforms.