The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued fresh detailed guidance on the mandatory procedure for transferring ownership and re‑registering government vehicles disposed of to the public.
In a public announcement on January 26, NTSA stated that the clarification targets vehicles previously owned by ministries, parastatals, county governments and General‑K (GK) fleets.
According to NTSA, any person purchasing an ex‑government vehicle must complete a two‑stage process: the standard re‑registration workflow on the NTSA portal and an additional set of requirements specific to former GK, parastatal, and county units.
NTSA Requirements
NTSA said buyers of ex-GK vehicles must provide documentation from both the disposing institution and the buyer before re-registration can be approved.
Applicants must submit an authorisation letter from the respective Principal Secretary or the Department of Defence, depending on the institution disposing of the vehicle.
A prescribed application Form “A” must be duly filled and signed by the applicant.
The buyer must provide the GK number plates, or alternatively, a retention letter issued by the disposing institution.
NTSA requires a GK registration certificate (Registration Certificate) to support the ownership record.
Where the logbook is unavailable, the applicant is required to write a formal letter to the authority, then proceed to apply for a new number plate.
A prescribed application Form “C” must also be filled, signed and stamped by both the disposing institution and the buyer.
Where disposal was conducted through auction, NTSA said relevant supporting documents must be submitted, including a valid auctioneer’s licence, the buyer’s KRA PIN, and a certificate of incorporation where applicable.
Other mandatory documents include copies of the buyer’s National ID and KRA PIN certificate.
Also Read: NTSA Clarifies Transfer Process for Vehicles Belonging to Deceased Persons
Applicants must also provide a tape lift of the vehicle’s chassis and engine numbers, as well as DCI clearance, as part of the verification process.
For vehicles where duty was not paid, NTSA said the buyer must obtain a new entry form after paying duty before the re-registration is completed.
NTSA further noted that number plates and registration certificates are not applicable for ex-military vehicles, meaning buyers must confirm the applicable documentation framework depending on the category of the unit being disposed.
Online Application Through NTSA Service Portal
According to NTSA, re-registration applications for ex-GK vehicles must be submitted through the authority’s digital platform at serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke.
Applicants are required to log in, select the motor vehicle services option, and proceed to the motor vehicle re-registration section.
The client must select the specific vehicle to be re-registered and enter all required details before moving to the next stage.
NTSA stated that applicants must look up the entry and enter the relevant KRA PIN, then search and continue. The system then requires the applicant to select the preferred number plate type before uploading documents.
After attaching all required documents, the applicant must click on the declaration section and submit the application for review.
The authority also requires payment of the re-registration fee and inspection fee, which must be settled before the application progresses to the consent and inspection stages.
Buyer Consent and Collection Details
NTSA said the buyer must log in to their account and respond to notifications by accepting or declining consent.
The authority noted that this step is mandatory and must be completed before the re-registration request can proceed.
Also Read: NTSA Explains Process of Legally Transferring Ownership of Auctioned Vehicles
After accepting consent, the buyer must select the number plate and logbook collection location and provide details of the authorised person who will collect the logbook and number plates on their behalf.
Inspection and Physical Document Submission
NTSA stated that the seller receives a notification prompt to book a re-registration inspection.
The seller is required to click the notification, book an inspection, then select a preferred inspection centre and date before submitting the booking request.
Following the inspection, the authority requires submission of original physical documents for verification at the selected centre or office.
NTSA said the re-registration process is only completed after the original documents are confirmed to match the uploaded copies and the inspection requirements have been met.
Approval and Number Plate Allocation
Upon completion of verification, NTSA said the applicant must wait for approval and allocation of the number plate.
The authority noted that approval is issued after the inspection results and documentation checks are cleared, after which the logbook and number plates can be processed for collection.
NTSA urged buyers to rely on official platforms and procedures when purchasing government-disposed vehicles, warning that failure to follow the required steps can expose buyers to disputes, delays and the risk of acquiring vehicles that are not legally transferable.
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