The Law of Kenya under the Traffic ACT (CAP 403) section 9 states “It is unlawful to use a motor vehicle or continue keeping it in your possession for more than fourteen days after assuming its possession, without changing its ownership.”
This is also written on the back side of the logbook.
What this means is, immediately you sell your vehicle or motorbike you should apply for a transfer of ownership and the buyer should accept so that they can get a logbook that is in their name within 14 days. So, how do you do a logbook transfer in Kenya?
How To do a Logbook Transfer in Kenya
There are 2 parts to a Logbook transfer in Kenya. The 1st part is where the seller (Current owner) initiates a transfer and the 2nd part the buyer (New owner) accepts ownership.
Below are the 3 easy steps on how you can initiate a logbook transfer in Kenya as the seller (Current owner).
But wait! Before we proceed it’s good to know how much money you will require to pay for the transfer so that when you get to the payment option you can make the payment immediately.
The logbook transfer charges depends on the engine capacity of the vehicle. The following are the current secondhand motor vehicle logbook transfer charges as per the NTSA service guide.
- A vehicle that’s 1000cc and below Ksh 2,210
- A vehicle between 1001-1200cc Ksh 2,440
- A vehicle between 1501-1700cc Ksh 2,960
- A vehicle between 1701-2000cc Ksh 3,245
- A vehicle between 2001-2500cc Ksh 4,395
- A vehicle between 2501-3000cc Ksh 5,505
- A vehicle that’s 3001cc and above Ksh 6,465
- A trailer less than four wheels Ksh 1,580
- A trailer with four wheels and more Ksh 2,240
- A Tractor 1,580
Perfect, now that that’s out of the way let’s proceed with the logbook transfer process.
Step 1. Log in To Your eCitizen Account
Logbook transfers are done via the eCitizen account. You can access your eCitizen account via this link https://accounts.ecitizen.go.ke/
Key in your details & log in.
Your details will be shown on top of the page you can therefore be sure you’re logged into the correct account.
Scroll down to the agencies section and click on National Transport And Safety Authority (NTSA) (NEW)
Follow the prompts until you’re logged into the NTSA portal, it should look like the image below.
On the NTSA dashboard scroll down until you see the vehicle(s) registered under your name.
Click on view against the vehicle you wish to transfer.
On the next page click on motor vehicle services.
Step 2. Apply For Vehicle Transfer
Click Apply on the Vehicle Transfer tab.
On the next page confirm if all the vehicle details are okay.
Then scroll down to the Written Off section and select the appropriate answer. In our case the answer is no since the vehicle is still functional.
Then attach a coloured copy of the old logbook on the space provided. It should be in PDF format
Once done click next to proceed to the next section.
Select the Type of Ownership.
Under New Owners enter the new owners’ KRA PIN and click on the search button. The rest of the field will populate with the new owners’ details.
Scroll down and click on preview if the information shown is correct.
On the next page confirm all the details you have provided are accurate, if yes scroll down and click Submit to proceed.
Step 3. Make Payment
On the payment tab, there are various options provided select the one you’re comfortable with and pay the indicated amount.
Note! Do not Over/Under pay the indicated amount. When making these payments Mpesa is always the best option to use.
In an instance where you use another payment option and you're unable to complete the payment kindly contact eCitizen support on:
- Tel: +254 207 903 260
- Email: support@ecitizen.go.ke
Once payment is completed you can download the payment receipt on the next window.
At this point part one of the transfer is done the next part is for the buyer (new owner) to accept the ownership of the logbook.
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As the new owner login to your eCitizen account via this link https://accounts.ecitizen.go.ke/
Once you’re logged in navigate to the New NTSA Portal as shown above and follow these 2 easy steps to accept ownership of the logbook.
Step 1. Accept Request For Consent
Once you log in to your NTSA account you shall see a message on the top to accept or decline Request for Consent.
The message will show the vehicle’s registration number and the person who initiated the transfer. If everything displayed is correct proceed by selecting Accept.
Step 2. Enter Collection Details
On the next window provide the collection details of the logbook.
Start by selecting the Notification Method, you can select both E-MAIL & SMS.
Then select the Logbook Counter Collection Office this is where you will go to collect the new logbook in your name.
Scroll down to the Authorized Person to Collect Logbook section.
The person to collect doesn’t have to be you it can be anyone but you need to provide their details here. If you enter your details and then decide to send someone else to collect they need to go to the collection office with your ID.
Enter the ID Number and First Name and click on Search. The 2 bottom tabs will populate with the persons’ details.
Scroll down to provide the notification Phone Number and Email Address, once done check the Declaration box to declare that the information provided is complete and true, then click on Preview.
On the next page confirm all the details and click on submit to finish the Logbook acceptance process.
NTSA will start processing the new logbook and they will notify you once it’s ready for collection.
On their social media, they say the process takes 3 working days.
Kevin Muya is an award-winning entrepreneur and the visionary Founder and CEO of Scepture Empire Limited. With a passion for e-commerce and digital marketing, Kevin has revolutionized online marketplaces in Kenya through innovative ideas that transform buyer-seller interactions.