When a car changes hands in Kenya, ownership is transferred online through the NTSA service on eCitizen. Logbooks are now electronic, so the new owner’s logbook appears in their account. Until the transfer is complete, the seller is still the legal owner - and responsible for the car.

Before you pay: checks for buyers

  • Search the vehicle on the NTSA portal. A search shows the registered owner, the chassis and engine numbers, and whether a bank or lender has an interest in it.
  • Compare the numbers on the car’s chassis and engine with the search.
  • Check for a caveat or a loan. Many cars are bought on finance; if a bank appears on the record, the loan must be cleared and the bank’s interest removed before transfer.
  • Meet the registered owner and see their ID. Pay the owner, not a middleman, and only once the transfer has been started.
  • Get a sale agreement in writing with both parties’ details, the price and the date.

What the seller does

  1. Log in to eCitizen and open the NTSA service.
  2. Choose Vehicle ownership transfer and enter the registration number.
  3. Enter the buyer’s ID number (or KRA PIN for a company).
  4. Upload a scan of the logbook and any documents asked for.
  5. Pay the transfer fee.

What the buyer does

  1. Log in to your own eCitizen account and open the NTSA service.
  2. Find the transfer waiting for you, check the details, and accept it with the code sent to your phone.
  3. Pay any fees shown.

Fees

The transfer fee depends on engine size, from around KES 2,200 for small cars to over KES 6,000 for large engines. An e-sticker fee of KES 750 is added. The portal calculates the exact amount.

How long it takes

NTSA usually approves a transfer within a few working days. The new logbook then shows in the buyer’s account. The law expects the transfer to be completed within 14 days of the sale.

After the transfer

  • Insurance. The seller’s policy does not pass to you. Insure the car in your name before you drive it away.
  • Inspection. Some older or commercial vehicles need an NTSA inspection first.
  • Keep the sale agreement and receipts with your records.

Cars sold by a company or with a loan

A car owned by a company needs the company’s authority to sell. A car still registered to a bank or lender needs a letter from them releasing it; the lender then starts or approves the transfer.

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