Transfer car ownership on NTSA eCitizen in 2026: seller and buyer steps, logbook transfer cost, the NTSA search to run first, and scams to avoid.
Figures checked on 29 October 2026.
You have found the car and agreed a price. Before any money moves, do an official NTSA search, then a clean transfer on eCitizen. Here is how, with fees, documents and common scams.
What changed in 2026: the eLogbook
NTSA started issuing the electronic logbook (eLogbook) on 10 June 2026. A transfer of ownership is one of the services that now produces an eLogbook. Registration, asset-finance changes and duplicate logbooks also produce one (The Kenya Times, June 2026). The buyer downloads the new eLogbook from eCitizen. You can check that it is genuine by scanning its QR code with the NTSA App.
Everything happens on the NTSA Service Portal, which you open through your eCitizen account. NTSA says all of its services are available online through serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke (NTSA list of services, 2026).
Before you pay: run an official vehicle search
How to get the Motor Vehicle Copy of Records
- Log in to eCitizen and open the NTSA Service Portal.
- Go to Services and choose Motor Vehicle Copy of Records.
- Enter the registration number and pay.
- Download the record from your application history. NTSA says it is ready instantly.
NTSA's 2026 service charter lists the copy of records at KES 500, and eCitizen adds a KES 50 convenience fee. Press reports give the total as KES 550 (K24, December 2025).
What to check on the record
- Owner name. The registered owner must match the seller's national ID. If the seller says they are selling for a relative or a company, deal with the registered owner or get proper authority in writing.
- Joint owners or a financier. If a bank, SACCO or lender appears as an owner, the car is still under a loan. The lender has to discharge its interest before the car can pass cleanly to you.
- Chassis and engine numbers. Compare the numbers on the record with the logbook and with the numbers stamped on the car itself. If they do not match, walk away.
- Make, model, year of manufacture and registration date. These should match the car in front of you and the advert.
The record shows the registered owner's name and KRA PIN, the chassis and engine numbers, the model, fuel type and registration date. It does not show the owner's phone number, email or ID number (Eastleigh Voice, July 2024).
Caveats are worth asking about. An owner can ask NTSA to place a caveat on a car, and the charter lists this as free. We could not confirm from NTSA whether every caveat appears on the copy of records. If you have doubts, ask NTSA directly ([email protected]) before you pay.
How to transfer ownership on eCitizen
Seller's steps
- Log in to eCitizen and open the NTSA Service Portal.
- Go to the Motor Vehicle tab, select the car, then choose Vehicle Transfer under Motor Vehicle Services and click Apply.
- If the car has a physical logbook, upload a scan of it as a PDF.
- Choose the ownership type and enter the buyer's details.
- Submit, pay, then accept the consent notification on your homepage.
These steps come from NTSA's July 2026 notice, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke.
Buyer's steps
- Log in to eCitizen, open the NTSA Service Portal and check the notifications on your homepage.
- Open the transfer request and accept it. You can also decline it.
- Fill in the required details, tick the declaration and submit.
- When NTSA approves the transfer, download your eLogbook.
Buyers often miss the consent step. In October 2026, NTSA said thousands of cars were still registered to their previous owners because buyers had not accepted transfer requests. In its words, until the buyer consents, the seller remains the legal owner (The Kenya Times, October 2026).
Guides disagree on whether seller or buyer pays the fee, so agree it in your sale agreement.
Logbook transfer cost in Kenya
NTSA's own 2026 service charter does not give amounts. It says the transfer fee depends on the car's engine size (cc). We could not find NTSA's current fee schedule, and we could not find the date the fee last changed. Two fee tables are in wide circulation:
| Engine size | Table A (KES) | Table B (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000cc | 1,660 | 2,210 |
| 1,001–1,200cc | 1,890 | 2,440 |
| 1,201–1,500cc | 2,065 | 2,615 |
| 1,501–1,700cc | 2,410 | 2,960 |
| 1,701–2,000cc | 2,695 | 3,245 |
| 2,001–2,500cc | 3,845 | 4,395 |
| 2,501–3,000cc | 5,055 | 5,505 |
| Above 3,000cc | 5,915 | 6,465 |
Table A comes from Kenyans.co.ke (March 2025). Table B comes from Money254 (June 2025). In most bands Table B is about KES 550 higher, and we could not confirm what that difference covers. In December 2023, NTSA proposed raising the fee for cars up to 1,000cc from KES 1,660 to KES 10,000 (Nation). We found no evidence that the proposal took effect.
What to do: eCitizen shows the exact amount before you pay. Pay only through eCitizen, never to a person.
The NTSA service charter (2026) lists these related charges:
- eCitizen convenience fee: KES 50
- Voluntary e-sticker: KES 750 (the charter calls it voluntary)
- Duplicate eLogbook: KES 2,550
- Caveat on a vehicle: free
Documents you need
- KRA PIN for both buyer and seller. NTSA says "a valid KRA PIN is required for all NTSA vehicle ownership transactions" (Kenyans.co.ke, May 2026).
- National ID and an eCitizen account for each party.
- The logbook. That means the eLogbook, or a PDF scan of the physical logbook.
- A written sale agreement. It should show the price, the date, both IDs, the chassis and engine numbers, and who pays the transfer fee.
NTSA says joint ownership is supported under the eLogbook system.
How long a transfer takes
NTSA's 2026 charter sets a target of one working day for a transfer. NTSA says the clock starts once the buyer submits and all requirements are met. In practice, some motorists have reported delays of weeks (Kenyans.co.ke, August 2026). NTSA now sends transfer updates by SMS, so keep the phone number on your account active.
The law also sets deadlines. Under section 9 of the Traffic Act, the seller should notify the Registrar within 7 days of the transfer. A transferred car should not be used on the road for more than 14 days unless the new owner is registered (Traffic Act, Cap 403, s.9).
Sometimes the seller cannot be traced or refuses to sign. In that case NTSA offers an "alternative transfer", which you apply for at NTSA headquarters (counter 8). The charter gives it 14 working days, and you may need supporting documents such as a court order.
Common scams in Kenya
- The seller is not the owner. The name on the search does not match the seller's ID, and they have a story to explain it.
- The car is still on a loan. If you buy a car with an uncleared logbook loan or asset-finance loan, the lender can still repossess it.
- Altered numbers or cloned plates. Two cars have been found carrying the same registration number (Citizen Digital). Always check the chassis and engine numbers on the car itself.
- Fake "NTSA" websites. In December 2025, NTSA warned about a site that does not belong to it. Use only the NTSA Service Portal through eCitizen.
- Requests for your login or codes. NTSA warns against giving third parties your ID details, phone number or eCitizen login.
- Paying before the transfer starts. Do not pay the full price until the search is clean and the seller has started the transfer. Don't send money to an "agent's" personal number.
A mechanical check matters as much as the paperwork. At MNM Motors, our own mechanic inspects every car, and you are welcome to bring your own mechanic before you pay. Viewing is by appointment. You can browse our cars at mnm.co.ke/cars.
Questions buyers ask
How much does a logbook transfer cost in Kenya?
It depends on engine size. Published tables range from about KES 1,660 to KES 2,210 for cars up to 1,000cc, and up to about KES 5,915 to KES 6,465 above 3,000cc. eCitizen shows the exact amount before you pay.
How do I check car ownership with NTSA?
On the NTSA Service Portal, apply for a Motor Vehicle Copy of Records with the registration number. It costs KES 550 in total, including the eCitizen fee, and is ready instantly.
How long does the transfer take?
NTSA's target is one working day after the buyer accepts and submits. Some transfers have taken longer, so budget extra time.
Can I buy a car that is still on a bank loan?
Yes, but only once the lender has been paid and has discharged its interest. Until then the lender can still claim the car. Arrange the payoff with the lender directly.
What if the seller disappears before the transfer?
NTSA has an alternative transfer process at its headquarters. It takes longer and may need a court order. This is why you should not pay in full before the seller starts the transfer.
Grok
