The government has launched a new generation of digital number plates with inbuilt security features that allow for tracing of cars ownership by law enforcement agencies.
The plates that comply with the amended Traffic Act of 2016 will bear additional features some of which that shall be visible physically and others only to security agencies for ease of tracing in the event they are involved in committing crime.
Interior CS Fred Matiang’I said the plates that shall be fixed to vehicles imported to the country at the point of entry will be synchronised with KRA systems to help rid cases of tax evasion in car selling business.
Most of you have been asking how to obtain Kenya’s new digital number plates, which have officially launched. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to manually or online get the new digital number plates.
Manual Application
~Acquire an application form from the NTSA. The form should detail vehicle particulars, including the type of plates needed.
~Indicate vehicle particulars, and the type of plates needed
~Deliver fully filled form to NTSA offices
~Make payment (3,000 shillings)
~Wait for a text notification to pick up your plates
Online application via TIMS
~Subscribe to receive SMS – send NTSA to 22847
~Log on to www.ntsa.go.ke
~Click on the TIMS logo
~Go to apply reflective number plate
~Choose the type of vehicle that needs a new plate
~Indicate the plate type
~Indicate person to pick them
~Indicate the point of collection
~Pay the 3,000 shillings application fee via mobile money or card
~Preferred plates cost 30,000 shillings
~Motorcycle plates cost 1,500 shillings
NTSA will alert you via text message when the plate will be ready.
Applications will be opened from October 1, 2022. You will have up to 18 months to replace your older plates with new digital ones.
The plates will be issued to newly registered vehicles from now and onwards. The ‘digital’ part of the plates is an embedded microprocessor, which will allow state or security agencies to track mission vehicles, or those that have been involved in a crime.
The plates have an NTSA serial number that is linked with a vehicle’s chassis number. The front and back number plates will not be the same but will be linked, nonetheless.
The plates are better-looking and are unique in a way that will prevent forgery. They also have a Kenyan flag and a KENYA mark on them.
The back of the plate will also include the date of manufacture, batch number, and the number of the production machines.
