NTSA: How To Apply For Digital Number Plates Including Choosing Shape

Motorists will be charged Ksh3,050 to get the new number plates...

NTSA: How To Apply For Digital Number Plates Including Choosing Shape
The new-look number plates introduced on August 30, 2022. /DAILY NATION

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced a few updates in terms of Kenyan motorists procuring the new-look digital registration number plates for vehicles in exchange for their older counterparts.

In a notice shared on Friday, January 27, motorists will be charged Ksh3,050 to get the new number plates up from the Ksh3,000 initially announced in August 2022.

In addition, motorists will have the freedom of choosing the shape of their number plates and be required to upload the original logbook and plates in PDF format, both front and rear.

The transport authority further called upon motorists to visit the website www.ntsa.go.ke to apply, and follow these instructions:

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i introducing the new-look number plates on August 30, 2022. /FRED MATIANG'I

Steps To Apply

1. After logging in, select the vehicle registration option on the website and apply for a reflective plate.

2. Select the vehicle(s) for which you are applying for the new number plates and click on Next, which is at the bottom of the screen.

3. Select your reason for application, in this case, you're applying for the new generation number plate.

4. Select your preferred notification method, that is either text message (SMS) or email. This will help notify you regarding the status of the number plate application.

5. Choose your number plate and format, which can be either a square or oblong number plate.

6. As a driver, upload original logbooks and old plates, that is the ones you have been using before, both the front and rear plates, in PDF format. This will help NTSA to easily process the new generation number plates.

7. Select the collection centre and the National Identification Number (ID) of the person who will collect the new generation number plate. This means that you can either go personally or send someone to collect it on your behalf.

8. After choosing the collection centre, you are required to pay Ksh3,050 as per the NTSA prompt system.

9. Once payment is done, NTSA will then send you a notification alerting you when the number plate is ready for collection.

Features

The plates will put Kenya on the global map, among countries that are compliant with the Vienna Traffic Conventions on global standards for number plates including look-and-feel features.

They are in compliance with the amended Traffic Act of 2016 and will bear additional inbuilt features. Some of them will be displayed physically and others visible plainly to security agencies for ease of tracing in the event they are involved in committing a crime.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS), Fred Matiang'i noted in August 2022 that the new number plates will make it difficult for the production of fake number plates which have been used in criminal activities.

“Criminals have been driving cars around with number plates that were initially issued to tractors. Many bankers have been left holding logbooks registered fraudulently since they cannot trace the vehicles used as collateral,” he said.

To curb incidences of tax evasion in the sale of motor vehicles, the number plates will be synchronised with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) systems. This is one of the unique features that the plates will carry.

Others include a unique template, a specially-imprinted national flag, hologram, watermark, unique and different serial numbers for rear and front plates linked to the vehicle’s chassis number and customized font.

To enable wireless information transfer between it and mobile police devices or at traffic signals, the new number plates are attached with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip placed on the sticker.

The smart plates, which will be easily identifiable to law enforcement officers, will also store information such as the year of manufacturer, type and colour of vehicle, engine number, transmission type, date and place of manufacture, and insurance details.