How to get the new NTSA smart Digital Driving License

This is the Process on How to get the new NTSA smart Digital Driving License in Kenya.

NTSA Smart Driving License: How to Get New Digital License

Since the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) started rolling out the new generation smart driving licences in March 2018, many Kenyans have been asking how they can acquire them. How to get the new NTSA smart Digital Driving License.

The new digital driving license is set to replace the colonial era red booklet that has been issued to Kenyan drivers over the last century.

They will have details of names, blood type, biometric information, and offenses committed.

These licenses have been upgraded and are fitted with a chip, much like ATM cards that hold drivers’ information and a points system that is used to discipline drivers.

Each card has 100 points and points are deducted when traffic offenses are committed. If the driver reaches the threshold of 40 points, the license will automatically be cancelled.

How to get a new smart diving license

To apply for these new driving licenses, you’ll need to register on NTSA’s Citizen self-service portal, the Transport Integrated Management Systems (TIMS).

How to register in TIMS

To access services available on this platform, you need to create a personal account. To register;

Open the NTSA web portal using this link https://tims.ntsa.go.ke/login_csp.jsp.
Both buyer and seller are required to register an account in order to transfer a motor vehicle.
Click on Register an account to input your details and follow the process to complete registration.
Make sure you click on Subscribe SMS at the top right-hand side of your screen to receive a security code and other notifications involved in the transfer of motor vehicle process.
After you have registered, use the link provided above to see the login interface.
Click on the Login Method to choose whether to use ID number for individuals and Username or Certificate of Incorporation for companies, followed by your password.
Key in the pop-up Security Code sent to your mobile phone via SMS.
Finally, click on the Sign In button to log into the system

Note: However, according to NTSA, all smart driving license applicants should first book an appointment for issuance of the document before going to their offices at Upper Hill office.

Step by Step Procedure for getting a new Smart Driving License

1. Go to NTSA HQ

To avoid yourselves from going through any long queues you must reach the Upper Hill (NTSA HQ) before 8:30 am.

You will start from the ground floor where they will provide you with the date. After taking the slip from them you need to give the same slip at the information desk.

2. Confirm Personal Details

Log in to NTSA TIMS account with an NTSA agent so that they can confirm your personal details that even includes your blood type information.

3. Make Payment

The payment of Ksh. 3,050 for the new smart Kenyan driving license via M-Pesa needs to be made.

4. Biometrics and Signature

You will be required to take a digital picture, and biometrics and digital signature are also taken by them.

5. Printed License

Your license will be then printed.

6. License Validation

The last step is definitely validating your license and then you are all free.

Features to look out for in the new generation driving license

1. Your Car ownership details, your number plate, and driver’s license will be integrated

Your car ownership details such as your car’s number plate, your log book details among others will be integrated, and it will be possible for authorities and interested parties to access these details for various purposes.

2. If you are fined for a traffic offense, the new driving license will make it possible for you to pay up the fines through it, since the card will come bundled with an electronic wallet.

When a court finds you guilty, or when you do not contest a charge imposed on you by a traffic officer, the fine will be charged to your “NTSA Account” linked to your new NTSA driving license.

It will make it easy for you to pay the instant fines whenever they are imposed on you.

3. Your driving record will be available to employers

One other feature of the NTSA new driving license is that it will enable potential employers to access your driving records.

This record may play a significant role in the decision to hire you, especially where your driving ability is important to the job.

Depending on how well employers embrace this system, it may also be used as one of the elements included in the background checks needed before you get employed.

Creative employers may use it in the same way that some are known to use social media profiles to get a sense of a candidate.

A candidate with multiple bookings and warnings on their driving license is a sure sign of future trouble.

The new NTSA smart driver’s licence and card reader.

4. Your driving record will be available to insurers

The new generation driving license will have the capacity to store your driving information, and as such, your driving history will be available to insurers.

It is expected that your driving profile will play a role in the determination of the premiums a driver should pay.

In this case, good drivers will be more attractive to car insurance companies and as such, they will enjoy lower premiums. If you have not lost points, have not been caught committing traffic offenses, then you will be an attractive customer to insurers, who will offer you lower premiums.

The key challenge that insurers may face is knowing how to associate each car with its driver. Car insurance Kenya policy is issued for a car and not its driver.

So policy benefits may be issued to a person who owns the car but does not drive it.

5. The cumulative point system will be used to reward or punish you are a driver

Your new driving license will have a cumulative point system which will be used to reward or punish drivers based on their behavior on the road.

Various offenses will have different levels of penalties. In this regard, if you disobey traffic rules, points will be deducted from your card, and if they hit a certain lower threshold, you will be legally barred from driving until the points are renewed again, after a set period.

In the same way, if you are a good driver, you will be rewarded by the accumulation of the points. These points will be useful to insurers and employers alike to assess your premiums and to assess your suitability for employment, respectively.

Note: If your current driving license does not expire for another three years, you will wait for a while before the NTSA gets to you to upgrade your license.

The NTSA will be focusing on those who need to renew their expired licenses so that those with some time left on their current licenses are not disadvantaged financially since they have paid for three years.

Therefore, if you took a license for a long period, then you may wait till its expiry to get the new generation license.

Note: Everyone should have received their new license by January 2021.

NTSA contacts

National Transport and Safety Authority

Hill Park Building; Upper Hill

Nairobi Kenya

P.O Box 3602 -00506, Nairobi

Safaricom: 0709 932 000

Telkom: 020 6632 000

Email: info@ntsa.go.ke

Complains:complaints@ntsa.go.ke

Report corruption here:
integrity@ntsa.go.ke

NTSA county offices and physical addresses

NTSA Thika

Deputy County Commissioners Offices, Opposite Barclays Bank, Next to Kiambu Lands office

NTSA Nyeri

Regional Commissioners complex Nyeri, block C, third floor,Opposite the Nyeri Law Courts.

NTSA Meru

Angaine Plaza 2nd floor

NTSA Embu

Mugo House, Ground Floor

NTSA Nakuru

Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre along Nakuru Ravine Road near Show Ground junction

NTSA Eldoret

Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre along Police Line Road

NTSA Kericho

Kericho County Commissioner’s compound, NTSA MVI Centre

NTSA Kakamega

Posta, KRA offices

NTSA Kisii

Umoja Plaza, KRA Building

NTSA Kisumu

Swan Centre, 1st floor

NTSA Machakos

Machakos inspection center,along people’s park road.

NTSA Voi

Porters House, KRA Offices 1st Floor

NTSA Mombasa

IMAARA Building, 1st Floor, on Dedan Kimathi Avenue opposite Pandya Memorial Hospital

NTSA Garissa

KRA Offices, 1st Floor

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) started rolling out the new generation smart driving licenses in April 2018.

The new NTSA smart digital driving licenses look almost like the National ID and contain personal data including your Blood Group.

The digital license will have a secure computer chip containing the driver’s information, which will only be readable through special electronic gadgets which are owned and will be managed by NTSA officials.

A key feature of the card is the points system that sees points deducted for every traffic offence committed. The technology will encourage good driving habits and reduce the cost of motor vehicle insurance.

The old Kenyan Driving License issued before Kenya attained independence IMAGE: Courtesy

Currently, NTSA is in talks with insurance companies to facilitate a new premium pricing model that will partially rely on smart driving licenses to enable them to reward good drivers with lower premiums and raise those of bad drivers.

NTSA will have a centralized database profiling driver behaviour where repeat offenders will lose points to an extent of having their driving licenses suspended temporarily or confiscated for good.

Other penalties include on-the-spot fines and/ or attending mandatory refresher driving classes. NTSA Director-General Francis Meja revealed that transactions for instant fines would be cashless in a bid to tame corruption.

The current license that is being replaced with the Smart driving license

Registering on TIMS: How to get the new NTSA smart Digital Driving License

Follow the following steps on how to register on TIMS to create an account on the Transport Information Management System (TIMS) website by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA):

Open your browser and direct it to ntsa.go.ke
On this page you will be presented with three options:

If you are visiting NTSA portal for the first time? Here’s how to register on TIMS

Click on the Register an Account link will direct you to the eRegister An Account page. It is from this page that Individuals, Dealers, Agents, Financial Institutions and Companies register on the platform.

How to register on NTSA TIMS (Transport Integrated Management System)

Click on the Individuals
You will be prompted to input your ID Serial No. Be careful not to input your ID Number as what is required is the Serial Number. If your have replaced your ID within the last two years you will have to use your old ID Card’s serial number. (In case the system rejects any of your details you are advised to visit NTSA offices)
Add your KRA PIN Number.
Your Mother’s Maiden Name.
And your Occupation and Phone Number.
Request a verification code by clicking on the button next to the phone number.
Input the code you receive on your phone in the verification tab to complete the verification process.
You are now registered on the TIMS platform.
Head back to the home page ntsa.go.keand Sign In.
Once you have changed your password, click on the “driving license” menu and select “Apply for smart DL”.
You will be charged KES 3,050 and once you have completed the payment and it is processed, you will book an appointment with the NTSA
At the NTSA offices, your details will be confirmed, a passport photo of you and your finger prints be captured
After you have registered, your digital driving license will be ready for collection in 5 working days. (But this is taking longer due to the huge back log they have.)