De-register a motor vehicle
From: Government of Kenya (public information)
Published 2 June 2026 · Last updated 2 June 2026
Find out how to permanently remove a motor vehicle from the official NTSA records in Kenya. This guide covers the cancellation rules for written-off, scrapped, or exported cars.
Warning This is an independent guide — not a government website. Never share passwords or OTPs with agents. Only pay through official portals. Scams and fake websites
No direct application link is listed yet. Try eCitizen or contact government.
Quick facts
- Processing time
- 5 to 10 working days for full processing and database deactivation.
- Base cost
- Ksh 1,050 flat fee
- How to apply
- Hybrid (Online form and physical attendance required)
Fees and times can change. Confirm on the official site before you pay.
Before you start
- The vehicle logbook must be registered inside your active personal or corporate eCitizen NTSA account.
- The vehicle must be completely free of active bank logbook loans, police caveates, or insurance flags.
Documents you need
- Scanned copy of the original physical Logbook (Certificate of Registration).
- Scanned Scrap Certificate or a comprehensive Destruction Report from a certified automotive engineer (if scrapping).
- Official Insurance Write-off Report and letter (if the car was totaled in an accident).
- Customs Export Entry Documentation (if the car is being relocated to another country).
Fees and charges
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| NTSA Vehicle De-registration Fee | Ksh 1,000 |
| eCitizen Portal Convenience Charge | Ksh 50 |
Office visits
- Physically surrendering your old aluminum number plates and original paper/digital logbook to NTSA for destruction. — You must take the physical plates and original registration files to the NTSA Head Office at 316 Upper Hill Chambers in Nairobi or your designated regional NTSA center.
You may also use a Huduma Centre where the service is offered.
Questions
Why is it important to de-register a vehicle that I am no longer driving?
If a vehicle is physically destroyed but stays active in the NTSA registry, you remain legally responsible for it. If criminal networks clone your old license plates or use the vehicle identity, you could face prosecution.
Can I re-register a vehicle after it has been fully de-registered?
No. De-registration is an irreversible legal process. Once a vehicle's registration identity is canceled and purged from the eCitizen database, that chassis and engine configuration can never be licensed to drive on public Kenyan roads again.