The government introduced a new generation of vehicle registration plates last year as part of its efforts to combat forgery, swapping, and duplication.
The new plates have a modern design, featuring monospaced letters and numbers to prevent easy tampering and improve machine readability.
They also incorporate advanced technology, such as microchips and multiple anti-counterfeit security features, making them highly resistant to imitation.
These smart plates have a unique appearance, with a specially-imprinted national flag, a hologram of the Big Five animals, and a watermark. Each plate has distinct serial numbers for both the front and rear, which are linked to the vehicle’s chassis number.One of the key benefits of these plates is that they act as an information hub for essential vehicle details, accessible to the police.
This includes information such as the year of manufacture, vehicle type and color, engine number, transmission type, date and place of manufacture, and insurance details.To prevent tax evasion in the car import business, upon vehicle importation, the new plates will be fixed at the point of entry, and their information will be synchronized with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and Kenya Revenue Authority systems.
Acquiring these new generation plates costs Sh3,000, and interested individuals can obtain them online through the NTSA portal, with an additional Sh50 service fee.To register for the smart plates, follow these steps:
- Visitwww.ntsa.go.ke.
- Select motor vehicle registration and log into your account.
- Choose “Apply for reflective plates” and select the vehicle, then proceed to the next step.
- State your reason for the application as needing the new generation plates.
- Choose your preferred notification method.
- Select the number plate format (oblong or square).
- Upload copies of your original logbook and old license plates (both rear and front) in PDF format.
- Select your collection center and provide the ID number of the person who will collect the plates.
- Pay the Ksh. 3,050 fee and confirm your application.
Once your plates are ready, you will receive a notification to collect them at your chosen center. The NTSA estimates that motorists can expect to receive their plates in approximately a week.
