NTSA: Special Procedure Required for Auction Vehicle Ownership

By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter

Kenya, 21 January 2026 - The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has warned that a special transfer procedure must be followed for ownership of vehicles acquired through auctions to be officially recognised.

Motorists purchasing vehicles through auctions, bank repossessions or court-ordered sales risk losing ownership recognition if they fail to complete the process, known as an alternative or forced transfer.

In a notice issued on Wednesday, NTSA said the procedure is mandatory for vehicles obtained through repossession auctions, court orders and tender-based sales, and is intended to ensure all changes in vehicle ownership are accurately recorded in the national vehicle register.

For vehicles sold through bank repossession, the authority said buyers must provide proof that the auction was conducted lawfully. Required documents include a certified copy of the auctioneer’s valid licence, the auctioneer’s registration certificate and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN details. Buyers must also submit tender documents and an official letter from the bank authorising the auctioneer to conduct the sale.

NTSA added that applicants must obtain a tape lift from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, complete the prescribed transfer Form C, and provide proof that the vehicle sale was advertised in a newspaper to demonstrate transparency and accountability.

The transfer process begins on the NTSA service portal, where applicants select the alternative or forced transfer option and enter details of the vehicle and transaction. All original documents must be scanned and uploaded as a single PDF file; applicants then select a logbook collection centre and nominate an authorised collector.

Applicants are then required to make online payments for the forced transfer and vehicle inspection services. NTSA noted that a mandatory seven-day waiting period is enforced before buyers can book a vehicle inspection at their preferred NTSA centre.

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The Authority notes that successful applicants must present a certificate of sale, the original payment receipt, a discharge letter from the bank and a formal transfer request. The vehicle’s original logbook must also be included.

Additional verification documents are required to complete the transfer, including certificates of incorporation for both the bank and the auctioneer, KRA PINs for the two entities and a letter from the bank identifying the highest bidder. Affidavits from both the auctioning institution and the buyer are also mandatory.

On the scheduled inspection date, the vehicle must be presented, along with all original documents, for verification by NTSA officers. Once the inspection is approved, the new owner is notified via SMS.

The authority said transfer fees vary depending on the vehicle’s engine capacity and applicable inspection charges, adding that once verification is completed, the transfer is typically finalised within three working days.