You have no doubt by now seen the new sleek digital number plates on our roads.
These new generation plates were launched by the government on 30th August 2022 after a few false starts. Apart from being visually appealing, the digital number plates come with added security features such as a unique NTSA issued serial number, a hologram, QR code and the Kenyan flag for added measure. Similar to the older generation plates, the front plate is black and white while the rear one is black and yellow.
Upon commissioning, NTSA started issuing these new plates to newly imported vehicles starting with the KDK series. At the same time, it was announced that owners of already registered vehicles will have up to 18 months to apply for the new digital plates.
If you are wondering how to get the new digital number plate in Kenya or even where to start, wonder no more. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
1.The first step is to login to your NTSA TIMS account, here https://timsvirl.ntsa.go.ke/#!/login
2. Once in, on the left-hand side of the screen you will see this menu, click on ‘Reflective No Plate’
- Under reflective number plates, click on ‘Apply for reflective No. Plate’.
This should bring you to the Vehicle Identification page that will show you a list of the vehicles in your account. Select the vehicle that you are applying for by ticking the box against it on the left-hand side of the screen. Once selected, click on the ‘Next’ button.
This will bring you to a page with more details of the said vehicle. No action is required on this page, therefore click on the ‘Next’ button again.
4. You will now find yourself in the ‘Number Plate collection Arrangement Page’. For reason of applying for reflective plate, select ‘New Generation Plate’. Tick one notification method, e.g., SMS, and select the type of plates i.e. oblong for front and square for back.
On the same page, you will be required to attach a photo of the front and back of your current registration plates.
Expert Tip- the page only accepts PDF format. Take both photos, paste them on a Word document, and convert to PDF. Make sure it is one page and not two.
Similarly, you will be required to attach the vehicle logbook. Attach it on the spot that says ‘Tape Lifting Report’. Again, make sure it is a PDF version.
After you have attached the two items, click on the next button. This will bring you the payment page. Verify the vehicle details and click on the ‘Pay’ button. Select your payment mode and pay. The fee is 3,050kes.
After making payment, print your receipt. The next page will ask you to select where you will collect the number plates e.g., Nairobi, Mombasa etc., as well as the person authorized to collect them.
NTSA will send you a text message when your plates are ready. While the official waiting period is two weeks, be prepared to wait up to a month for the new plates.
Please note: To collect your new digital plates, you will be required to submit your old plates to NTSA and trade them in for the new ones.
Is it open for vehicles of all registrations?
Worth reading
Thank you , we are glad you found the article useful
I found the guidelines very comprehensive and useful. Thanks so much.
Thank you very much
guideline well articulated and therefore very helpful
Hi Judi, we are glad that you found this guide helpful. Thank you for taking time to leave us a comment, we appreciate it.
Very educational piece
We are glad that you found this article useful. Thank you
They look good and smart
We agree!
How can one track the progress of the new plates if it has been over a month since they were requested for?
hi Reuben,
NTSA should send you a text message when your plates are ready. If you have not gotten such a message, and it has been over a month, I would pop into their office and inquire. Remember, you will need to return the old plates in your car so that they can trade them in for the new ones. Good luck!
What can I do when I log into the account and I get the message that the collection status has already changed.
what if by mistake i uploaded both log book and plates but exchanged them?
Hi Jared, we are not quite sure what happens then, it doesn’t sound like a big problem interchanging the plates and logbook, but if it is, NTSA will reject the application and you can resend it again. So keep checking your account for the status
and already i have paid for them?
I am currently the special owner which belongs to my brother who’s out of the Country. Can I proceed and apply on his behalf to replace the old plates with the new digital and reflective ones??
HI Marwa, yes, you can apply on behalf of someone else, as long as you have access to their NTSA TIMS account, and either you have the phone that NTSA will send codes to, or he is in a position to share the codes with you.
The part for Plate Authorization if you pu nairobi it tells No authorized person(s) is currently linked to the selected collection center. Please link authorized person(s) to the collection center.” what next
Hi Jerry, thank you for consulting with Croton Motors.On the left hand side of the home page, last button is ‘user center’. Go here, and update your details/ link the account. The system should be able to now reflect you/the authorized person.
What’s the new process for company vehicles now that timsvirl is not working?
Hello John, thank you for reaching out. All vehicle transactions will now be done on e-citizen. For companies, the company has to nominate one or more persons who will transact on their behalf because they must log in using their personal accounts first.
After logging in to the personal account, navigate to the ‘add organization’ tab where you will add the company PIN to populate the fields. You will also need to attach a letter from the organization authorizing that person to transact on its behalf, company CR12, Cert of Incorporation, management meeting minutes and an affidavit. Once these documents are submitted NTSA will link the organization account to the individuals’ account and now the said individual can transact on behalf of the company.
We hope this information is helpful but do let us know if you have any other questions
More than two months since I applied for digital number plate what’s the status of KCQ 852Q.
Yes
thanks
Can I know the status of the the reflective vehicle plate