Motor Vehicle Operating Licence (Commercial Vehicles) Fees / Charges

Commercial vehicles carrying passengers or goods for hire in Kenya require a Road Service Licence from NTSA, which authorises the specific vehicle (not just the driver) to operate commercially on a defined route or for a defined purpose.

Fee Summary Table

Vehicle Capacity Tier	Indicative Licence Fee
6–8 passenger capacity vehicles	Approximately Ksh. 2,700
Other capacity tiers	Fee scales with seating/carrying capacity

Source: NTSA fee schedules as reported in 2023–2024 NTSA service charge reviews. NTSA has previously proposed substantial increases to these tiers — always confirm the current rate on the TIMS portal before budgeting.

What You Need

Vehicle logbook and registration documents
A valid certificate of insurance
A valid certificate of fitness/inspection
Route or operational area details, where applicable
Proof of ownership or hire-purchase documentation

Fees Are Under Periodic Review

NTSA proposed major fee increases across dozens of services in 2023 to address a funding deficit, including a proposed jump in the 6–8 passenger road service licence from roughly Ksh. 2,700 to Ksh. 5,400. Whether and when such proposals take full effect can change, so verify the current rate directly on the TIMS portal rather than relying solely on older published figures. Motor vehicle operating licence fees in Kenya are tiered by vehicle capacity rather than flat-rated, and the schedule has been subject to proposed revision in recent years — build in a buffer when budgeting and double-check current rates before committing to a fleet expansion.

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