All Car Owners to Pay at Least Ksh1,500 Per Year in Newly Gazetted Rules

Almost all motorists in Kenya will be required to take their vehicles for mandatory vehicle inspection should the proposed Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2025, come into effect.

As proposed in the gazetted rules, Kenyans with private vehicles that are over 4 years old from the manufacturing date will be required to take their vehicles for testing annually.

In the case that the rules come into effect this year, then only motorists whose vehicles were manufactured between 2021 and 2025 will be spared.

On the other hand, all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), commercial vehicles, and vehicles used for school transportation will undergo mandatory tests annually.

Fees for tests

As outlined in the proposal, motorists with vehicles whose engine capacity is under 3,000cc will pay Ksh1,500.

Motorists whose cars have an engine capacity of over 3,000cc will pay Ksh2,000.

Inspection of trailers under 5 tons was proposed at Ksh2,500, while trailers over 5 tons and put at Ksh3,000.

Commercial vehicles under 5 tons will attract a fee of Ksh3,000, while commercial vehicles over 5 tons will attract a fee of Ksh3,500.

Meanwhile, the proposed inspection fees for motorcycles and three-wheelers were put at Ksh500.

Other Inspection Tests

The rules also provide for other tests, such as pre-registration inspections for all newly registered commercial and public transport vehicles. The inspections are done before one is issued a registration certificate.

Accident Inspection Tests: All vehicles involved in accidents are to be inspected before they are permitted back on the road.

Change-of-Particulars Inspection Tests:  Applies to vehicles that undergo structural or mechanical modifications, such as engine replacements.

Police-Ordered Inspections: Under the proposed rules, police will allow law enforcement officers to order vehicle inspections if a vehicle is suspected to be unroadworthy.

Re-Registration and Alternative Transfer: This will apply to any vehicle being re-registered or transferred within NTSA’s database.

"Vehicles that are beyond repair and unsuitable for road use must be de-registered and permanently removed from the road. Vehicles that have suffered serious structural damage but are repairable. These must be inspected and certified before re-registration.

"Vehicles whose repair costs exceed their market value but remain structurally sound and repairable," read the report in part.

Fines

All vehicles that are inspected will be issued with stickers, which will be placed on the vehicles to enable the police and the authorities to verify the information.

Therefore, it is illegal to operate a vehicle on public roads without a valid inspection sticker.

Offenses also include fraudulently obtaining or tampering with an inspection sticker, failing to report a salvage vehicle to the NTSA, and operating a vehicle with an expired or revoked inspection certificate.

"Failure to comply with these Rules constitutes an offence, and offenders may face severe penalties. Depending on the nature of the violation, penalties may include fines of up to Ksh20,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both," read the proposals in part.

"These strict penalties are intended to deter violations and reinforce compliance with road safety rules."