The Procedure of Acquiring a Valid Driving License in Kenya

Table of Contents

How to Acquire Driving License in Kenya Afresh

NTSA (National Transport & Safety Authority) issues driving license as an authority to allow a person to drive a motor vehicle of any class on a road for a particular period of time. For a starter, one can only acquire either class A or B. All other classes as highlighted below are improvements on that and can only be acquired after obtaining required years of experience.

Driving Classes

There are various driving classes in Kenya namely:

A (A1/A2/A3) (Motorbike/Courier/3 Wheeler)
B (B1/B2/B3) (Saloon Automatic, Manual, Professional)
C (C1/C2) (Light Truck Pickup/Lorry)
CE – Heavy Truck with Trailer
CD – Heavy Truck for Hazardous Materials
D (D1/D2/D3) (PSV 7 Seater, 33 Seater, 60 Seater)
E – Heavy Truck
F – Special Needs (Persons With Disability)
G – Plant Operator (Industrial, Construction, Agricultural, Equipment)

Requirements

Be at least 16 years of age.
Physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle.
Good vision (considering those with glasses on) as set by NTSA. 4. Undergoes and passes a driving test.

Procedure

1. Enroll at a reputable driving school

Depending on your locality, school’s reputation and people’s opinion, you can easily identify a good one.

2. Pay the required fee

This include the school fee depending on the driving school and NTSA fee depending on driving class.

3. Apply for PDL

This should be done immediately you enroll to a school to give it time to mature and to allow you to do practical classes. It also shields you from imposters who could want steal your money and do not belong to the school.

4. Undergo thorough training

Ensure you undergo sufficient theory and practical classes. This not only allows you pass the driving test but improves your safety on the road and that of other road users.

5. Book driving test

After the instructors are satisfied with your training, they will guide you in booking a driving test, driving test date and DTU.

6. Undergo and pass driving test

Ensure you appear on time with your ID and test booking form ready for theory and practical test.

7. Pay for Interim Driving License

After you are notified that you have PASSED through your NTSA Account , pay for Interim DL with a validity of 6 months to allow you be legally on the road.

8. Pay for Virtual/Smart Driving License

Before or upon expiry of IDL, you can apply and pay for either Virtual DL with a validity period of 1 year or Smart DL with a validity period of 3 years.

What Follows

Stick L-Sign on your Car

When you are fresh on the road, you can be prone to mistakes. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law or conflict with other road users, it is commendable to stick (L – Learner) Sign sticker on your car.

More Driving Practise

The more you practise, the more you will get use to the road. Therefore, it should not stop after passing your test.

Driving Class Endorsement

This is adding driving class(es) to your current DL.

Price Schedule

PDL – KES 650

IDL – KES 750

Virtual DL – KES 1,050 for first timers and KES 650 for renewal.

Smart DL – KES 3,050 for both new and renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDL?

This is the Provisional Driving License issued to learners allowing them to be on the road with an instructor for a period of 3 months.

What is IDL?

Interim Driving License is issued to new drivers who have successfully completed training and passed driving test with a validity period of 6 months. Though it is accepted on the road, it is lower on hierarchy to actual Driving License.

Which is the best driving school in Kenya?

Hard to say. Any school registered by NTSA is competent enough to offer driving training. Some operate in specific regions while others have a national presence. However, there are schools that have been in the industry longer and we can assume they are better prepared. They include AA, Seniors, Heltz, Sony, Rocky, Five Star, Petanns, Top Gear, Glory, Defensive Driving Systems Ltd, Iqra, and Wings Driving Schools among others.

Can a foreigner acquire a driving license in Kenya?

Yes. But first, they need to acquire an Alien ID from Department of Immigration Services

After how long can one book a test?

After PDL maturity period of 21 days or longer depending on satisfaction of training and successful completion of the curriculum required for the class.

What happens if I don’t pass my driving test?

If you fail, you can reapply for a test after a period of 7 days. Ensure you smoothen your skills before doing this.