All vehicles, including private cars, will, from July 1, 2026, be subject to mandatory inspections and pay new inspection fees, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The new requirements are contained in the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, seen by Kenyans.co.ke , which formally bring private vehicles under the mandatory inspection regime.

Under the rules, every vehicle more than four years old from its date of manufacture will undergo an inspection test once every year.

This will apply to private and public vehicles, government vehicles, and commercial vehicles with tractors, golf carts, motorised pedal cycles and all-terrain vehicles exempted.

📌 What You Need to Know

The regulations are expected to affect thousands of Kenyan motorists, given that most vehicles on local roads are imported used cars older than four years.

Besides the new inspection requirements, NTSA has published a new fee structure for all vehicle classes, with motorists required to pay for inspection bookings.

Owners of vehicles below 3,000cc will pay a booking fee of Ksh1,000 to NTSA and an inspection fee of up to Ksh1,000 charged by the inspection centre.

On the other hand, motorcycle and three-wheeler owners will pay a Ksh200 booking fee and a maximum inspection fee of Ksh300, totalling to Ksh500.

The regulations further provide for the licensing of privately operated vehicle testing centres, allowing them to conduct inspections alongside government facilities.

A vehicle that successfully passes inspection will be issued with an inspection report and an inspection sticker, which must be displayed on the vehicle.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke