Trust & Safety
Car Yard Africa
01 Jan 1970
If you're buying or selling a car in Kenya, the logbook transfer is the step that actually makes the sale legal. A signed sale agreement and a handshake don't change who the vehicle belongs to in the eyes of the law — only a completed ownership transfer through NTSA does. These days that process runs almost entirely through TIMS, the National Transport and Safety Authority's Transport Integrated Management System, which replaced the old paper-based logbook transfer procedure at Huduma Centres and NTSA offices. Here's how the process generally works, and what to watch out for along the way.
The logbook (officially the vehicle registration certificate) is proof of ownership. Until it's transferred into the buyer's name, the seller remains the legally registered owner — which means unpaid fines, accidents, or even crimes committed with the vehicle can technically still trace back to them. For the buyer, an incomplete transfer means you don't fully own the car you paid for, and you may struggle to insure it, transfer it again later, or prove ownership if it's ever stolen or involved in a dispute. Neither side should treat this as optional paperwork to "sort out later."
Because NTSA periodically updates screens, fees, and requirements on TIMS, treat the outline below as a guide to the general shape of the process rather than an exact script. Always confirm the current steps, required documents, and costs on the official NTSA TIMS portal or at a verified Huduma Centre before you begin.
Ownership transfer on TIMS is built around individual accounts, so both the buyer and the seller typically need their own registered NTSA TIMS profile before anything else can happen. If you've interacted with NTSA before — renewing a driving licence, paying for inspection, or a previous vehicle transaction — you may already have an account. If not, registration is done directly on the TIMS portal using your national ID and other basic personal details.
Before starting a transfer, both sides should have their paperwork ready. In general, this includes the national ID and KRA PIN for both the buyer and the seller, along with the vehicle's registration details (the logbook number and other identifying information for the car being transferred). Depending on the specific transaction — for example, if a company is involved, or if there's a change of particulars alongside the transfer — additional documents may be required. Because requirements can shift, it's worth checking the current document checklist on TIMS or with a Huduma Centre agent before you start, so you're not caught out midway through.
The transfer process typically starts with the seller, who logs into their TIMS account and initiates an ownership transfer request against the vehicle, naming the buyer as the incoming owner. This step usually requires entering the buyer's identifying details correctly, so it's worth double-checking spelling and ID numbers before submitting — small errors here are a common source of delay.
Once the seller has initiated the request, it should appear on the buyer's TIMS account for confirmation. The buyer reviews the details and accepts the transfer, effectively agreeing to take on ownership of the vehicle. This two-sided confirmation is one of the safeguards built into TIMS — a transfer generally can't go through with only one party acting alone.
A transfer fee is payable as part of the process. Because NTSA fee schedules do change from time to time, don't rely on a figure you saw in an old blog post, a friend's experience, or a broker's quote — confirm the current, exact fee directly on the TIMS portal at the time you're doing the transfer, or ask a Huduma Centre officer to confirm it for you.
After the request is submitted, confirmed, and paid for, NTSA processes the transfer on their end. Processing times can vary, so rather than assuming a specific number of days, it's safer to check the current expected timeline on TIMS or at a Huduma Centre when you submit your transfer. Once processed, the vehicle should reflect the new registered owner in NTSA's records, and the buyer should be able to access or download confirmation of ownership through their TIMS account.
Once the transfer is done, save or print confirmation of the completed ownership change. This is useful for insurance purposes, for any future sale, and as a record in case ownership is ever disputed.
In 2026, NTSA issued a public warning about fraudsters impersonating the authority — through fake social media pages, WhatsApp messages, and bogus "agents" — to trick car owners into paying fake fees or handing over personal and vehicle information under the guise of processing an e-logbook or transfer. These scams prey on the fact that many Kenyans aren't entirely sure how the TIMS process works, which makes a confident-sounding stranger offering a "shortcut" or "faster processing" sound helpful rather than suspicious.
Protect yourself by dealing only with the official NTSA TIMS portal or a verified Huduma Centre for any logbook transfer or e-logbook matter. NTSA does not process ownership transfers through social media, WhatsApp, or unsolicited calls, and there's no legitimate third party that can push your transfer through faster than the official system. If someone contacts you claiming to be from NTSA and asking for payment or personal details outside the TIMS portal, treat it as a scam and report it rather than engaging.
Because a logbook transfer depends on cooperation between buyer and seller, it's worth agreeing upfront on who initiates what and by when, especially if you're transacting with someone you don't know well. Sellers should avoid handing over the vehicle before a transfer is at least initiated and ideally well underway, and buyers should avoid paying the full amount before they have clarity on when the transfer will happen. Keep copies of your sale agreement, ID, KRA PIN, and any TIMS confirmation screens or receipts — these come in handy if any question about the transaction comes up later.
Getting the logbook transfer right protects both sides of a car sale, and it's a step worth taking seriously rather than rushing — and if you're still shopping around, now is a good time to find your next car on Car Yard Africa, so you go into your next purchase, and its logbook transfer, with confidence.
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