The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Car dealers and importers are facing challenges following stricter rules by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on the use of KD number plates, with industry players warning of delivery delays and operational disruptions.
Under the new regulations, KD plates—typically used on unregistered vehicles—are now restricted to specific purposes such as test drives, towing, and transfers between dealerships and customers. Their use for personal errands, long-distance travel, or extended periods before registration has been banned.
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A car dealer, Gladys, said the changes have impacted both sellers and buyers, noting that KD plates had long been relied upon to move vehicles before full registration.
She explained that the updated rules only allow KD plates on vehicles registered under a dealership’s name, effectively ending the common practice of using them on cars already registered to customers.
Gladys also pointed out that vehicles operating with KD plates must now have comprehensive insurance, replacing the previously accepted third-party cover.
According to her, the new measures were introduced partly to address misuse and rising cases of vehicle theft involving unregistered cars.
The rules further limit who can drive vehicles fitted with KD plates, allowing only authorised individuals linked to the dealership, such as directors, to operate them.
These changes have disrupted logistics, especially for importers transporting vehicles from the port of Mombasa to showrooms or delivery locations. Dealers now have to wait for full registration—including logbooks and number plates—before handing over vehicles to clients.
As a result, customers are likely to experience longer waiting times when purchasing cars.
While dealers acknowledge the need for tighter regulation, they say the transition has been abrupt.
The NTSA maintains that the measures are aimed at improving compliance, reducing misuse of KD plates, and enhancing accountability in the motor vehicle sector.
However, one customer welcomed the changes, saying they could protect buyers from extra charges, noting that some dealers had been charging up to Sh2,000 per day for KD plate usage—yet the plates should only be used to deliver a vehicle and then returned immediately.
