Driving class endorsement in Kenya: Application requirements and process

 

You already have a driving license for a specific vehicle class. However, you would like to drive a different vehicle not part of your license. In that case, you must apply for a driving class endorsement in Kenya. Technically, if your driver’s license reads Class B1, you cannot drive a Class C1 vehicle. You must return to driving school and learn how to drive a Class C1 vehicle. Alternatively, get an endorsement from the NTSA. A driving instructor shows a trainer a checklist before car driving.  When you join a driving school, you must choose the category of vehicle you want to learn driving. In Kenya, the categories start from A through G, with each step having its subcategory. After you pass your class, the NTSA will license you to drive a vehicle belonging to that class. If you pass category B2, you will only drive a light automatic vehicle, not a truck. Thus, you can only drive a truck after getting a driving class endorsement from the National Transport and Safety Authority. A driving class endorsement is a process that allows a driver to upgrade their driving entitlements. The process entails a driver obtaining permission to drive different classes of motor vehicles after initially being licensed to drive. A driving class endorsement aims to enable drivers to operate various types of vehicles, such as light vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, or motorcycles, depending on their current license and driving proficiency. How to apply for a driving class endorsement in Kenya It is easy to apply for a driving class endorsement. The process entails visiting the NTSA website and filling in the required instructions. Here is how to do it. Visit the NTSA website. Log into the TIMS NTSA website. Choose whether to log in using Username, ID number, or Alien ID number. Type in the Username/ID number and Password. Click on the Get Code button. You will receive a Security code on your mobile phone. Type in the Security Code in the space provided. Click on the Sign In button to log in to your account. After successfully logging in to your account, the next step is to apply for a driving class endorsement. Here is how: Click on the Driving License Option on the menu bar. Select Apply for Driving License Class Endorsement on the drop-down menu. You will see the Driving License Class Endorsement application form. Fill in all the mandatory fields accurately. Explain the type of driving license you want to add to your current portfolio. Upload a copy of your existing driving license. Scan a copy of your national ID or passport. Confirm all the pre-filled details. If you fill out the form accurately, click on the Next button. A man driving on a pathway. Photo: @Alex Jumper Source: UGC The next stage is to pay for the application to allow you to add more vehicle classes to your driving license. Here is how: Select your preferred payment method. You can pay using various payment methods, including M-PESA or bank transfer. The fee is KES 500. You must also pay an additional KES 50 as a convenience charge. Thus, you must pay KES 550 as the application fee. After choosing your payment method, follow the instructions and complete the payment. Print out the payment invoice. After applying and paying for class D endorsement, the process does not stop there. Instead, you must book an appointment with the NTSA for further testing. Therefore: Return to the driving license class endorsement dashboard on the NTSA website. Click on Book Appointment. Select a date and time that is convenient for you to visit the nearest NTSA office. Visit the NTSA office to upgrade your driving license. Here is what happens once you visit the office on your preferred date: Visit the NTSA Testing Centre on your appointment date. Ensure to carry your invoice printout. At the NTSA Testing Centre, the officials will test your knowledge of the class endorsement you applied for. A trainer driving a car under instruction.  The NTSA officials will give you the class outcome on the same day. But several things will happen after the test: The NTSA will process your initial information during the application and determine if you passed the test. If everything checks out, the NTSA officials will inform you when your class-endorsed driving license will be ready for collection. The new driving license typically takes five days to be ready for collection. After the five days elapse, you can collect your driving license. However, you must produce your identity document for the dispatch NTSA officer to validate you. In the meantime, you can also check the application status of your driving license. Here is how: Open the NTSA web portal using this NTSA Citizens Self-Service Portal. Log into your TIMS NTSA account. Navigate to the dashboard and click Driving License. The platform will display all the applications you submitted. You can now view the status of your recently applied driving license. What requirements do you need to apply for a driving class endorsement? Before you can apply for a driving class endorsement in Kenya, you need the following: You must be over 18 years old. You must be over 24 years old if applying for a category concerning matatus and motor omnibuses. Valid identification document (ID card or passport). The alien card in case of a foreigner. Current driving license. You must also produce any other additional documentation as requested by the NTSA. Conditions for receiving a driving class endorsement in Kenya An NTSA officer will not grant you a driving license endorsed in respect of any class of motor vehicle unless: You have passed a test of competence to drive that class of motor vehicle. You hold a certificate of competence. You hold a valid driving license for that class of motor vehicle granted by a competent authority in a member country of the Commonwealth. You hold an international driving permit. You declare whether you suffer from any disease or physical disability which would be likely to cause your driving of a motor vehicle to be a source of danger to the public. You can read, with glasses if necessary, a motor vehicle identification plate at a distance of twenty-five metres. A person who is blind or blind in one eye cannot hold a driving license. Unless you satisfy the above conditions, the NTSA will not approve your application for a driving class endorsement. You must meet these same conditions when applying for a driving license.  The exam at the NTSA Testing Centre tests you on the following: Your knowledge of the rules of the road. Your knowledge of recognised road signals and road signs. Your knowledge of any authorised road or highway code. Your physical fitness to drive a motor vehicle of the class for which you require the license. After passing the driving test, you will receive a certificate of competence indicating the class or classes of motor vehicle you are allowed to drive. 

by  Ryan Mutuku