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NTSA to landlords: Transfer logbooks for cars used as rent
22nd January, 2026 10:55 AM
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Thursday, January 22, asked all landlords who obtained vehicles using ‘distress for rent’ to transfer ownership as soon as possible.
Through a statement shared on their official X handle, NTSA acknowledged distress for rent as a legal process and stated that it should be conducted by a licensed auctioneer as prescribed by the law.
“Distress for rent is a legal process that allows a landlord to recover unpaid rent by attaching and auctioning a tenant’s movable property. The process must comply with the law and be conducted by a licensed auctioneer. If a vehicle is obtained through this process, the buyer must complete an Alternative Forced Transfer to legally own it.” The statement read.
For the distress for rent auction, you need
- Requests letter for the new owner
- Alternative transfer request letter
- Original logbook/police abstract
- Properly filled form C stamped by the auctioneer
- Tape life from DCI
- Sworn affidavit from a magistrate/advocate
- Copy of ID & KRA PIN of both new and previous owners
- Certificate of registration and KRA PIN of the Company
- Copy of the auctioneer’s licence and registration certificate
- Certificate of sale
- Newspaper advertisement for the motor vehicle for sale through auction
- The subject vehicle must not be under caveat
For a forced transfer, you are required to
- Go to NTSA website
- Go to services and select alternative/forced transfer
- Fill in the required information, and select the type of transfer
- Attach the required original, clear scanned documents in one PDF document
- Indicate the collection centre and the id of the authorised person to collect the logbook, then submit
- Make payments for forced transfer and inspection
- Wait for seven days to elapse, the system will prompt to book for inspection
- Book an inspection at the preferred centre and the date
- Present the vehicle for inspection
- Submit the physical documents uploaded at the preferred NTSA office
- Upon approval, an SMS notification shall be sent to the new owner
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, NTSA warned that should there be a traffic offence, responsibility and liabilities would lie on the person currently in control of the vehicle.
