Are you gearing up to get behind the wheel in Kenya? If yes, the first step to hitting the road is understanding the new classes of driving licence in Kenya. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) oversees these categories to ensure drivers are well-equipped for their particular vehicles.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) changed the driving licence categories a few days after revamping the eCitizen services portal. The new changes followed the upgrading of the NTSA App to allow Kenyans to access services on their phones. So, what are the new classes of driving licences in Kenya?
NTSA driving classes’ categories
The new NTSA regulations have established new driver’s Licence categories and the type of vehicles such holders can operate. Compared to the former categorization, the new one comes with stricter qualifications and more types of vehicles.
These categories are:
- Category B – Light vehicles such as small cars or mini-bus (Former class B-E)
- Category C – Light Truck. (Still class C)
- Category D – PSV (New category)
- Category E – Heavy Truck. (Former class I)
- Category F – Persons with disability. (Former class H)
- Category G – Industrial, construction and agricultural plants, and equipment
New classes of driving licence in Kenya
NTSA doesn't offer a combo course with the new curriculum like before. A person can only study one category at a time. Here is a detailed look at the new classes of driving licences in Kenya, including the vehicle categories and requirements.
Category A
Category A class entails the following:
A1 (Moped)
Minimum requirements are;
- Age: 16 years minimum
- Passengers: No
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Enables one to ride a motorcycle of up to 50cc
- No passengers are allowed to be carried
- No loads
A2 (Light Motorcycle)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 18 years minimum
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Motorcycle above 50 C.C
- Carry a maximum load of 60 Kg ( for up to 400 CC)
- Can carry a passenger
A3 (Motorcycle taxi, Couriers and 3-wheelers)
Minimum requirements
- Age: 21 years minimum
- The 1-year riding experience in category A2
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Motorcycle above 100 C.C
- Carry a maximum load of 100 Kg ( for up to 50 CC)
- Can carry a passenger
Category B
Vehicles to drive with a class B license are:
B1 (Light Vehicle Automatic)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 18 years minimum
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum 3500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight
- One light trailer below 750 kg
- Can drive a vehicle equipped with both a manual or automatic gearbox
- Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers
B2 (Light Vehicle)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 18 years minimum
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A light vehicle (passenger car)
- A maximum of 3500kg Gross Vehicle Weight with one light trailer less than 750 kg
- Cannot drive a vehicle equipped with a manual gearbox
- Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers
B3 (Professional)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 21 minimum
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum 3500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight with one light trailer not above 750 kg
- Equipped with a manual or automatic gearbox
- Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers
Category C
Under category C one can drive different types of trucks as follows:
C1 (Light Truck)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 22 – 65 years
- B2 license for at least two years
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A light truck with 3500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
C (Medium Truck)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 24 -65 years
- Two years experience of driving category C1)
- Undergo training
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A heavy truck with a 7500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight with a maximum of one light trailer
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
CE (Heavy Truck with Trailer)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 28 – 65 years
- Four years experience in driving category C)
- Undergo training and retesting for category CE
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a 7500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight with a heavy trailer or semi-trailer
- Enables one to drive articulated vehicles
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
CD (Heavy Good Vehicle for Transportation of Hazardous Materials)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 30 – 65 years
- Two years experience driving category CE
- Undergo training and retesting for category CD
Vehicle description and restriction:
- A heavy truck with a 7500 kg Gross Vehicle Weight with a heavy trailer or semi-trailer
- Enables one to drive articulated vehicles
- Equipped with a manual or automatic gearbox
Category D
Category D is a new classification for PSV drivers and vehicles as follows:
D1 (Van)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 22 – 65 years
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Enables one to drive a van with a maximum of 14 passengers
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
D2 (Mini-bus)
Minimum requirements
- Age: 25 – 65 years
- Three years experience of driving category D1
- Undergo training and retesting for category D2
Vehicle description and restriction:
- It enables one to drive a bus with 14 to 32 passengers
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
D3 (Large Bus)
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 30 – 65 years
- Three years experience of driving category D2
- Undergo training and retesting for category D3
Vehicle description and restriction:
- It enables one to drive a bus with 33 or more passengers
- Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox
Category E
Category E entails special professional driving license as follows:
Minimum requirements
Age: 21 – 65 years
- Completed three months of driving practice with. any vehicle classified under categories Cl, C, CE, D, Dl, D2, D3
- Class ED2 Licenses shall be endorsed for classes D1 and D, while Class ECE Licenses shall be endorsed for C and C1
Vehicle description and restriction:
- Enables one to drive any vehicles licensed as ECI, EC, ECE, ED, EDI, ED2, and ECD3 respectively
- Class ED2 Licenses shall be endorsed for classes Dl & D while Class ECE Licence shall be endorsed for C and C 1
Category F
Formerly class H, category F covers persons with disabilities under the following classes;
Minimum requirements:
- Age: 18 years minimum
- Valid medical certificate
- Assessment report or disability certificate
Vehicle description and restriction:
- It enables one to drive a vehicle depending on the category the PWD is trained on.
Category G
Category G covers all industrial, construction, and agricultural plants and equipment operator as follows:
Minimum requirements
- Endorsement for class G will be done on the driving license.
Vehicle description and restriction:
- It enables one to operate the forklift, motor grader, shovel, excavator, and roller
Frequently asked questions
- What is A1, A2, A3 meaning on a driving licence? A1 means moped, A2 means light motorcycle, and A3 means motorcycle taxi, courier, and three-wheelers.
- What is class C1 driving licence in Kenya? Class C1 driving license entails light trucks for drivers above 22 years old.
- What is Class BCE meaning? In driving, BCE means Class B, Class C, and Class E in the old curriculum, but these have been classified into new classes under the new categorization.
- What is the difference between B1 and B2 driving license? B1 allows one to drive light automatic or manual vehicles, while B2 cannot drive manual cars.
- Can I drive with PDL in Kenya? The holder of a PDL can only drive in the company of a qualified driver.
- How much does it cost to get a driving license in Kenya? The fee for obtaining a driving license in Kenya is Ksh. 1,500 for a Learner's license, Ksh 3,000 for a Driving test, and Ksh 2,000 for the Issuance of a driving license.
- How long is the driving school course in Kenya? The driving course takes between 4 and 5 weeks to complete.
New classes of driving licences in Kenya - Final word
The new classes of driving licences in Kenya have been put in place to ensure all drivers are well-trained and authorized to drive certain types of vehicles. Also, to apply for a higher-category licence, one must have prior experience and be a holder of a certain licence category as required by the NTSA.
Tuko.co.ke shared an article about NTSA contacts. NTSA is a statutory body established under an act of the Kenyan Parliament. Its mandate is to harmonize the operations of the key road transport departments and help effectively manage the road transport sub-sector.
Having NTSA contacts with you can come in handy, given the body’s broad mandate over matters related to road transport. This guide has all the information you need to reach the NTSA in case of any query, complaint, or report.
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