To get a Kenyan driving licence, you enrol at a licensed driving school, get a Provisional Driving Licence, book and pass the NTSA test, then get an interim licence and a Smart DL. NTSA's own fees for those steps add up to KES 5,500. Your school's fee is separate.
DriveRush is not part of the NTSA and is not affiliated with it. The facts here come from the sources listed at the bottom of this page, and where we couldn't confirm something, we say so.
The steps and what each one costs
| Step | What happens | NTSA fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Enrol at a driving school | NTSA requires a licensed school. You must be 18 or over. | School's own |
| 2. Provisional Driving Licence | Valid for 3 months. Show L plates that can be seen from at least 20 metres, front and rear. | KES 650 |
| 3. Book the test | Once your PDL has matured for 21 days. Pay, then choose your date and test centre. | KES 1,050 |
| 4. Sit the test | At your chosen centre. If you don't pass, apply for a retest. | Included |
| 5. Interim Driving Licence | After you pass. Print it yourself. Valid for 6 months. | KES 750 |
| 6. Smart Driving Licence | Takes about 5 working days. You get an SMS, then collect it from a Huduma Centre or NTSA office. | KES 3,050 |
You do all of this online: sign in to eCitizen, then open the NTSA service portal. If a guide tells you to use TIMS, it's out of date. NTSA moved its services to eCitizen in January 2024.
Pay only through the portal. In September 2026, NTSA warned about fraudsters posing as driving school agents and publishing inflated fees. If someone quotes you different NTSA fees, check the table above.
What the NTSA test covers
According to Kenyans.co.ke, the test covers two main areas, and your driving school judges when you're ready and helps you book:
- The Model Town Board. A scaled-down road network used to test lanes, roundabouts and parking. Read how the Model Town Board works.
- The Highway Code. The rules for all road users, including road signs and signals, speed limits, overtaking, right of way, and using signals and mirrors.
Road signs are the part you can start on today. We have 83 Kenyan road signs and their meanings, and two free trainers for memorising them: the Pelican chart and 3D signs.
What we couldn't confirm
NTSA's service pages don't describe the format of the test, and other sources disagree. Some practice sites describe a computer-based paper of 20 questions with a pass mark of 16. Another guide describes an oral or written test with a pass mark of about 70%.
We can't confirm any of those numbers, so we won't tell you to rely on them. Ask your driving school how the test runs at your centre.
Practice questions for the NTSA test
We wrote these from NTSA's published rules, the Traffic Act and the Ministry of Roads road signs manual. They're practice for the facts you need, not past NTSA papers. Be wary of anyone promising you the real questions.
Question 1
How old must you be to apply for a provisional licence for a car?
- 16
- 18
- 21
- 24
Show the answer
B: 18. NTSA asks for learners aged 18 and above, and the Traffic Act bars anyone under 18 from a licence for anything other than a motorcycle.
Source: NTSA, Provisional Driving Licence page; Traffic Act, section 33
Question 2
How long is a Provisional Driving Licence valid?
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
Show the answer
B: 3 months. A PDL lasts 3 months, so plan your lessons and your test around that.
Source: NTSA, Provisional Driving Licence page
Question 3
From how far away must your L plates be visible?
- 5 metres, at the back only
- 10 metres, front and rear
- At least 20 metres, front and rear
- 50 metres, at the front only
Show the answer
C: At least 20 metres, front and rear. L plates must be visible from at least twenty metres, from both the front and the rear of the vehicle.
Source: NTSA, Provisional Driving Licence page
Question 4
How long must your PDL have matured before you book the test?
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 21 days
- 30 days
Show the answer
C: 21 days. You book the driving test after your PDL has matured for 21 days.
Source: NTSA, Driver Test Booking page
Question 5
You've just passed your test. What do you apply for next?
- A new provisional licence
- An interim driving licence
- A retest
- A PSV badge
Show the answer
B: An interim driving licence. After a pass you apply for an interim licence, which is valid for 6 months, and then your Smart DL.
Source: NTSA, Driver Test Booking page; NTSA, Interim Driving Licence page
Question 6
What is the speed limit on a road inside a trading centre, township, municipality or city, unless a lower limit is set?
- 30 km/h
- 50 km/h
- 70 km/h
- 100 km/h
Show the answer
B: 50 km/h. The Traffic Act sets 50 km/h on any road within those boundaries, with signs showing where the limit begins and ends.
Source: Traffic Act, section 42(3)
Question 7
You reach a STOP sign, but no stop line is painted on the road. Where must you stop?
- You don't have to stop without a line
- At or before the STOP sign
- In the middle of the junction
- Only if you can see other traffic
Show the answer
B: At or before the STOP sign. Vehicles must stop at or before a STOP line, or at or before the STOP sign if there's no line.
Source: Ministry of Roads, road signs manual
Question 8
A warning sign is what shape?
- A blue circle
- A triangle with a red border
- A red octagon
- A green rectangle
Show the answer
B: A triangle with a red border. Warning signs are triangles with a red border. A blue circle gives an order, and a red octagon is STOP.
Source: Ministry of Roads, road signs manual
Question 9
What does a blue circle with a white arrow pointing right tell you?
- A road joins from the right
- Turning right is advised
- You must turn right
- No right turn
Show the answer
C: You must turn right. A blue circle is an instruction, so traffic must turn right.
Source: Ministry of Roads, road signs manual
Question 10
What does the low-flying aircraft warning sign prepare you for?
- An airport car park
- Sudden aircraft noise that may startle you
- A ban on stopping
- A lower speed limit
Show the answer
B: Sudden aircraft noise that may startle you. It's used where low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise may startle road users.
Source: Ministry of Roads, road signs manual
Question 11
A person in charge of cattle on the road raises a hand signalling you to stop. What must you do?
- Hoot and carry on slowly
- Stop only if the animals are in your lane
- Stop at once and stay stopped for as long as is reasonably necessary
- Overtake the herd quickly
Show the answer
C: Stop at once and stay stopped for as long as is reasonably necessary. The Traffic Act requires you to stop immediately and stay stationary for as long as is reasonably necessary.
Source: Traffic Act, section 52(1)
Question 12
A uniformed police officer signals you to do something a sign doesn't show. What must you do?
- Follow the sign only
- Obey the officer's direction
- Ignore it unless it's spoken
- Stop and ask for it in writing
Show the answer
B: Obey the officer's direction. Drivers must obey directions from a uniformed police officer on duty, given by word or by signal.
Source: Traffic Act, section 52(1)
Question 13
May you leave a motor vehicle unattended on a road with the engine running?
- Yes, for up to five minutes
- Yes, if the hazard lights are on
- Yes, if someone is watching it
- No
Show the answer
D: No. The Traffic Act forbids leaving a motor vehicle unattended on a road with the engine running.
Source: Traffic Act, section 66
For road signs, the trainers are much better practice than a list of questions: a sign zooms in, you name it before the answer shows, and the ones you miss come back sooner.
Common questions about the NTSA test
How much does the NTSA test cost?
Booking the test costs KES 1,050. All of NTSA's fees for a first licence (provisional, test booking, interim and Smart DL) come to KES 5,500. Driving school fees are separate.
Can I take the NTSA test without going to a driving school?
NTSA's Provisional Driving Licence page says the learner is required to enrol at a licensed driving school. See our guide to driving schools in Kenya for how to check one and what they charge.
How soon can I book the test after getting my PDL?
NTSA says after your PDL has matured for 21 days. The PDL itself is valid for 3 months.
What happens if I fail the NTSA test?
NTSA says to apply for a retest through the same portal. Its test booking page doesn't list a separate retest fee, so check the amount in the portal or with your school.
Where can I get the Highway Code?
Ask your driving school for a copy. We couldn't find it on NTSA's downloads page when we checked, so be careful with copies on other sites, which may be old.
Is DriveRush the NTSA?
No. DriveRush is an independent site for memorising road signs. It's free, with no signup, and it isn't affiliated with the NTSA.
Sources
- NTSA: Provisional Driving Licence, Driver Test Booking, Interim Driving Licence and Smart Driving Licence. Fees and rules as shown on 5 November 2026.
- Traffic Act, Cap 403, revised 2015.
- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Part 5a: Road Signs, Ministry of Roads, draft of December 2009.
- Kenyans.co.ke: TIMS moving to eCitizen (December 2023), the Model Town Board and Highway Code (August 2025) and NTSA's warning about fraudsters (September 2026).