NTSA announces system downtime on June 9-10 ahead of e-logbook rollout

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced a system downtime that will temporarily affect access to its online services as it prepares to transition to the e-logbook system, warning users of intermittent unavailability.

In a notice, the Authority said the interruption is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 4:00 pm and run until Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 8:00 am as it carries out system migration work.

“This is to inform all our stakeholders that the NTSA system will experience intermittent unavailability on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (4:00 pm) to Wednesday, 10th June 2026 (8:00 am) to facilitate a smooth transition to the e-logbook. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to offer quality services to you," reads the notice.

The shift comes as NTSA phases away from physical logbooks in favour of e-logbooks. The transition also aligns with broader reforms shifting motor vehicle registration from manual paper-based systems to automated processes through the e-Citizen platform.

NTSA said the e-logbook system is designed to replace a reactive paper registry that has been prone to fraud, delays and errors, replacing it with what it describes as “a proactive, real-time digital system with strong integrity controls and automated lifecycle management”.

According to the authority, the e-logbook will be generated instantly through the NTSA portal, ensuring vehicle information is updated in real time.

“This eliminates the risk of using an outdated paper logbook and reduces fraud during private vehicle sales," it said.

The system will also incorporate digital encryption and secure hashing to protect vehicle ownership records from forgery and tampering. In addition, the e-logbook will feature a dynamic QR code that can be scanned by buyers, banks and insurers to instantly verify ownership and authenticity.

“Banks and SACCOS can directly verify ownership and lien status via the NTSA system, reducing the need for physical file copies and speeding up loan approvals for vehicle financing,” NTSA said.

Under the new system, vehicle transfer processes will also be handled online, allowing sellers and buyers to complete transactions without visiting NTSA offices. The authority further noted that the e-logbook will reduce risks of loss and lower replacement costs, while also improving efficiency in service delivery.

The system will also support automated reminders for renewals and allow law enforcement officers to verify compliance instantly without requiring physical documents. NTSA added that the digital registry will centralise audit logs and strengthen fraud prevention across the transport sector.

“Police and inspection units can query the e-logbook database live to confirm ownership, stolen status, insurance validity, and inspection history. This improves compliance checks and recovery of stolen vehicles,” the Authority said.

To verify the authenticity of an e-logbook, interested parties will be required to scan the QR code printed on the e-logbook. NTSA said the verification and validity information will be generated instantly.

Once scanned, the system will display key details including the vehicle registration number, certificate number, payment status, make, model, body type and colour. However, NTSA clarified that access to full vehicle records will remain restricted.