Qualifications For A Psv License In Kenya

Qualifications For A PSV License In Kenya. The main mandate of NTSA is to implement policies that are related to road transport and road safety in Kenya to ensure there is the provision of safe and reliable transport services for the public, These Implementations of these policies have enabled the government not only to offer regulations that make sure we have safe roads but also to make the motor registration services smooth.

The public service Vehicle or known as PSV is a subsector of the economy that deals with all the public service vehicles or vehicles that serve the Public. These Vehicles include :

  • Matatus – Public vehicles that ply various routes in Kenya and allow fare-paying passengers to get services of being transported from one place to another.
  • Taxis – These are Public service vehicles that you can hire for a short-term trip and pay the agreed fare.
  • Trucks – These are public service vehicles that the public can hire to transport various goods and services
  • Institutional Vehicles Eg School Busses, Church Buses, College buses, etc.

To be awarded a PSV badge, you need to have a  valid driving license and be registered by NTSA. In this guide and in the below article I will guide you on the requirements for getting a PSV Badge and the Qualifications For A PSV License In Kenya. By the end of this Topic, you will have known if you qualify to get a PSV Badge in Kenya. It is worth mentioning that you must have class “B1” and class “D1” (Or A , J old curriculum)  in your DL to be able to apply for a PSV License 

Minimum Qualifications For A PSV License In Kenya

  1. Standard eight level of education or the equivalent.
  2. Should be able to read and write in the official languages.
  3. Police clearance certificate.
  4. Minimum age of 22 years for public service vehicles not exceeding 14 seats
  5. Driving experience of at least 4 years.
  6. Certificate proving medical fitness obtained within the last 6 months.
  7. No previous dangerous driving offense over the last 24 months.

Conditions for Upgrading to a Higher Capacity PSV (Bus Drivers) 
To obtain a License to drive a higher capacity PSV, the following conditions must be met;
i) Minimum of 25 years of age for PSV of between 15- 33 seats and previous 3 years driving
experience of PSV not exceeding 14 seats.
ii) Minimum of 30 years of age for PSV of 33 seats and above, and previous 4 years of driving experience
of 15- 33 seater PSV.


Qualifications For A PSV License In Kenya – Re-testing on both theory and practical.
Units for PSV Learner Drivers
This topic deals with parts of driver training that are valid for Public Service Vehicles.

  1. Introduction to a PSV.
  2. Vehicle construction and controls.
  3. Self-Inspection of Vehicle
  4. Observation.
  5. Vehicle control.
  6. Communication on the Road.
  7. Speed management.
  8. Space Management.
  9. Emergency Maneuvers’.
  10. Skid Control & Recovery.
  11.  Adverse Driving Conditions.
  12. Preventive Maintenance.
  13. Conditions of Carriage.
  14. Hazardous Materials.
  15. Emergency procedure.
  16.  Work Planning.
  17. Cargo Handling.
  18. Customer Care.
  19. Driving on the Road (practical).
  20. Examination

After all this, you will be required to meet the following requirements for  issuance of a PSV License
PSV License is categorized as a Professional Driver’s License (PDL)
i. Certificate of Competence (CoC) issued under this curriculum.
ii. Certificate of membership of a professional drivers’ body approved by the Authority


READHow to check your driving license status with NTSA Kenya

Qualifications For A PSV License In Kenya -Portal application 

  1. Visit the official NTSA eCitizen website.
  2. After reading all the guidelines and instructions, click “Apply Now.
  3. Click on “Create an account”, and you will be directed to another page.
  4. Create an account. A new page will appear; enter your identification number, name, and email address, and upload a passport-sized photo.
  5. You will have successfully created your account.
  6. Log in to your newly created account now.
  7. Select the approved licensing status, click on the new application, and then select the application type.
  8. Fill out the generated form with the necessary information.
  9. Proceed to payment after selecting a payment method.
  10. Click the confirm icon, then the submit button.
  11. Once completed, print your application and submit it to the collection point to collect your license.

Frequently asked Questions

Q: What is a driving license?

A : This is the documentation that allows the holder to operate various types of motor vehicles on the road.

Q: How much does a PSV badge cost?

A: You must pay a fee of Ksh.1050 to proceed. The payment is made to Ecitizen.

Q : How long does PSV badge take?

After submitting your application, you will receive your badge  Immediately if approved by the Sacco and NTSA

Q : Who requires a PSV license in Kenya?

Matatu, taxi and uber drivers, institutional drivers, and truck drivers all require a PSV licence in Kenya.