Motorists and car dealers will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets if the proposed new charges by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) sail through.

In the draft proposals unveiled by NTSA on Monday, December 11, motorists will pay Sh 20,000 to change the color of their vehicles up from Sh 500.

For inspections, motorists with cars not exceeding 3000cc will cost Sh 2000 up from Sh 1000 while motorists with vehicles above 3000CC will see their fees increased from Sh1,000 to Sh2,500.

Inspection cost for heavy commercial vehicles weighing less than five tonnes will move from Sh 1000 to Sh 3000 while for those exceeding five tons, the charges will move from Ksh.1,000 to Ksh.3,500

The road service license for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) with a capacity of between 6-8 passengers will cost Sh 5,400 up from Sh 2700 while PSVs carrying 9 to 14 passengers will pay Sh 6400 up from Sh 3200. PSVs carrying more than 26 passengers will now pay Sh 8400 up from Sh 4250.

For motor vehicle registration, the NTSA is proposing that vehicles under 1000cc will pay Sh 3400 up from Sh 1700, those between 1001cc and 1200cc from Sh 2100 to Sh 4200 and those over 3000cc will pay Sh 16000 up from Sh 8300. 

The authority also proposed an increase in transfer of ownership fees for motor vehicles with an engine capacity not exceeding 1,000cc from Sh1,660 to Sh10,000.

In addition, the NTSA proposed an increase in the renewal licence fees for motor vehicle dealers. For second-hand car dealers, the fees have been increased from Sh4,200 to Sh100,000, while the renewal fees for used car dealers has been increased from Sh4,200 to Sh50,000. 

According to NTSA board member Paul Posh, the authority has been running at a deficit and the changes are necessary to make it sustainable. 

He also noted that most of the fees have remained the same for ten years. 

"Our proposed financial improvement in terms of capacity is a long-term improvement because the rates that we have have not been reviewed for the last 10 years. Services have been increasing yet the rates have remained constant. That is why we have asked that we adjust," Posh stated.