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NTSA fines Kenya 2026: how to check and pay via M-PESA (TIMS + *488#)

Two ways to check for an open traffic fine, one way to pay it, and the escalation path when TIMS keeps showing it as unpaid.

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by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 9 min read Updated 26 August 2026Verified 26 Aug 2026

Why to check before you get pulled over

The National Transport and Safety Authority holds a live record of every traffic fine issued against your driving licence and any vehicle in your name. That record follows you into every renewal, transfer, and inspection booking. An unpaid fine will silently block a licence renewal or logbook transfer, and traffic police on the roadside can query the same database in seconds.

Checking takes under a minute. The three most common triggers to check are: before booking a licence renewal, before signing a used-vehicle sale agreement, and after any encounter with a traffic officer where you were photographed or stopped even if no ticket was physically issued.

How to check

tims.ntsa.go.ke

Log into TIMS with your ID number and TIMS password (recover via SMS if forgotten). Under the profile menu, look for the fines or offences section. Every open fine is listed with the offence code, the amount, the date, and the officer or camera location. Vehicles registered to you have their own fines tab under the vehicle record.

*488# short code

Dial *488# from any Safaricom line. Choose the fines menu and enter your driving licence number or vehicle registration. The response SMS lists open fines with reference numbers. This is the fastest surface if you do not have TIMS access; useful at a police checkpoint.

Fine categories and typical amounts

NTSA and the Traffic Act set fine schedules that shift with each Finance Act and gazette amendment. The amounts below are the commonly-seen ranges as of the last published schedule; verify the exact figure on your TIMS invoice before paying because it is authoritative.

  • Overspeeding (in excess of gazetted zone limit): KES 500 to KES 10,000 depending on how far above the limit and whether captured by camera or officer. Repeat offences escalate.
  • Failure to wear a seatbelt (driver or passenger): KES 500 to KES 2,000.
  • Driving without a valid insurance sticker: KES 30,000 or 6 months imprisonment under the Insurance (Motor Vehicles Third Party Risks) Act; often plea-bargained down.
  • PSV overloading (extra passenger): KES 1,000 per excess passenger, plus vehicle detention until compliance.
  • Driving on a foreign or expired licence: KES 7,000 to KES 10,000.
  • Failure to display SGR or NTSA badge (PSV drivers): KES 3,000 to KES 5,000.
  • Reckless driving: up to KES 100,000 or imprisonment under section 47 of the Traffic Act, typically charged in court rather than fined on the spot.

Fine amounts on the specific invoice you were issued are the number to pay. Do not round up or down; TIMS matches the exact shilling amount before clearing.

How to pay via M-PESA

  1. Log into TIMS, open the fine, and click Pay. TIMS generates an invoice reference (a mixed alphanumeric string).
  2. Open M-PESA (app or *334#), choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
  3. Business number: 222222 (the consolidated eCitizen paybill).
  4. Account number: the TIMS invoice reference exactly as displayed. Do not use your ID or vehicle plate.
  5. Amount: the invoice amount, exact.
  6. Enter PIN, confirm.

Two SMS confirmations follow: Safaricom for the M-PESA leg, then eCitizen for the invoice being marked paid. TIMS itself usually reflects within 30 minutes during business hours. If both SMS arrive but TIMS still shows the fine as open after 72 hours, see NTSA fine payment not reflecting.

Contesting a fine

Paying on TIMS is treated as admission. If you want to contest the offence, do not pay first. Attend the Traffic Court named on the ticket within the deadline (commonly 14 days from issue). Bring the ticket, your driving licence, and any evidence (dashcam footage, photos, GPS records). If the fine was issued by a fixed speed camera, you can request the calibration certificate for the camera from NTSA under section 118 of the Traffic Act; a camera that has not been re-certified in the past 12 months is inadmissible.

Edge cases

  • Fine on a vehicle you have already sold. If the transfer was not complete on TIMS at the time of the offence, you are the registered owner and therefore liable. See vehicle logbook transfer for how to close this window.
  • Fine issued to a licence you do not recognise. Possible identity misuse. Report to NTSA and file with the DCI; do not pay.
  • Fine issued abroad on a Kenyan driver. NTSA does not enforce foreign fines; the issuing country's system is separate.

Sources

  1. National Transport and Safety Authority, tims.ntsa.go.ke, retrieved 26 August 2026.
  2. Kenya Revenue Authority Public Notice, Tax Payment through PayBill Number 222222 (17 November 2023), Kenya Gazette No. 16008/2022. Consolidated government paybill applies to NTSA per eCitizen migration.
  3. Traffic Act, Cap 403, Laws of Kenya, offence schedules and section 118 on speed-detection evidence.
  4. Insurance (Motor Vehicles Third Party Risks) Act, Cap 405, on uninsured driving.

FAQ

What paybill do I use to pay an NTSA fine?

NTSA payments now flow through the consolidated government paybill 222222 (eCitizen). The account number is the invoice reference NTSA or the traffic officer issued you. Do not send money to the legacy 206206 paybill unless the TIMS invoice explicitly instructs it.

How do I check if I have an outstanding fine?

Log into tims.ntsa.go.ke with your ID and TIMS password, or dial *488# from a Safaricom line. Both surfaces show fines tied to your driving licence number and any vehicle registered to you.

How long does a paid fine take to clear from TIMS?

Typically within 30 minutes during business hours; up to 72 hours during weekends and public holidays. If the fine still shows after 72 hours, follow the NTSA fine payment not reflecting guide.

Can I contest a fine before paying?

Yes. Traffic offences under the Traffic Act can be contested in the Traffic Court within the timeline stated on the ticket (commonly 14 days). Paying the fine on TIMS is treated as an admission and closes the right to contest.