Photo: Tmaokisa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Bodaboda and bajaji insurance in Tanzania
What the law requires
Section 5 of the Motor Vehicles Insurance Act, Cap. 169 lets an ordinary policy exclude passengers — except in a vehicle in which passengers are carried for hire or reward. A bodaboda or bajaji taking fares is exactly that case: its policy must cover passengers.
The Transport Licensing Act, Cap. 317 (s.18(c)) lets the licensing authority set conditions for motorcycles and tricycles used for hire, including the insurance policy.
LATRA licensing for bodaboda and bajaji
Under LATRA's Private Hire Services Regulations, 2020, a licence application needs the vehicle registration card and a valid roadworthiness certificate. Licensed motorcycle and tricycle operators must:
- park only in designated areas and stay out of restricted areas;
- provide two helmets marked with a code (motorcycles);
- provide rider uniforms.
Amended LATRA regulations came into force on 1 July 2026; LATRA says fines for various offences dropped from TSh 250,000 to TSh 150,000 and that a written warning now comes before a fine (LATRA).
What to ask when you buy
- Does the policy cover passengers carried for hire? Get it written in the schedule.
- Is the insurer on the TIRA register?
- Is the cover note on TIRAMIS the day you pay?
- Is theft of the motorcycle covered? For a bike on a loan, the lender may require it.
What would you like to do now?
Frequently asked questions
Does a bodaboda need passenger insurance in Tanzania?
Yes, when it carries passengers for hire or reward: Cap. 169, s.5, requires the policy to cover them.
Who licenses bodaboda and bajaji in Tanzania?
LATRA (the Land Transport Regulatory Authority), under the Private Hire Services Regulations.