Kuwait is introducing a new way for drivers to serve vehicle impoundment sentences from their own homes instead of going to a government yard. Starting Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Kuwait General Traffic Department will start this smart home system for eligible traffic violations.
- Device installation cost: KD10
- Daily service fee: KD2
- Application used: Kuwait government Sahel application
An electronic monitoring device will be installed on the vehicle for
KD10, with a daily service fee of KD2. The impoundment period begins at midnight following the violation record. Once the time is finished, owners will receive a notification via the
Kuwait government's Sahel application. After getting this alert, they must visit a designated traffic department center to complete the formal release procedure. Vehicle owners are
prohibited from tampering with, damaging, or removing the monitoring device, as such actions carry legal consequences. The smart home impoundment fees are in addition to any existing fines or legal penalties associated with the original traffic violation.
The new system applies to offences under Article 207, which mandates vehicle impoundment. These offences include
operating a vehicle without valid number plates, registration or insurance lapses, reckless driving, and driving after license withdrawal. Vehicles currently held in government traffic garages may be eligible for transfer to the home-based system, provided they meet specific department criteria. Owners are responsible for maintaining active status on the Sahel application and ensuring their contact information is current to receive release notifications. This policy change is significant for Kuwait’s large Indian expatriate population, which totaled approximately
10.60 lakh people as of March 2026, according to Indian Ministry of External Affairs data.
