How to Register Your Car in Dubai
- New car registration in Dubai
- Documents required for new car registration
- Used car registration in Dubai
- Car registration renewal in Dubai
- FAQs
Whether you buy a new or used car, registration is mandatory before you drive it around Dubai. RTA strives to make the process simple and straightforward for everyone. You just need to take care of the prerequisites and follow a few simple steps.
Today, we will take you through the car registration process of new and used cars in Dubai and discuss the cost associated with the process.
How to Get Your New Car Registered
If you plan on buying a new car of your choice, the dealer will usually get the registration paperwork done before handing over the keys. However, if that isn’t the case for any reason, registration of new cars in Dubai is pretty convenient even when you are doing it yourself.
All you have to do is visit an authorized RTA service centre or service provider with any of the following document. Here is how to register a car in Dubai:
- Valid Dubai issued residence visa
- Rental contract in the car owner’s name
- Proof of employment in the city of Dubai
Mandatory Documents for Registration of New Cars in Dubai
To register a brand new car in Dubai, citizens need the following documents:
- Customs certificate or electronic customs certificate
- Original Emirates ID to update the information
- Electronic vehicle pass certificate if the vehicle was inspected outside Dubai, used, or imported from a source other than the local dealer
- Gulf specification conformity form (UAE standards test) if the vehicle was not compliant with GCC specifications
- Electronic insurance from the vehicle’s insurer, valid for more than 6 months.
Residents need to submit the following documents to register a new car in Dubai:
- Original Emirates ID
- Customs certificate or electronic customs certificate
- To Whom It May Concern letter for students
- A letter from the employer for residents working in governmental and semi-governmental entities
Applying for Car registration via the RTA Website or Customer Happiness Centres
After sorting out the car registration documents, visit any RTA approved Customer Happiness Centres or Tasjeel, Wasel or Mumayaz Testing Centres. Submit the required documents, and pay the necessary service fees.
For those using the RTA website to apply, here’s what you need to do:
- Log in: Use UAE Pass or sign in to your RTA website account
- Apply and Upload Documents: Start your application, and upload the necessary documents
- Confirm with UAE Pass: Verify your customer ID using UAE Pass
- Pay the Fee: Complete the process by paying the required fee
- Receive Documents: You will receive the new vehicle licence card (also known as Mulkiya), car number plate and vehicle expiry stickers after paying the new car registration fees.
- Apple Device Users: If you have an Apple device, you can get the electronic ownership via the RTA Dubai App’s Apple Wallet feature.
If you prefer to visit Customer Happiness Centres or Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres, follow these steps:
- Visit The Centres: Go to the front desk and speak to the employee
- Upload Documents: The employee will provide a link for you to upload your documents
- Receive Transaction Code: After uploading, you’ll get a transaction code
- Complete the Process: Share the code with the employee to finalize your application, review, and electronically sign it
- Pay the Fee: Once you settle the required fee
- Get Your Documents: You’ll receive the ownership certificate, plate numbers, and expiry sticker after the fee is paid.
The cost of a brand new car registration in Dubai is AED 400. The new vehicle naturally wouldn’t have a traffic file, but opening one is mandatory and will cost you AED 220. It takes about 10 minutes to register a new car in Dubai via happiness centres and the process is instant on the RTA website.
RTA New Car Registration Fee
The RTA car registration fees for new vehicles is as follows:
- AED 400 to register a light vehicle (private/public)
- AED 500 for private vehicle (3-12 tonnes)
- AED 750 for public vehicle (3-12 tonnes)
- AED 35 is the fee for a short plate
- AED 50 for long plate
- AED 200 for Dubai branded plate
- AED 100 for Expo branded plate
- AED 100 is the expiry sticker fee
- AED 20+ is the knowledge and innovation fee
- AED 150 is the vehicle inspection fee for new cars
How to Get a Used Car Registered in Dubai
There is a massive demand for second-hand cars in the emirate. To register a second-hand car in Dubai, the following documents are required:
- Traffic file
- Valid Vehicle Technical Inspection Certificate (if a used car does not clear the technical testing phase, it is sent for retest after necessary repairs)
- Vehicle Insurance with electronic test
- Original Emirates ID of the buyer and seller
- A copy of the buyer’s residence visa
- A copy of the buyer’s passports
- Vehicle licence or Mulkiya from the seller
All used cars in Dubai are inspected at Tasjeel or Shamil centres before being handed over to buyers. The documents mentioned above are also submitted at these centres. After submission, the ownership transfers to the buyer and the used-car registration process begins.
After the new owner pays the service fees, they receive the vehicle licence, new vehicle licence plate (if the number plate was changed) and vehicle expiry stickers.
The cost of second-hand car registration in Dubai is also AED 420. Other necessary expenses associated with the transfer of ownership include:
- Vehicle inspection test: AED 170
- Traffic file (if it does not exist): AED 220
- Transfer of ownership fee: AED 350
- Selling fee: AED 50
- Knowledge and innovation fee: AED 20
As for from where to get used cars, apart from Dubai showrooms offering secondhand vehicles, you can buy used cars online from dubizzle, popular cars on the platform include:
- Second-hand Mercedes-Benz in Dubai
- Used Toyota cars in Dubai
- Second-hand Nissan cars in Dubai
- Used BMW cars in Dubai
- Used Ford cars in Dubai
Car Registration Renewal in Dubai
Your car registration in Dubai needs a renewal every year. Vehicle owners generally get a grace period of a month after the registration expires – but after that additional fee will be charged. This additional fee can easily be avoided by renewing a vehicle timely.
You can easily renew your car in Dubai following these steps:
- Settle all pending fines against your car. Fine payments can be made easily at RTA’s official website or through the application.
- If your car has any black points, visit any of the Dubai Police stations to settle them.
- If your car is over 3 years old, get it tested from an approved RTA testing facility, such as Shamil, Wasel and Tasjeel.
- If your car does not clear the technical inspection stage, you will need to make the required repairs.
- The car will be re-tested.
- Once cleared, you can apply for the car-renewal registration process in Dubai.
- Again, just like buying a second-hand car, you can get second-hand vehicles renewed from an authorized RTA happiness centre or through RTA online.
- Once the process is complete and the renewal fee has been paid, you will receive a new vehicle license card number and new expiry stickers.
Where to renew car registration in Dubai
You can get your car registration renewed in Dubai through the following:
- Vehicle Testing Centres: Wasel, Shamil, Mumayaz or Tasjeel
- RTA Mobile Application: Google Play | Apple Store
- Official RTA Website
- RTA Call Centres
- RTA Customer Happiness Centres
- Self-service kiosks
Moreover, you can also contact the Road and Transport Authority at 800-90-90 for more questions about the registration and renewal process.
Car registration renewal service fee in Dubai
Vehicle registration renewal charges in Dubai are:
- Renewal fees: AED 380
- Vehicle Technical Inspection charges (if required): AED 170
- Courier service charges: AED 25
- Late fine: AED 25 (per month after passing the grace period)
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CAR REGISTRATION RENEWAL IN DUBAI
The following documents are required to renew car registration renewal in Dubai:
- Valid Driving License
- Renewed Vehicle Insurance
- Original Emirates ID
- Old Vehicle Registration Card / Mulkiya
- Vehicle Technical Inspection Certificate
HOW TO CHECK VEHICLE REGISTRATION EXPIRY DATE IN DUBAI
You can follow the below-mentioned steps to check vehicle registration expiry date in Dubai.
- Visit the official RTA website.
- Click ‘Check Vehicle Expiry’
- Entre licence plate number and find out the vehicle expiry date
The car registration typically lasts for one year, so keep a check and renew it as soon as it expires.
FAQs about Car Registration in Dubai
What is the cost of registering a new car in Dubai?
The cost for registering a brand new car in Dubai is AED 400.
What is the cost for registering a used car in Dubai?
The cost for registering a used car in Dubai is AED 420.
Is there any grace period for car registration in the UAE?
Car registration renewal has to be done on a yearly basis in the UAE. Driver’s get a grace period of 30 days to renew their vehicle’s registration after the expiry date has passed.
Can people register several cars under their name in Dubai?
Yes, there is no limit to the number of cars registered in an individuals name.
What are the other costs of owning a car?
Apart from the car’s own cost, the additional expenses of owning a car in Dubai include the cost for the registration test which is AED 170, AED 830 for transfer of ownership, AED 100 in case the buyer wants to get a new number plate, AED 100 for Salik, AED 520 for export inside the country, AED 470 for export outside the country and AED 200 if you don’t have a traffic file in Dubai.
We explained the process of registering brand new cars, used cars and the process of car renewals in Dubai in simple terms. Registration of both new and used cars in Dubai is quite simple if you have all the documents prepared. We hope this guide helped you understand all the requirements and prepare accordingly.
For more information on laws and regulations regarding car buying and selling, stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog.