Dubai: Congratulations on buying your new car. Now that the hard part – of acquiring an auto loan, and selecting the perfect car – is done, it’s time to move on to the next step: vehicle registration.

Here’s everything you need to know about the car registration process in Dubai:

Why should I register my car?

When you buy a new or used car in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) requires you to register it under your name. Your car registration card, also known as the Mulkiya, is your car’s official identity document. It links the car to your Emirates ID and provides formal proof of ownership.

Moreover, the Mulkiya ensures your vehicle’s legal driving status, secures your auto insurance policy, and helps maintain your vehicle’s resale value through its consistent registration and maintenance history. The validity of your car’s registration lasts for one year, after which, your Mulkiya will need to be renewed.

What happens if I don’t register my car?

Driving with an expired or unregistered vehicle in Dubai incurs a Dh500 fine, four black points and potential vehicle impoundment of up to seven days by the Dubai Police.

How to register a vehicle in Dubai

While most components of the registration process can be completed online, there are some variations involved, based on whether the car is new or used. Additionally, a prerequisite of car registration is ensuring you have auto insurance – this is a step that can be managed simultaneously, as you register your car.

Registering a new car

In general, under UAE law, the legal responsibility to register a vehicle lies with the owner of the car. However, when you purchase a brand-new car from an authorised dealership in the UAE, the dealership will complete the preliminary car registration and auto insurance on your behalf. They dealership acts as the facilitator between the car owner and the competent authority, such as the RTA.

Required documents: In order to start the registration process, the following documents are required, according to the RTA:

Driver’s licence
Emirates ID
Passport copy with a valid UAE residence visa
Vehicle purchase invoice or sale agreement (already available to the dealership)

Once you hand over these documents to the car agency or dealership, they can proceed with applying for your vehicle’s registration and motor insurance. You can speak with the agent about your preferred insurance (comprehensive or third-party), and approve the best option.

New cars are exempt from vehicle testing or RTA inspection for the first three years, so at this point, your registration process is complete. The dealership will provide you with your vehicle ownership certificate, vehicle registration card, plate number, and a registration expiry sticker.

Fees: Dh400.

Registering a used car

When buying a used car, the buyer (you) are responsible for the registration process. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check accident history

First, when buying a used car, ensure you are aware of its accident history.

In order to do so, obtain the vehicle’s chassis number or vehicle identification number (VIN). This is a unique 17-digit number that is present on the back of the Mulkiya or on the dashboard, on the driver’s side of the vehicle. It holds information about the car’s manufacturer, its place of origin, engine details and accident history.
Next, visit the UAE Ministry of Interior’s website (moi.gov.ae). Click on ‘Public Services’ and select ‘Accidents Inquiry’.
Enter the VIN and click ‘Submit’. The results will then be displayed. If the vehicle has been through any accidents, the system will outline all relevant details, such as the location, date, time and accident report number.

Step 2: Check fines

Next, check if there are any unpaid fines registered against the car, as you will be responsible for paying for them once the car is transferred to you. Checking before purchasing or registering the car will protect you from any surprise bills.

To check traffic fines in Dubai, follow these steps:

Visit Dubai Police’s website (dubaipolice.gov.ae) or open the Dubai Police app. Sign in with UAE PASS.
Go to the ‘Services’ section and select ‘Fines Inquiry and Payment’.
Enter the plate source, plate number and plate code.
Then click ‘Check fines’.

Step 3: Obtain motor insurance

The motor or auto insurance policy is an important document that is needed for vehicle testing, car ownership transfer and registration. In the UAE, a seller cannot legally transfer a used car into your name without an active insurance policy, according to the RTA.

Once you have negotiated and are ready to finalise a vehicle of your choice, you can request insurance quotes from any of UAE’s vast network of insurance providers. Most of them provide coverage provisionally, using the vehicle’s chassis number, so that you can begin your coverage on the day of the car transfer.

Alternatively, you can check if the seller’s current motor insurance policy can be transferred to you. According to Dubai-based Gargash Insurance, several insurance companies permit this transfer, provided that the current existing insurance policy has at least nine or more months remaining on its tenure.

Step 4: Proceed with vehicle testing

Vehicle testing and inspection is mandatory in Dubai for used cars older than three years. It is required when you are buying or selling a car, and during your annual car registration renewal period. The inspection ensures cars’ road-worthiness as per RTA’s safety regulations.

Both the buyer and seller participate in the vehicle testing and car ownership transfer processes, so it’s best to complete this step and the next one at the same time.

In Dubai, you can proceed with vehicle testing by visiting Al Mutakamela centres, which are RTA-licenced vehicle testing and registration centres in Dubai, or Tasjeel centres, which are located all around the emirates (including Dubai) and serve the same purpose.

Required documents:

Emirates ID
Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya)
Valid electronic insurance policy
Previous test reports (if any)

Apply for the service: Advance booking is required at most vehicle testing centres in Dubai. The seller can book a vehicle testing appointment via the RTA Dubai app or the RTA website (rta.ae). Follow these steps to do so:

Download the RTA Dubai app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or visit rta.ae. Log in with your UAE PASS.
Navigate to ‘Services’, then ‘Vehicle Licensing’ and finally, ‘Vehicle Testing’.
The seller must select the vehicle from his list.
Next, pick a preferred testing centre, date and time slot.
Pay the testing fee and receive a confirmation via SMS or email.

On the selected date, arrive at the testing centre with your documents at least 15 minutes before the appointment time. According to Al Mutakamela’s website, vehicle testing takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Once testing is complete, you will receive an RTA technical inspection certificate. This certificate is valid for 30 days and must be renewed if registration is not completed within this period. If your car fails the inspection, you have 30 days to repair the issues and return for a retest.

Step 5: Register the car

Now, you can proceed with vehicle registration. This step can be completed online, and requires the used car seller to initiate the process through the RTA’s Dubai Drive app or the RTA’s website (rta.ae).

Here are the steps that both the seller and the buyer will need to follow to complete car registration:

Download the RTA Dubai Drive app and log in using UAE PASS.
The seller will first need to select the vehicle he/she wishes to sell, on the app, and then select ‘Change Vehicle Ownership’.
Next, the seller must add details of the buyer’s Emirates ID.
The seller must then sign a sales purchase agreement. This can be done online, through the UAE PASS app.
Once completed, the sales purchase agreement will automatically be sent to the buyer, who will then need to sign it through their own UAE PASS app. The buyer must also pay the fee online, which is approximately Dh450.
When your payment is approved, the seller can visit an RTA Customer Happiness Centre to hand over the car’s number plates. This step marks the completion of vehicle ownership transfer. The seller has a period of two weeks from the time of signing the sales purchase agreement, to complete this step.
When the vehicle’s plates have been submitted, the buyer will receive a notification from RTA. You can choose to keep the same plate number or select a different one. This completes the car registration process.

Fees: Here are the costs involved in registering a used car:

Registration of light vehicle: Dh350

Short plate fee: Dh35

Selling agreement fee (paid by the buyer): Dh50

Long plate fee: Dh50

Dubai branded plate fee: Dh200

Luxury plate fee: Dh500

Expiry sticker fee: Dh10

Knowledge and innovation fees: Dh20

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