Car Registration Process in Dubai: Complete Guide For Beginners

The process of registering a car in Dubai is much easier than most people think it will be. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes if all of your paperwork is in order. 

Standard registration costs about AED 420, and maybe a little more if you want those fancy Dubai-branded plates (which are totally worth it for the gram, by the way). 

One of the favorite things about getting a new car is that you don’t have to go through the inspection process for three years! It saves you so much time! 

Also, if you hate sitting in lines, you’ll love that Dubai now lets you register your car online from the comfort of your own home.

Car Registration Process in Dubai For a New Car

You just bought a new car in Dubai, right? Wonderful! It’s not nearly as painful as you might think to get it registered. However, if you got it from a retailer, they’ll likely take care of all those boring papers for you. 

But if you want to do it yourself or just want to know what goes on behind the scenes, we can tell you everything you need to know!

Required Documents For Car Registration in Dubai

Before you start, make sure you’ve got these documents ready:

• Emirates ID: Your original ID card plus a copy. They won’t even start without it!
• Passport with Residency Visa: Just a copy of both is fine. They need to know you’re legally living here.
• Vehicle Insurance: Must be valid for at least 12 months. Don’t worry about finding the perfect one right away..
• Purchase Invoice: The receipt showing you bought the car. Keep this safe!
• Customs Certificate: Only if your car was imported and shows it came into the UAE legally.
• Traffic File: If you’ve never registered a car in Dubai before, you’ll need to pay AED 220 to open a file.
• GCC Certificate: Only needed for imported cars that don’t meet Gulf standards.
• NOC from Bank: If you got a car loan, your bank needs to give you this paper saying it’s okay to register the car.

Registration Process in Dubai For a New Car: Step By Step

Here’s how to get your car registered in Dubai:

Start with Insurance 

First things first. Take care of that insurance! The program must last for at least one year. Don’t forget to check prices by calling a few insurance companies, such as Orient, AXA, or RSA. Costs can range from AED 1,200 to 4,000, based on the type of car you have and how well you drive.

I have good news for you; if your car is brand new, you don’t have to get it inspected for three years! That’s one less problem to handle.

Go to an RTA Center 

You can choose any RTA Customer Happiness Center in Dubai. There are many of them in places like Al Barsha, Deira, Al Twar, and more. You can also go to places like Tasjeel or Shamil to take the test. 

Tip: If you hate waiting in line (and who doesn’t?), you might want to go right when they open in the morning.

Pass Your Paperwork

You only need to smile, walk up to the counter, and hand over all the papers we talked about. The staff is normally friendly, and they’ll let you know right away if something is missing. As long as you have everything ready, this part only takes about two minutes.

Pay Those Fees

Get your cash ready now! It will cost you about 420 AED for a standard car. Additionally, it costs 220 AED to open a traffic file (are you new to Dubai?). 

Then add 35 AED for small plates or 50 AED for big ones. Also, they charge an odd AED 20 “knowledge fee.”

Choose Your Plates 

They will ask you if you want regular plates or nicer ones. The most affordable ones are the standard ones, but for an extra 200 AED, you can get plates with the Dubai flag on them. If you don’t pick them up immediately, they’ll tell you when to do so.

Get Your Papers Together and Leave

These are your new license plates, your Mulkiya (the card that proves you own a car; keep it in your car at all times), and those little stickers that go on your window. If there’s no line, the whole thing takes about 10 to 15 minutes or less.

Car Registration Process in Dubai for a Used Car

Don’t miss out on the great deals on used cars in Dubai. But yes, registering a used car is a little different from registering a brand-new car. 

Required Documents For Used Car Registration in Dubai 

Make sure you’ve got these documents sorted (trust me, it’ll save you from making that annoying second trip!):

• Traffic File: If you don’t already have one, you’ll need this. Think of it as your driving identity in Dubai!
• Vehicle Technical Inspection Certificate: Unlike new cars, used cars MUST go through testing, no exceptions! They’ll check everything from brakes to emissions.
• Valid Insurance Certificate: Need to have insurance that covers at least 6 months. Don’t skimp on this; it’s super important!
• Emirates ID: Both you (the buyer) AND the seller need to bring original Emirates IDs. 
• Residence Visa Copy: They need proof you’re legally living in Dubai. Just a copy will do.
• Passport Copy: Again, just to verify who you are, a copy is fine.
• Current Registration Card: This is the previous owner’s Mulkiya (vehicle license card). 
• NOC from Bank: If the car still has a loan on it, you’ll need clearance from the bank. 

Car Registration Process in Dubai for a Used Car: Step By Step

I’ll show you step-by-step how to register that used car in your name:

Test Out the Car

The testing process for used cars is different from that for new cars. You can go to any Tasjeel or Shamil center in Dubai. Their review will include the lights, brakes, pollution, and everything else! 

It takes about 30 minutes if there’s no line and costs about 170 AED. A little secret: meetings in the morning are usually less crowded!

Get the Insurance in Order And Pay Any Fines

After the car passes the test, we recommend getting insurance for it. As much as a full year is better, you need security for at least six months. Plus, costs can be anywhere from AED 1,000 to 3,500, based on the car and how well you drive.

Then, make sure that any fines that are still due on the car are paid off! The RTA app or website can tell you about fines. Do not skip this step, or you will not be able to join.

Go to an RTA Center 

I know it’s hard to work out plans, but you and the seller have to go together. There are many RTA Customer Happiness Centers and registration service providers, such as Tasjeel and Wasel, where you can go.

Change Who Owns What And Take Care of Fees

You will fill out a shift form at the center. Sign it, both of you. The staff will help you with this; they’re usually very helpful!

It will cost you about AED 350 to change who owns something, and the registration fee for the car is around AED 420. Also, there is a 50-AED fee for selling and a 20-AED fee for “knowledge and creativity.” It costs an extra AED 220 to open a new traffic file.

Choose Your Plates And Pick Up Your Papers

You can either get new plates or keep the old ones if they are still usable. Size-dependent standard plates cost AED 35 to 50. Naturally, fancy plates cost more!

At last, they’ll give you your brand-new Mulkiya, license plates (if you bought new ones), and those small stickers for your window that say “expired.”

Online Car Registration Process in Dubai 

Guess what? You don’t even have to leave your couch to register your car in Dubai anymore! Yes, you heard me right; the RTA has made the whole car registration process in Dubai available online, and honestly, it’s such a game-changer for busy people (or just anyone who hates standing in lines).

Required Documents For Online Car Registration in Dubai

Before you grab your laptop and get started, make sure you’ve got these things ready to upload:

• Emirates ID: You’ll need a scanned copy of your Emirates ID. Make sure it’s clear and not expired!
• Digital Insurance Certificate: Your insurance provider should email you a digital copy. If they haven’t, give them a quick call and ask for one.
• Electronic Customs Certificate: If your car was imported, you’ll need this. It should be in your email if you recently brought the car in.
• Vehicle Possession/Transfer Certificate: This digital document shows you’re the rightful owner of the vehicle.
• Digital Testing Certificate: For used cars, you’ll still need to get it physically tested (I know, one trip you can’t avoid!), but they’ll upload the results electronically.
• UAE Pass Account: You need this to verify your identity online. If you don’t have it yet, download the app and set it up; it takes like 10 minutes tops!

Online Car Registration Process in Dubai: Step By Step

Dubai’s online car registration process usually only takes 15 to 20 minutes if you have all the necessary paperwork ready. That’s not all. You can do it whenever you want, even at 2 AM while watching your favorite show all at once!

Visit the RTA Website

Visit www.rta.ae on your computer or phone first. The website is pretty easy to use! Click on “Services” and then look for “Drivers & Car Owners Services.” You can then choose “Apply for Registering a New Vehicle” or “Renew Vehicle Registration” based on your needs.

Create An Account with UAE Pass

You will need to use your UAE Pass account to log in. Not having one? The UAE Pass app is very simple to set up. 

All you have to do is download it and follow the steps. Soon, you’ll be verified! It works like a digital signature and lets you register your car online in Dubai.

Fill Out the Form

You will need to fill out the signup form after you log in. It’s pretty easy; just put in your information and the information about the car. Take it easy, the system will walk you through every step, so don’t worry about getting lost!

Put Your Files Here

Do you remember all those papers I talked about earlier? Put them online now! Just be sure that the pictures or scans are clear and that you can read the words. Applications are most often turned down because of blurry papers (who wants to start over?).

Check Your Identity

You will need to use the UAE Pass to confirm your customer ID. Just an extra safety measure to make sure you’re the one registering the car.

Pick Your Plates and Wait for Delivery

This is where you can choose between plain plates and better ones. You can pick up your registration card and plates or have them sent to you by mail (for a small fee).

Include the Fees And Collect Your Stuff

Use a credit or debit card to pay all the fees online. Then your registration card (Mulkiya), plates, and stickers will be brought right to your door if you choose delivery!

Car Registration in Dubai For Imported Cars: Step By Step

Coming to Dubai with your dream car from another country? With a little effort, you can finish the process, even though it has a few extra steps. 

Required Documents For Imported Car Registration in Dubai

Let’s get your paperwork ducks in a row! Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

• Export Certificate: This piece of paper proves that your car went out of the country properly. Basically, this is like your car’s exit permit; you can’t skip it!
• Customs Clearance Certificate: You’ll get this when your car comes into the UAE. As an example, if your car is worth 100,000 AED, the entry tax will be about 5,000 AED.
• Exam Report for Technical Checks: There are strict rules that your foreign car must follow to make sure it meets UAE standards. They check everything about your car, from the lights to the pollution it makes.
• Insurance Card: You need at least 6 months of insurance for this car, just like you do for any other car. Depending on how well you drive, this could cost you anywhere from AED 2,000 to AED 4,000 for a mid-range foreign car.
• Emirates ID: Please use the real card, not a copy, for this part.
• Residence Visa: A copy of your visa page from your passport.
• Gulf Specification Conformity Certificate: Some cars might need to have their air conditioning or pollution systems upgraded or changed if they weren’t made for this area. It might cost around AED 2,500 to change the AC in his car.

Car Registration Process in Dubai For Imported Cars

Here’s the step-by-step of what you’ll actually do:

Complete Customs

You’ll need to take your purchase papers and visa to Jebel Ali Port when your car arrives, which is where most cars come in. That 5% import tax I talked about? 

That’s how much it costs here. In this case, the taxes on that AED 100,000 car would be AED 5,000. After receiving it, they generally handle it within one to two business days.

Test Your Technical Skills

Not all centers can work with foreign cars, so go to places like Tasjeel Al Aweer or Wasel Al Jaddaf that do. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour and costs about 170 AED. The mechanics will check everything, from your engine to your seatbelts!

Agree with the GCC

Based on what needs to be changed, getting your car to meet Gulf standards could take two to three days and cost between AED 1,000 and 5,000. Some common changes are updating the air conditioning (about AED 2,500) and changing the headlights (around AED 500–800).

Set Up Your Insurance

Now that your check is over, set up your insurance. Full coverage insurance is generally best for foreign cars. Comparing prices is important because AXA and RSA often offer good deals on foreign cars.

RTA Website

Go to one of the big RTA centers. Al Barsha or Deira are good choices because they deal with imports all the time. Bring all of the papers we talked about. If everything is in order, the process should only take 30 to 45 minutes.

Pay the Fees to Register

Like local cars, it costs 420 AED to register, plus 35–50 AED for plates and a mysterious 20 AED “knowledge fee.” Include any extra fees they may charge for importing. Your plates and registration card will be given to you quickly after everything is cleared and paid for.

In most cases, the whole process of importing and registering a car takes between 5 and 7 days from the time the car arrives in Dubai.

All The Costs for the Car Registration Process in Dubai

Surprise fees when people are ready to pay are annoying for everyone! What’s good is that the fees for registering a car in Dubai are pretty clear, and they’re not as bad as you might think!

Fee Type	New Cars	Used Cars	Notes
Basic Registration Fee	AED 400-420	AED 420	For regular cars (the ones most of us drive!)
Traffic File Opening	AED 220	AED 220	Only if you’re new to driving in Dubai
Vehicle Testing	Nothing for 3 years!	AED 170	One of the perks of buying new!
Standard Number Plates	AED 35 (short) / AED 50 (long)	AED 35 (short) / AED 50 (long)	The basic plates that do the job just fine
Dubai-Branded Plates	AED 200	AED 200	If you want something a bit flashier
Ownership Transfer	Not needed	AED 350	Only when buying someone else’s car
Selling Fee	Not needed	AED 50	Just another little fee for used cars
Knowledge Fee	AED 20	AED 20	I mean… what even is this? But we all pay it!
Courier Delivery	AED 25	AED 25	If you want everything brought to your door
Late Penalty	AED 25/month	AED 25/month	Trust me, you don’t want these adding up!

And between us? If you’re thinking about those fancy vanity plates with special numbers, brace yourself! Those can range from “okay, that’s pricey” to “wait, that costs more than my actual car?!” 

Some people here spend literal fortunes on plate numbers like single digits or repeating patterns. But the regular plates work just fine for getting from A to B.

Top Authorized Registration Centers

Since Dubai has a lot of approved centers, there’s probably one close to where you are! 

Center Name	Location	Contact Number	Operating Hours
TASJEEL Al Twar	Al Twar	+971-4-257-3778	07:00 am to 10:00 pm
TASJEEL Al Warsan	Al Warsan	+971-4-333-6679	06:00 am to 12:00 am; Closed on Friday
TASJEEL Al Aweer	Al Aweer	+971-4-333-1510	07:00 am to 10:00 pm
TASJEEL Al Barsha	Al Barsha	+971-4-347-3619	Sat-Thu: 07:00 am to 12:00 am; Fri: 04:00 pm to 12:00 am
TASJEEL JAFZA	Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA)	+971-4-883-0067	07:00 am to 05:00 pm
Wasel Vehicle Testing Al Jaddaf	Al Jaddaf	+971-4-324-5524	07:00 am to 09:30 pm; Closed on Friday
Wasel Vehicle Testing Al Mizhar	Al Mizhar	+971-4-251-4789	08:00 am to 10:00 pm; Closed on Friday
Tamam Vehicle Testing	OTE Complex, Ras Al Khor Road, Al Aweer	+971-4-706-9900	08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Emarat Shamil Muhaisanah	Muhaisanah	+971-4-267-1117	08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Emarat Shamil Nad Al Hammar	Nad Al Hammar	+971-4-289-4440	08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Emarat Shamil Al Hudaiba	Al Hudaiba	+971-4-398-6006	08:00 am to 10:00 pm
AG Cars Vehicle Testing – Deira	Al Khabaisi, Deira	+971-4-269-4400	Sat-Thu: 07:00 am to 10:00 pm
AG Cars Vehicle Testing – Mamzar	Mamzar	+971-4-206-8000	Sat-Thu: 07:00 am to 10:00 pm
Mumayaz – Al Mizhar	Al Mizhar	+971-4-284-0303	08:00 am to 10:00 pm; Closed on Friday
Mumayaz – Al Barsha Mall	Al Barsha Mall	+971-4-325-5510	08:00 am to 10:00 pm; Closed on Friday
Al Shirawi Vehicle Testing	Al Quoz	+971-4-371-8585	07:00 am to 09:00 pm; Closed on Friday

What Additional Considerations Should You Know?

Let us share a few helpful tips:

• Grace Period: You get 30 days after your registration expires before any late fees kick in. But honestly? Try not to cut it that close! Nobody wants to get pulled over for expired papers.
• Register Multiple Cars: You can actually put as many cars as you want under your name in Dubai! Pretty cool if you love having different cars for different days of the week (though your wallet might disagree!).
• Check Your Fines: Please, please check if you have any unpaid fines before you go! We’ve seen so many frustrated faces when people discover their fines at the counter and have to start all over again.
• Easy Expiry Checks: You can check when your registration expires right on the RTA website or app. No more squinting at that tiny windshield sticker!
• Go Early: If you hate waiting (and who doesn’t?), try to go first thing in the morning. The difference between an 8 am visit and a 4 pm visit can be hours of your life you’ll never get back!
• Testing After 3 Years: Once your car is 3 years old, you’ll need yearly check-ups. It’s not so bad – they’re just making sure all our cars are safe on the road.
• Grab a Salik Tag: If you need a toll tag for your car, you can get one right during registration for about 100 dirhams. One less thing to worry about later!
• Keep Your Card Handy: Always keep that vehicle card (they call it a Mulkiya) in your car. You’d be surprised how often you need to show it.
• Set Reminders: Yes, you might get a text when it’s time to renew, but maybe set your own reminder too. It’s so easy to miss these things!

Conclusion

The car registration process in Dubai might seem a bit overwhelming at first glance, but it’s actually pretty straightforward once you know what to expect. Whether you’re registering a brand-new car, a pre-loved vehicle, or that special imported car you’ve been dreaming about, the key is just having all your documents ready ahead of time! 

Most centers can get you sorted in less than 15 minutes if you come prepared. And now with online options available, it’s getting even easier to keep your wheels legally on Dubai’s gorgeous roads. 

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