Transferring Car Ownership in Dubai: What to Know
If you're buying or selling a used car in the emirate, transferring car ownership in Dubai runs through the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) — and the process is faster than most people expect if your paperwork is clean.
Quick answer
Transferring car ownership in Dubai takes about 30 minutes at any RTA-approved vehicle testing centre (Tasjeel, Shamil, Wasel, or Autocenter), assuming the car passes inspection and both parties show up with Emirates IDs. You'll pay roughly AED 350 for the transfer plus AED 170 for inspection, AED 420 for a new registration card, and mandatory insurance (usually AED 1,200–3,000). Any outstanding fines or Salik dues must be cleared first. The buyer walks out with a new mulkiya (registration card) the same day.[1][2]
Step-by-step: what actually happens
Both seller and buyer need to be present, or one of them needs a notarised power of attorney. Show up at a Tasjeel or equivalent RTA-approved centre with the original mulkiya, both Emirates IDs, and the car itself.
The centre inspects the vehicle first. If it's under 3 years old, you skip the technical test — but you still need the visual check. Older cars go through the full test: brakes, emissions, chassis, the works. Fail it and you fix the issue, then re-test.
Once it passes, the buyer buys insurance in the buyer's name. You cannot transfer without a valid policy of at least 13 months. Then you pay the transfer fee, the seller signs off, and the new registration card prints on the spot.
Honestly, the whole thing is one of the smoother government processes in the UAE — when it goes wrong, it's almost always fines or an unpaid loan on the car.
Costs and documents
Typical costs (2024):
- Ownership transfer fee: AED 350
- Vehicle inspection: AED 170 (light vehicle)
- New registration card: AED 420
- Knowledge & innovation fees: AED 20
- Plate transfer or new plates: AED 35–1,000+ depending on plate type
- Insurance: AED 1,200–3,000 (comprehensive runs higher)
Documents you need:
- Original mulkiya (registration card)
- Both parties' Emirates IDs (originals)
- Valid UAE driving licence for the buyer
- New insurance certificate in the buyer's name
- No-objection certificate from the bank if the car has a loan against it
If the seller is a company, add the trade licence copy and a signed authorisation letter from the manager. If either party is outside the UAE, a notarised and attested power of attorney is required — Dubai Courts or a licensed notary can issue this.[2]
Watch out: fines, loans, and expired plates
The RTA won't process transferring car ownership in Dubai if the vehicle has unpaid fines, unpaid Salik toll charges, or an active bank mortgage. Check the RTA app or website before you agree a price — buyers routinely discover AED 5,000+ in fines the seller never mentioned. That's on the seller to clear unless you've agreed otherwise in writing.
Bank loans are the other common trap. If the seller financed the car and hasn't fully paid it off, the bank holds the mulkiya electronically. You need a formal clearance letter from the bank confirming the loan is settled before the RTA will release the title. This can take a few working days, so don't hand over cash on the assumption it clears the same afternoon.
Expired registration? The seller has to renew it first, including any late-renewal penalty (AED 25 per month, capped).
One more thing most people get wrong: the buyer's driving licence must be valid and match the vehicle class. A learner's permit doesn't count.
Selling to someone outside Dubai
If the buyer wants to register the car in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or another emirate, the process shifts slightly. The Dubai RTA issues an export certificate (or inter-emirate transfer certificate) and cancels the Dubai plates. The buyer then registers in their emirate under that authority's rules — Abu Dhabi uses the Integrated Transport Centre, Sharjah uses the SRTA. Fees and inspection standards differ.
For sales to buyers outside the UAE entirely, you need a full export certificate from RTA (around AED 120) and the car physically leaves through a port with customs clearance. Plates come off before it ships.
For more on related transactions, see our guides on real estate transfers in Dubai and general RTA vehicle services.
Need this checked for your situation? Talk to a UAE-licensed lawyer →
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Citations
- [1] Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai — Vehicle Ownership Transfer Service. rta.ae ⚠
- [2] Dubai Government Services — Vehicle Registration and Transfer. u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/vehicle-registration-and-transfer ⚠
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