How to transfer car ownership in the UAE
- Documents Required for Individuals
- Documents Required for Companies
- Car Ownership Transfer Fees
- Submission
- Transfer Between Emirates
- Things to Consider
Planning to sell your car? UAE residents often wonder how to seal the deal and transfer car ownership to the new buyer. Well, like other legal procedures, the government has designed a simple process to transfer vehicle ownership that doesn’t require a lot of your time. Here’s what you need to know about the transfer of car ownership in the UAE.
TRANSFER OF CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE UAE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Buying a new car can be exciting, especially if it is a dream vehicle for which you have been saving for a long time. So, when you finally make a purchase, it is natural to want to get things done and start driving around. Thankfully, in the UAE, the paperwork related to buying a car is rather swift. This means one can transfer car ownership in the UAE without hassle.
PROCESS OF TRANSFER OF CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE UAE
Like any other official process, certain regulations must be followed to transfer vehicle ownership in the UAE. Both the seller and buyer must provide a set of mandatory documents to ensure a quick and efficient transfer of ownership.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR INDIVIDUALS
Cars can be registered in the name of the company or an individual. To transfer car ownership, individuals have to submit the following documents.
- Sellers must present original Emirates ID. This can be replaced by the decree issued from GDRFA and the passport.
- Buyers must present the following:
- Buyers who are UAE or GCC citizens must provide their original Emirates ID
- Diplomats must provide their valid diplomatic card and traffic file number. Transfer to consulate name requires a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The official notice for adding or redeeming electronic mortgage at the bank if the car is still under the mortgage.
- Vehicle’s technical inspection certificate, a pass report from Tasjeel.
- Plate numbers must be delivered to the centre if the seller wishes to keep them.
- Police report if either plate was lost.
- Electronic insurance for the car.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR COMPANIES
The following documents are required if the car is registered in the company’s name.
- Official letter in Arabic
- Copy of trade licence
- Memorandum of Association for LLC companies
- Endorsement of signature and authorisation letter
- Adding mortgage or redeeming electronic mortgage at the bank if the car is still under the mortgage.
- Technical inspection certificate.
- NOC from the relevant authorities: Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone (if applicable).
- Plate numbers must be delivered to the centre if the seller wishes to keep them.
- Police report if either plate was lost.
CAR OWNERSHIP TRANSFER FEES
Please note that the car ownership transfer fee you have to pay will depend on the vehicle type. Here’s a breakdown to give you a better idea.
- AED 350 Light vehicle private/public
- AED 400 private vehicle between 3 and 12 tonnes
- AED 650 public vehicle between 3 and 12 tonnes
- AED 800 private vehicle exceeding 12 tonnes
- AED 1,000 public vehicle exceeding 12 tonnes
- AED 500 private light mechanical equipment
- AED 700 public light mechanical equipment
- AED 800 private heavy mechanical equipment
- AED 1,000 public heavy mechanical equipment
- AED 120 trailer and semi-trailer
- AED 300 bus with 14 to 26 passengers
- AED 600 bus with more than 26 passengers
- AED 200 motorcycle
VEHICLE PLATE FEE
This service fee can change according to the plate size.
- Short plate fee: AED 35
- Long plate fee: AED 50
- Luxury plates fee: AED 500
- Dubai branded plates fee: AED 200
- Expiry sticker fee: AED 10
- Knowledge and Innovation fee: AED 20
SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS FOR CAR OWNERSHIP TRANSFER
The necessary documents must be submitted at Customer Happiness Centres or Tasjeel Service Centres. If the documents are accurate, the process will take around 10 minutes, and the following will be handed over to the applicant.
- Expiry sticker
- New plates if the number has been changed
- Vehicle ownership certificate
You can also apply for a car ownership transfer via the RTA website and Dubai Drive app.
FAQS ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE UAE
HOW TO TRANSFER CAR OWNERSHIP BETWEEN EMIRATES?
Another common question is how to transfer car ownership between emirates. The procedure is slightly different if the new and old vehicle owners are from different emirates.
The following requirements must be met if a car is being transferred to Dubai from another emirate.
- The car must be deregistered in its registered city and then marked for export.
- The car will need to be transported to the other emirate on a recovery truck as it is illegal to drive an unregistered car without number plates.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KEEP IN MIND?
How do you transfer ownership of a car in the UAE? There are certain things you need to keep in mind.
- The buyer and seller must be present (physically) for the transfer. If either party is unavailable, an authorised legal representative must appear instead. Please note that a power of attorney in the representative’s name has to be issued beforehand.
- The seller has to clear all pending traffic fines before a transfer can be made.
- The application has to include registration, possession, export or transfer service.
- Transferring car ownership after the owner’s death is a slightly longer process. A representative has to appear in the Dubai court and get a letter issued along with a death certificate. These documents have to be presented at the service centre for the process to move forward.
Changing cars can be a significant milestone for many people. If you have all the documents in order, the process of getting a car ownership transfer in the UAE is fairly straightforward. The law on transferring car ownership in UAE ensures protection for all parties involved. Similarly, you can transfer a driving licence file between emirates.
The UAE government has made excellent use of technology to streamline most legal processes. For example, car registration renewal in Dubai can be done online. Once you have a car registered in your name, you can buy insurance from any of Dubai’s top car insurance companies.
Similarly, online car registration renewal in Abu Dhabi is also a helpful option that has made things considerably easier for residents.
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