Car Registration Renewal in Dubai: A Complete Guide

An annual renewal of car registration in Dubai is mandatory as per the norms of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai, UAE. A car registration renewal is an indicator that your vehicle is safe to be out on the road. A timely renewal ensures that you will not have to pay a hefty fine or, even possibly, have your car impounded.

This blog is an informative guide about car registration renewal in Dubai.

Eligibility Requirements

To register or renew your vehicle in Dubai, ensure you meet the following criteria:

Residency Status: Citizens of UAE and expats with a valid Dubai residency can register their vehicles in Dubai and renew their car registrations. A resident of another Emirate living in Dubai can apply for car registration renewal but must have valid proof of residing in Dubai.

Personnel at missions accredited to the UAE can visit the Traffic and Licensing Department, Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi, for vehicle registration renewal without requiring a prior application.

Vehicle Age: In case your vehicle is over three years old, an RTA inspection is mandatory to renew your car registration.

Insurance Criterion: Car registration renewal cannot be done without vehicle insurance. The minimum requirement for insurance in Dubai is seven months; 12 months if the vehicle is registered in any other Emirate.

Fines: Any fine, small or big, must be cleared before going for a car registration renewal. You can clear fines, if any, at the same time as paying the car registration renewal fee.

List of Documents

1. A valid Emirates ID as proof of identity
2. A valid Driving License
3. The renewed Vehicle Insurance Policy from a licensed insurance service provider
4. The Vehicle Registration Card (Mulkiya)
5. A Passed Certificate from an authorized car testing center

Renewal Process

There is a straightforward car registration renewal process in Dubai, with multiple options:

Online: Open an account on the official RTA website. On the Manage Account dashboard, select licensing services, then 'My Vehicles' and renew the car registration through 'Smart Vehicle Renewal'. You will get a digital registration card, and the hard copy will be sent to your address.

On your smartphone, you can use Dubai Drive, the RTA mobile app.

Offline: Visit the nearest RTA Testing and Registration Centre or RTA Customer Happiness Center.

Fees: The car registration renewal fee in Dubai is AED 380 (confirm the current fee at the RTA website). Additional charges may apply. If you have not renewed for over a year, a re-registration fee is applicable.

Note: An RTA inspection test is mandatory for a 3+ year-old car.

Inspection Requirements

Visit the nearest RTA's Vehicle Testing Center (VTC) in Dubai for the inspection test, essential to check the car's safety. For this-

Documents: Emirates ID and the Vehicle Registration Card.

The Car: Bring the car in a clean state with the plate number clearly visible. Spare parts, such as an emergency tyre, should be easily accessible. There should be no stickers, including those endorsing a brand/product/service without prior RTA approval.

Fee: Currently the fee for an RTA Inspection Test is AED 120 (confirm this beforehand).

Inspection Test Details

Time: Depending on the vehicle, it may take between 20 minutes to 40 minutes from the time you hand over your car to the time you receive it back.

Type of Checks: After confirming the basics of your car like the registration plate, and chassis number, the VTC personnel will test the exhaust emissions, and minutely examine the following-

• Condition and efficiency of the braking systems
• Steering aspects, including the steering wheel's mechanical condition & attachments
• Rear-view mirrors, windscreen wipers, and other aspects of visibility
• Lighting systems, such as headlamps.

Other inspections include those of wheels & tires, chassis frame & attachments, seats & safety belts, etc.

Post-inspection: In case the test results indicate a defect, you must repair it within 30 days. During this time, you are permitted to bring your car for a re-test for a maximum of two times. 

In the unfortunate possibility of failing, you need to pay a fine for road usage for each day you do not get the car registration renewal, and the Dubai police/Emirates police will fine you if you are unable to get the car registration renewed. You can approach any VTC branch for the re-test, but it must be done only within the same VTC company as the initial test.

There are multiple branches of RTA VTCs in Dubai at these locations-

1. Awir
2. Adhed
3. Al Jadaf
4. Al Mizhar
5. Al Humriyah
6. Barsha
7. Deira
8. Jebel Ali
9. Nad al Hammar
10. Qusais
11. Ras al Khor
12. Sheikh Zayed Road
13. Warsan

Additional Tips

Renewal Reminder: Don't depend on an SMS alert from RTA about when your car registration renewal is due. Put a reminder on your calendar so that you don't miss the due date, whether you have purchased a brand new car or need to renew it again a year from the date of the previous registration.

Useful Apps: Avail of informative online services and mobile apps, such as Dubai Now, handy not only for car registration renewal but also for paying for parking anywhere in Dubai and even sell your car. There's also the Mahboub Chatbot for quick assistance. 

Important Contacts

1. Roads & Transport Authority

P.O Box: 118899

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ph: +971 4 284 4444 (Monday to Thursday 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.)

Fax: +971 4 206 5555

Email: [email protected]

Call Centre (24x7): 800 90 90

Overseas callers (24x7): +971 4 605 1414

WhatsApp: 971588009090

2. For Personnel of Foreign Missions accredited to the UAE

MOFA Website: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/register-vehicle

Smart Mobile App: (UAE MoFA)

For Enquiries (24x7): +97180044444

3. Dubai Police

Website: https://www.dubaipolice.gov.ae/wps/portal/home

Ph: 999 for emergencies / 901 - Call Center

Conclusion

While you avail of a professional car service in the UAE, don't forget to renew the car registration to ensure you adhere to the local laws of the RTA. Maintain your car, go in for the mandatory periodic test, and keep handy relevant documents to make the car registration renewal process quick and hassle-free for you.Don't depend on an SMS

FAQs

1. Why is car registration renewal important?

Car registration renewal indicates that the car continues to be suitable for driving, and by paying the fee on time you steer clear of strict actions taken by local road & transport officials. 

2. I missed the car registration renewal date. Can I still renew it?

Yes, RTA gives you a month's grace period to renew the car registration within 30 days of the due date. Beyond that, you will have to pay an extra fee for every month's delay, and your car may be impounded for a week if the renewal registration date expired more than three months ago.

3. Is insurance necessary for car registration renewal?

Yes, you must first renew your insurance and then renew your vehicle registration.

4. Can I register my new car and not renew the registration of my old car?

You cannot register your new car unless you renew the car registration of the old car. An option is to first cancel the registration of the old car.

5. How long does a car registration renewal take?

Likely it will get done within a day with the maximum of up to three working days to receive the physical car registration card at your address.