Registering a new or second hand car in Dubai

 

Usually the dealer will take care of this for you. You'll still need to supply them with all the relevant documents though - passport with residence visa, insurance papers (unless they're arranging that for you), and driving license. Otherwise, if you are doing it yourself, the procedure is almost the same as registering a used car - see below.

• This procedure is much the same for registering a new car. If you buy a second hand car from a dealer, they might do it for you. Otherwise ...
• Find an insurance company in Dubai  and get the car insured first. You can't register it without insurance documents.
• Go to the RTA traffic department on the desert side of Sheikh Zayed Road, between the Garden Centre and Mall of the Emirates. Both buyer and seller should go at the same time. Bring 500 dhs for registration fees (it should be less than that). The seller should bring extra money to pay for any accumulated fines, even if s/he thinks they've paid them all - sometimes fines seem to get lost in the system but you can count on them being found when changing registration.
• You'll need passport with residence visa, driving licence, insurance documents, and copies of everything.
• If your residence visa is from an emirate other than Dubai, bring your tenancy agreement and a copy to prove you live in Dubai. A telephone (not mobile) or DEWA bill in your name may be enough if the tenancy contract is not in your name.
• The seller will need their passport copy with residence visa and vehicle registration card.
• Tel +971-4-2172221 or +971-4-2172229 for the Vehicle Licensing Department at the Road Traffic Authority.
• Tel +971-4-3331510 for Tasjeel in Al Aweer.