Renewal of car registration in Dubai

• Registration has to be done annually. Insurance is for 13 months which gives you a month's grace period after registration expires to go for renewal. Don't wait more than a day or two after getting new insurance documents if you're into the 13th month - they'll send you back to update the insurance.
• If you're late with registration there may be a fine of 150 dhs or so. It doesn't seem to matter much how late you are though.
• See the previous section for details of which documents you need and where to go. Bring 500 dhs to cover testing fees and registration fees, allow extra for speeding and parking fines. Even if you think you have none, allow for a couple of each. You may not be asked for the passport copy when renewing car registration.
• If the car is two or more years old, get the car tested at the mechanical testing department of the police traffic department first.
• Choose a typist at the typing department there to type out various forms in Arabic (they'll have the correct forms). They'll send you to the next correct counter. Each counter will then send you to the next correct one (if you ask) until you pass Go, collect your 200 dhs and new registration card.
• On second thoughts, it's doubtful they'll give you 200 dhs.
• There's a service at Tasjeel (registration place) which speeds things up nicely. You pay extra money (100-200 dhs), and sit down with a coffee after taking the car for testing while someone else does all the paperwork for you.
• EPPCO (www.eppcouae.com) and Shamil (www.shamil.ae) (from Emarat) have details of locations and times where you can get your car registered or renew car registration.
• Shamil offers a service in Dubai where they'll come and pick up your car, register it, and return it to your home or office for an extra couple of hundred dhs. Tel 800-4559 in the UAE. They won't pick it up from another country.