March 21, 2023

Registration aims to keep a record of your property and ensure its recognition. For instance, when you buy land, you confirm its legal ownership and title by registering it in your name. This is confirmation of your ownership and helps you avoid any contesting parties or other problems.

In the same way, under Dubai’s RTA rules, you need to register your car to drive it legally. It establishes your clear title to the car when you are behind the wheel. The process is fairly simple and you can either do it offline by visiting the RTA or online

In this article, we will discuss the car registration process in detail. Read on!

Car Registration Process

As a car owner, whether it’s new or used, you are mandatorily required to register your car with the Road and Transport Authority (RTA). To register your car, you will require a valid copy of your car insurance policy.

Your car registration will be valid for 1 year and you will be required to renew it only on a yearly basis. Your car, if registered in the name of an individual and used for private purposes, will also have to undergo a fitness test when it completes 3 years.

Your car registration process will differ in different scenarios. Let's have a look at them:

👉New Vehicle Registration Process

Here’s a list of steps you need to follow when registering a new car -

1. Usually, when you buy a new car from a showroom, all its paperwork is done by the dealer/showroom - including the registration.

2. Usually, when you buy a new car from a showroom, all its paperwork is done by the dealer/showroom - including the registration.

3. The RTA will require a copy of a valid insurance policy, which needs to be uploaded by the insurance provider.

4. The RTA will require a copy of a valid insurance policy, which needs to be uploaded by the insurance provider.

5. The fitness test and certificate requirement will be waived if the car is registered under your name and is used for private purposes.

6. Either you or the showroom will be responsible for paying the registration fee.

7. You will receive a registration card immediately after the vehicle registration is complete.

👉Registration Renewal Process

The registration of your car needs to be renewed every year. Let us explore the registration renewal process in detail.

1. Fitness Test

To get your registration renewed, your vehicle needs to pass a fitness test.

👉 For private cars

If your car is brand new or less than 3 years old, the fitness test is waived. On the other hand, a fitness test is mandatory for all private vehicles more than 3 years old.

👉 For commercial/private cars registered in the name of the company

The fitness test is mandatory from the first year renewal.

2. Valid Insurance Document

Your insurance company needs to upload a valid insurance policy to the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) system for your car to be registered.

3. Payment

You will have to pay the renewal charges along with any outstanding fines.

4. Issuance of Registration Card

Once all the formalities and payments are done, your car registration will get renewed and a registration card will be issued immediately.

👉Registration Renewal If Your Insurance Has Expired

If your insurance policy expires, it means you missed the one-month grace period to which you are entitled. Here are the steps you need to follow to register your car if your car insurance has expired -

1. A passing certificate is required to renew your insurance. You will need to get your car tested, and if it passes the test, a passing certificate will be issued.

2. You will also need to provide the insurance company with 4-sided photos of your car that have been clicked on the date when the renewal request is raised.

3. Once everything is evaluated and verified by the insurance company, it will issue the insurance policy and upload it to the RTA system.

4. You will have to pay the registration expiry fine, RTA renewal charges, and any outstanding fines.

5. Once this is done, your car will be registered and you will get a new registration card instantly.

👉Registration Fees

Whenever you register your car or renew the same, you need to pay registration fees. They differ based on the type of vehicle you own. Let’s have a look -

👉 Service Fee

Vehicle type	Fee amount in AED
Light vehicle either public or private	400
Private vehicles between 3 and 12 tonnes	500
Public vehicles between 3 and 12 tonnes	750
Private vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes	900
Public vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes	1,200

👉Inspection Fee

Vehicle Type	Fee amount in AED
Light vehicle	150
Heavy Vehicle	200
Motorcycle	120

Note:

1. This is an indicative list of the registration fees you need to pay and there can be more. You can get a detailed list by visiting Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority website.

2. The tables show the fee structure for Dubai. Each emirate will have a different website and different fee structure.

Conclusion:

To save yourself from unnecessary trouble on the road, it is crucial to have your car registration done at the earliest. Not doing so might attract penalties along with black points on your licence. We hope the article helped you understand the registration process and the fees associated with it!