How to transfer car ownership in the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
The documents, steps and checks for transferring a used car between private buyers and sellers in the UAE — including cars still under bank finance — so the money and the ownership change hands safely.
The ownership transfer is the moment a private car sale becomes real. Done properly, it protects both sides: the buyer gets a car that is legally theirs, and the seller is no longer responsible for fines, Salik or accidents. Done badly, it is where most private-sale disputes begin.
Rules and fees are set by each emirate's licensing authority and change from time to time, so always confirm the current requirements on the official channel before you go — the RTA website and app in Dubai, the TAMM platform in Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of Interior (MOI UAE) app for the northern emirates.
Before the transfer: what both sides should check
- Fines: traffic and Salik fines on the car normally have to be paid before it can be transferred. Check them on the official app with the plate number.
- Bank finance: if the car is mortgaged to a bank, the loan must be settled and the bank must issue a clearance (release) letter so the lien is removed from the registration.
- Insurance: the buyer needs an insurance policy in their own name for the car before it can be registered to them.
- Technical inspection: older cars may need to pass a roadworthiness test before re-registration. Ask the service centre whether yours does.
Documents you will need
| Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|
| Original Emirates ID | Original Emirates ID |
| Registration card (mulkiya) | Valid UAE driving licence |
| Bank clearance letter, if the car was financed | Insurance policy in the buyer's name |
| Proof of address in the emirate, where required |
In Dubai the RTA lists the requirements on its Apply for Changing a Vehicle Ownership service page; buyers who live outside Dubai may need to show a Dubai link such as a tenancy contract (Ejari) or employer.
Step by step
- Agree the price and settle fines. Put the agreed price, mileage and any conditions in a short written sale agreement signed by both of you.
- Clear the finance. If there is a loan, the seller (or the buyer, from the purchase money, through the bank) pays it off and collects the clearance letter.
- Buyer arranges insurance for the car, effective from the transfer date.
- Inspection, if required, at an approved test centre.
- Transfer at a vehicle licensing / customer service centre or through the official app, with both parties completing their steps. Fees are paid at this stage.
- Plates: the seller can often keep a special plate and the buyer receives new plates — confirm the plate options with the centre.
- Payment: release the money at the same visit, ideally by bank transfer or manager's cheque.
Fees
Expect a transfer/registration fee, an inspection fee if a test is needed, and number-plate fees if new plates are issued. In Dubai the total for a standard car is typically a few hundred dirhams; the exact amounts are published on the RTA service page and can change.
Common mistakes
- Handing over the car before the transfer — any fines, Salik or accidents in the meantime are registered to the seller.
- Paying a deposit to someone who isn't the registered owner. The name on the mulkiya must match the seller's Emirates ID.
- Forgetting the bank. A car with an active loan cannot be transferred, no matter what the seller promises.
- No written agreement. A one-page sale agreement avoids arguments about what was included.
Selling or buying through TheCars
On TheCars, private sellers' phone numbers stay hidden until they choose to share them, and our managed sale service can handle viewings, buyer checks and the paperwork for you. If you are buying, start with our used car buying checklist.
