Apply for Registering a New Vehicle
Get an Ownership Certificate for the entity registered vehicle to be able to drive it on the roads and be compliant with the provisions of the traffic law, or get a Possession Certificate for the non-registered entity vehicle. You can also register administrative, luxury and Free Zone vehicles.
Select the type of certificate
Output
Vehicle Ownership Certificate and vehicle plates, valid for 1 year
Ways to Apply
Website
- Website
- RTA Smart Apps
- Customer Happiness Centres
- Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres
Channels
Steps
To register a vehicle
- Log in using your username and password.
- Select Register New Vehicle from Vehicle Licensing Services.
- Upload the documents.
- Select the Vehicle Inspection Centre and book an appointment or go directly to the Inspection Centre to carry out the technical inspection (if your vehicle isn't inspected).
- Select the option of receiving the plates and the Ownership Certificate from the centres or through the courier service (if your vehicle is inspected).
- Pay the fees.
- Receive your payment receipt including the name of the centre where you must obtain your vehicle plates.
- Receive the Ownership Certificate and plate numbers from the service centre or through the courier service.
- Go to My Docs section on RTA Dubai App to check your licence, and add it to your Apple Wallet, if any.
To register an administrative vehicle (taxi companies)
- Log in using your username and password.
- Select Register New Vehicle from Vehicle Licensing Services.
- Select Administrative as the vehicle usage type to complete the registration process electronically.
- Upload the documents.
- Select the Vehicle Inspection Centre and book an appointment or go directly to the Inspection Centre to carry out the technical inspection (if your vehicle isn't inspected).
- Select the option of receiving the plates and the Ownership Certificate from the centres or through the courier service (if your vehicle is inspected).
- Pay the fees.
- Receive your payment receipt including the name of the centre where you must obtain your vehicle plates.
- Receive the Ownership Certificate and plate numbers from the service centre or through the courier service.
- Go to My Docs section on RTA Dubai App to check your licence, and add it to your Apple Wallet, if any.
To register a luxury vehicle to a franchise contract (luxury transport companies)
- Log in using your username and password.
- Select Register New Vehicle from Vehicle Licensing Services.
- The system automatically identifies the company activity and source. The registration procedure is completed electronically based on the vehicle type (new, used, or extended).
- Upload the documents.
- Receive the case reference number, the inspection date, and the inspection centre name from the Centralised Inspection System (CIS) through SMS and email.
- Go directly to the Inspection Centre to carry out the technical inspection (if your vehicle isn't inspected).
- If the vehicle passes the technical inspection, register the extended and used vehicles at one of the Technical Inspection Centres authorised in Dubai.
- Select the option of receiving the plates and the Ownership Certificate from the centres or through the courier service (if your vehicle is inspected).
- Pay the registration and permit fees (the Free Zone vehicle permit is free).
- Receive your payment receipt including the name of the centre where you must obtain your vehicle plates.
- Receive the Ownership Certificate and plate numbers from the service centre or through the courier service.
- Go to My Docs section on RTA Dubai App to check your licence, and add it to your Apple Wallet, if any.
Service Time
Instantly
Channels
Steps
- Log in using your username and password.
- Select Vehicle Registration from the Vehicle Licensing Services list.
- Verify your account, if needed.
- Select the ownership source.
- Select the vehicle and upload the documents (if the account isn't verified).
- Book an appointment for inspection.
- After inspection, select the vehicle plates and delivery method (service centres or delivery service).
- Review the details and proceed.
- Pay the fees.
- Receive the certificate through the selected courier method.
Service Time
Instantly
Channels
Steps
- Receive a link from the front desk employee.
- Upload the documents through the link.
- Receive the transaction code and share it with the employee.
- Check and electronically sign the application.
- Pay the fees.
- Receive your payment receipt with the list of the centres where you can obtain your vehicle plates.
- Receive the Ownership Certificate and plate numbers.
- Go to My Docs section on RTA Dubai App to check your certificate, and add it to your Apple Wallet, if any.
Service Time
Instantly
Channels
Steps
- Receive a link from the front desk employee.
- Upload the documents through the link.
- Receive the transaction code and share it with the employee.
- Check and electronically sign the application.
- Pay the fees.
- Receive your payment receipt with the list of the centres where you can obtain your vehicle plates.
- Receive the Ownership Certificate and plate numbers.
- Go to My Docs section on RTA Dubai App to check your certificate, and add it to your Apple Wallet, if any.
Service Time
Instantly
Important to Know
You Should Have
- Companies must provide an Electronic Tracking Certificate approved by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (Secure Path) for vehicles that require a Tracking Certificate.
You Should Know
- The Trade Licence must be valid for luxury transport companies and companies with a franchise contract.
- The registered vehicles must be on the list of vehicles approved for this activity.
- Luxury transport company must apply for a permit to register extended vehicles through its RTA account via the website.
- You can only complete the extended vehicle registration transaction after you submit the required bank/cash guarantees and the required number of post-dated cheques for the monthly operating fee.
- You can only register an extended vehicle if the company electronic contract is classified as an extended vehicle contract.
- The manufacturing year of the vehicle subject to registration mustn't be more than 10 years ago.
- You can transfer an extended vehicle from and to another luxury transport company even if its manufacturing year isn't the current or the one before, without the technical committee inspecting it. The average life span of the transferred vehicle is calculated based on its year of manufacturing and specifications.
- The vehicle must conform to the quality standards approved by the technical committee in the luxury vehicle inspection.
- The traveled kilometres mustn't exceed 50,000km.
- Extended vehicles are subject to inspection by the technical committee during the 8th, 9th, and 10th years of the vehicle life.
- Only taxi companies can register administrative vehicles.
- Only Sole Proprietorships and Single Member Limited Liability Companies can use the authorised signatory feature to apply for services through the RTA website.
- If the company doesn’t have a Traffic File, follow these steps:
- Go to the required service.
- Select You don’t have a Traffic File for an establishment from the login screen.
- Follow the instructions.
- The data of the company and authorised signatory are retrieved automatically from the Department of Economy and Tourism.
- The company data is verified using the UAE Pass.
- The authorised signatory is automatically added to the company authorised signatories screen.
- Required contracts according to the legal type of the entity:
- Sole Proprietorship: no Memorandum of Association required
- Service agent: no Service Agent Contract required
- Limited Liability Company: Memorandum of Association
- Single-Owner L.L.C.: Memorandum of Association
- Civil Company: Memorandum of Association
- General Partnership: Memorandum of Association
- Public Joint-Stock Company: Memorandum of Association
- Private Joint-Stock Company: Memorandum of Association.
- If the company is the Dubai branch of a parent company in another emirate, you must provide the Memorandum of Association of the parent company.
- Jebel Ali Free Zone transactions are processed at Jebel Ali centre only.
- The vehicle must pass the traffic safety test.
- Volkswagen electric vehicles manufactured in the People’s Republic of China are registered in accordance with the circular issued:
- Showrooms:
- Suspension of services (registration, change of ownership, possession, transfer, change of possession) for all vehicle sources.
- Showrooms:
- The year of manufacture of the vehicle must be the current year or the one before.
- The registration of other electric vehicles doesn't require the presence of an authorised agent in the country. Only a Certificate of Conformity from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is required.
- If the facility or company operates in the rental, public transportation, and luxury vehicles sector, a Traffic File is opened for it through the website after submitting the documents required from the Commercial Transport Activities Department.
- A luxury transport companies and companies with a franchise contract obtain an electronic registration permit linked to the company contract.
- Vehicle registration fees are AED 1,000 per vehicle under the contract (except for Free Zone vehicles).
- Fees are payable upon registering the first vehicle in the Traffic File, and they're included in the receipt of the registration transaction within the Smart Traffic and Licensing System.
- If the company is a sole proprietorship with a single owner, the person concerned or his legal representative must be present.
- In case of a used vehicle, you must provide a Transfer Certificate within the UAE or a Possession Certificate from Dubai, as well as an insurance and an electronic inspection.
- A Possession Certificate issued in another emirate can't be used to register a vehicle in Dubai.
- If the Customs Certificate is in the name of the same person, the selling agreement isn't required.
- You can register new imported vehicles through an authorised dealer for 1, 2, or 3 years if you insure the vehicle over the required period.
- If you're the first owner of the vehicle and it's new, has no mileage, and is from an authorised dealer in the country, it's exempted from the technical inspection for a period of 3 years from the year of manufacture or the year of registration (whichever comes first).
- Companies that transport passengers by rented buses can't register buses with a capacity of 14 passengers or less.
- If you own more than one company, a Traffic File must be opened for each Trade Licence, as the vehicles can't be registered by submitting the Trade Licence only.
- The letter from the company must state that you work for the company Dubai branch, and that the name on the Trade Licence of both branches is the same.
- If the vehicle is imported in the name of a person, it can be registered with the Customs Card issued from any UAE emirate.
- If the vehicle is imported by an establishment, it must be transferred to Dubai from the emirate where the establishment is located.
- Centres that have plates factories are the following:
- Al Mumayaz Vehicle Testing - Aswaaq Mizher
- Al Mumayaz Vehicle Testing - Al Barsha Mall
- Al Mutakamela Center - Al Aweer
- Al Mutakamela Center - Al Quoz
- Wasel Vehicle Testing - Al Jaddaf
- Tajdeed Vehicle Testing
- Aber Registration Vehicle Testing Centre - Seih Shuaib
- AG Cars Vehicle Testing - Al Mamzar
- Shamil Al Qusais
- Al Qusais Tasjeel
- Barsha Tasjeel
- On Sundays, Al Yalayis Vehicle Testing and Muhaisna Shamil centres only provide inspection services.
You Should Do
- Pay all traffic fines.
Eligible Categories
Companies and governmental entities
Service Requirements
I Am
Fees
| Knowledge and Innovation | 20 AED |
Total fees: --
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Credit card
- Apple Pay
Terms and Conditions
- The permit validity of the contracted vehicle (taxi, luxury, used luxury, extended, or administrative vehicle) is calculated based on the permit to which it's linked:
- Registration Permit: Valid from the issuance date of the permit, which takes effect from the start date of the contract, until the registration date of the last vehicle on the permit or the contract expiry date.
- Replacement Permit: Valid from the date of removing the vehicle from the Traffic File, until the expiration date of the contract.
- Addition Permit: Valid from the permit approval date, until the registration date of the last vehicle on it.
- The requirements and fees for the addition, registration, and replacement are applied when registering an extended vehicle according to the permit to which the vehicle will be linked on the contract.
- Luxury transport companies and companies with a franchise contract can start registering the vehicles on the electronic permit (ePermit), automatically issued once the investor approves and signs the contract, and the latter is confirmed in the Electronic Franchise System. The companies must submit the necessary bank guarantees and the required number of post-dated cheques related to the monthly operational fees before you start.
- Companies using delivery motorcycles must install 2 new gold plates bearing the number 9 (front and back), in case of registration, renewal, damage or loss of the previous plates, or change of number.
- Luxury transport companies and companies with a franchise contract obtain reserved plates specified according to the company contract type:
| Activity | Contract Type | Minimum Number of Vehicles | Plate Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transporting passengers in luxury vehicles | Luxury vehicles | 10 vehicles | L |
| Transporting passengers in luxury vehicles | Regular vehicles | 30 vehicles | |
| Transporting passengers in luxury vehicles | Extended vehicles | 10 vehicles | |
| Transporting passengers in luxury vehicles | Free Zones | (X) vehicles to operate in the Free Zone according to the contract | U |
FAQs
- Q : What are the conditions to register a heavy vehicle that exceeds 3 tonnes?
- A : The vehicle height must be 4.2m, its width 2.6m, and its length depends on the vehicle type.
- Q : Can I register a vehicle in Dubai if I'm enrolled in the army?
- A : Yes.
- Q : How many vehicles am I allowed to register?
- A : You can register an unlimited number of vehicles.
- Q : Does the vehicle insurance validity affect the validity of the vehicle registration?
- A : Yes, if the vehicle is new. Your vehicle registration can be valid for up to 3 years based on the validity of its insurance.
- Q : Which vehicles need technical inspection?
- A : If the vehicle is purchased from a private company other than the authorised dealers, and if the vehicle is imported or previously owned.
- Q : In which cases the technical test done in other emirates is accepted?
- A : It's accepted when registering or renewing vehicles.
- Q : Can I upload the results of the technical test online?
- A : RTA electronically enters the result of the test and you can't upload it online.
- Q : Can I register vehicles if I have 2 Traffic Files?
- A : Yes you can, but you must first ask RTA to merge the 2 Traffic Files into 1.
- Q : How can I print the Ownership e-Card or any other document in case I didn’t receive an email or if I want to verify the vehicle details, renewal date, and insurance details?
- A : The vehicle ownership can be printed through the smart service machines (kiosk). You can enquire about the ownership data through the website or smart application.
- Q : What details are featured on the Vehicle Licence?
- A : The Vehicle Licence features all the details related to the vehicle including the expiry date, the mortgage, and the insurance details. It's sent via email in a printable format. The insurance details are also featured on the Vehicle Ownership card or the Ownership e-card (the exact copy of the Vehicle Ownership card) accessible through RTA smart application.
- Q : How can I show the Ownership e-Card to the police patrols or officers, or the Licensing Department?
- A : You can show the Ownership e-Card featured in RTA smart applications and saved on your phone, or the printed copy of the e-card.
- Q : If I registered my phone in a wrong way, how can I request a new link?
- A : You can check your personal details though RTA Call Centre on 800 90 90 or by visiting the service centre. You can also access your personal file through the website using your UAE Pass.
- Q : How can I check the expiry date of my Vehicle Licence?
- A : You can find the vehicle expiry date on the Vehicle Licence or in the SMS sent to your registered phone number.
- Q : Can I register a right-hand drive vehicle in Dubai?
- A : No, you can't, unless it has a classical plate.
- Q: What's the process if I have a Possession Certificate and want to register the vehicle under someone else's name?
- A: You can register the vehicle directly under the buyer's name. You aren't required to transfer the possession to the buyer before registration. You must pay the selling fees (AED 50) and the buyer must pay the registration fees.
- Q: What's an extended vehicle?
- A: It's a vehicle whose body has been modified and extended to accommodate a larger number of passengers. The vehicle is 6.720m or more.
- Q : What's a Free Zone Contract?
- A : It's a contract with a transport company for luxury vehicles that has a licence issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism to transport passengers in luxury vehicles in Dubai, and another Free Zone Trade Licence to transport passengers in luxury vehicles within the Free Zone. The contract must stipulate the number of vehicles to operate within the Free Zone and the number of vehicles to operate outside the Free Zone.
- Q: What's the technical committee inspection?
- A: It's the inspection of used vehicles and the exterior of extended/used vehicles to ensure their conformity with the quality standards of the luxury vehicles.
Updated on: 13-March-2026