Apply for Purchasing a Special Plate Number
Purchase and enquire about available special plate numbers (displayed on the traffic system and on RTA website, or auction special plate numbers). You can also apply to participate in open plate auctions (hall auctions) and online plate auctions.
Select the service
Output
Participation in an open plate auction (hall auction) and an online plate auction
Ways to Apply
Website
- Website
- Customer Happiness Centres
Channels
Steps
- Log in using your username and password, or UAE Pass.
- Select Subscribe to Auction from Plate Services .
- Check the details of the auction.
- Click Register .
- Agree to the terms and conditions after reading them.
- Pay the insurance and participation fees.
- Start bidding on numbers of your choice.
- Pay the fees by credit card or manager's cheque.
- Receive the Plate Ownership Certificate and receipts electronically by email and SMS.
- If you deposited a cheque to participate in the auction, you must go to the centre where it was deposited to retrieve it. If you paid the insurance by credit card, the amount will be refunded to the card within 40 working days.
Service Time
Instantly
Channels
Steps
- Submit the documents.
- Deposit the security and the participation fees.
- Receive the payment receipt to access the hall auction or continue the process to access the electronic auction.
- The auction starts.
- If you don't return the bid paddle at the end of the auction, an amount of 500 AED is deducted from the security fees.
Service Time
Instantly
Important to Know
You Should Have
- You must have a valid UAE Traffic File to apply for this service.
You Should Know
- You can only bid using the RTA website.
- The participation fee amounting of AED 120 is non-refundable.
- If you don't pay the plate number fees after receiving the approval, you're considered uncommitted and must submit a security cheque of AED 5,000 to be settled in 3 successive payments when you submit a new application.
- You must pay the number fees within 10 working days of receiving the approval.
- If the value of the plate number exceeds AED 50,000, you can only pay by manager's cheque or credit card.
- If the value of the plate number doesn't exceed AED 10,000, you must pay by manager's cheque or credit card + a cash amount of AED 120 for each plate number.
- If the price of the desired plate exceeds AED 35,000 and you qualify as a committed customer, you don't have to submit a security cheque.
- If you failed to pay the price of a number the first time you purchased one and you were listed as an uncommitted customer, you must submit a security cheque.
- You can receive the security cheque back after paying the plate number fees.
- If you win the bidding, you must head to one of the service centres within 10 working days after the end of the auction.
- If you don't return the bid paddle at the end of the auction, AED 500 is deducted from the security fees.
- You or your legal representative must be present in person at the auction.
- If you don't have a Traffic File in Dubai, you must meet one of the below conditions to open a file and proceed with the transaction:
- You must have a Tenancy Contract or own a property in Dubai.
- You must be an investor in Dubai.
- You must be employed at a company that has a branch in Dubai.
- You must be an owner of a special plate number purchased before 2007.
Eligible Categories
Citizens, residents, and diplomats
Service Requirements
- Receipt of the security fees deposited when participating in the auction
Fees
Select the Auction Type
Payment Methods
- Credit or debit card
- Manager's cheque
Terms and Conditions
- If no numbers are bought in the auction, the insurance fees must be retrieved from Customer Happiness Centre - Umm Ramool.
- If no payment is made during the specified period, the insurance fees are confiscated and you're listed as uncommitted and banned from participating in auctions for one year starting the date of your listing. You're also banned from all plate related services with the exception of transferring plate ownership to another person.
- If the auction regulations and procedures are violated, the insurance fees will be confiscated.
- If the deposit is a cheque, refer to the Customer Happiness Centre - Umm Ramool the following day after the auction or during a maximum period of 6 months or else the cheque will be destroyed.
- The plate can only be printed for use on the vehicle.
- If the residence visa is issued in another emirate, you can't register the purchased number on a vehicle.
- If the number Ownership Certificate is lost, the replacement certificate isn't needed to register the number on a vehicle.
FAQs
- Q : Can I keep the insurance fees to use for another auction?
- A : No, each auction requires different insurance fees. This applies to customers who paid by cash, cheque, or credit card.
- Q : How can I pay using a manager's cheque?
- A : You must address the manager's cheque to RTA and add the payment date on it.
- Q : In which centres can I pay the insurance fees by manager's cheque?
- A : Customer Happiness Centres Deira, Umm Ramool, and Al Barsha.
- Q : What's the maximum number of plates I can buy during an auction?
- A : You can buy an unlimited number of plates.
- Q : What's the lowest starting bid amount in an open auction?
- A : The minimum amount is AED 1,000.
- Q : When does the auction end?
- A : Auction times or dates are subject to change based on operational requirements and internal approvals. Auctions are typically announced a week before their scheduled launch.
- Q : How do I know that I won a plate number?
- A : You receive an SMS at the end of the auction.
- Q : Can I still participate in an auction if it has already started?
- A : Yes.
- Q : If I have pending fines on my Traffic File, can I still pay the plate fees and receive its Ownership Certificate?
- A : Yes.
- Q : Can I pay the insurance fees with a manager's cheque not issued in my name?
- A : No, the manager's cheque must be issued in your name and must have the payment date.
- Q : What's the maximum amount of money I can pay with a credit card?
- A : The maximum amount you can pay with a credit card is AED 50,000, except for 3-digit plates where it reaches AED 150,000.
- Q : How can I receive the plates to register my vehicle?
- A : Head to the Customer Happiness Centre - Deira, or one of the following Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres where plates factories are available:
| Region | Centre Name | Location Map |
|---|---|---|
| Aswaaq Mizher | Al Mumayaz Vehicle Testing | Itinerary Details |
| Al Barsha Mall | Al Mumayaz Vehicle Testing | Itinerary Details |
| Al Jaddaf | Wasel Vehicle Testing | Itinerary Details |
| Al Ruwayyah 3 | Tajdeed Vehicle Testing | Itinerary Details |
| Al Aweer | Al Mutakamela Center | Itinerary Details |
| Al Qusais | Tasjeel | Itinerary Details |
| Barsha | Tasjeel | Itinerary Details |
| Al Qusais | Shamil | Itinerary Details |
| Al Quoz | Al Mutakamela Center | Itinerary Details |
| Al Mamzar | AG Cars Vehicle Testing | Itinerary Details |
| Seih Shuaib | Aber Registration Vehicle Testing Centre | Itinerary Details |
Updated on: 05-January-2026