Transferring vehicle ownership in the UAE costs AED 350 for a private light vehicle in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, plus AED 170 for inspection if the car is older than 3 years. In Abu Dhabi, the whole thing can be done online through the TAMM portal with a UAE Pass login, or in person at Muroor (Sunday to Thursday, 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM). Dubai runs through the RTA and still requires both parties to show up in person at a testing or typing centre.
Buying or selling a car in the UAE adds one task before the keys change hands: the ownership transfer. Skip it and the seller stays legally responsible for fines, accidents, and renewals, while the buyer can't legally drive the car. Done right, the whole process takes under an hour.
This covers documents, fees, the TAMM online steps for Abu Dhabi, Muroor timings and locations, the RTA process in Dubai, approved centres in both emirates, and the mistakes that send people home empty-handed.
Vehicle ownership transfer fees in UAE (2026)
Abu Dhabi transfer fees
| Vehicle type | Usage | Fee (AED) |
| Light vehicle (private car) | Private | 350 |
| Light vehicle | Public/Taxi | 350 |
| Motorcycle | Private | 200 |
| Motorcycle | Public | 400 |
| Bus (14–26 passengers) | Private | 300 |
| Bus (14–26 passengers) | Public | 400 |
| Bus (more than 26 passengers) | Private | 600 |
| Vehicle (3–12 tons) | Private | 400 |
| Vehicle (3–12 tons) | Public | 650 |
| Vehicle (more than 12 tons) | Private | 800 |
| Vehicle (more than 12 tons) | Public | 1,000 |
| Heavy mechanical device | Private | 800 |
| Heavy mechanical device | Public | 1,000 |
| Light mechanical device | Private | 500 |
| Light mechanical device | Public | 700 |
| Trailer / semi-trailer | Private | 120 |
| Trailer / semi-trailer | Public | 220 |
On top of the base fee, count on AED 170 for the vehicle inspection, AED 20 for the Knowledge and Innovation fee, and AED 120–200 for a plate transfer if that applies.
Dubai RTA transfer fees
| Item | Cost (AED) |
| Ownership transfer fee | 350 |
| Knowledge and Innovation fee | 20 |
| Vehicle inspection (cars over 3 years) | 110-150 |
| Number plate (if new plates requested) | 35 per plate |
| Registration renewal (if due at the same time) | 290 (under 10 years) |
For a standard Dubai transfer with no complications, the total usually lands between AED 370 and AED 420, not counting inspection.
How to transfer vehicle ownership in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi vehicle ownership transfers run through the Abu Dhabi Police via two channels: the TAMM portal online, and the Muroor Traffic Department in person.
Who can initiate the transfer?
Both individuals and companies can transfer ownership. The current registered owner starts the process, whether that's a private individual or a business. Both buyer and seller need to be present, or either party can send someone with a notarised Power of Attorney (POA).
Documents required in Abu Dhabi
For individuals, both buyer and seller need:
- Emirates ID (original — copies are rejected)
- Original Vehicle Registration Card (Mulkiya)
- Vehicle inspection passing certificate, dated within the last 30 days
- Valid car insurance in the buyer's name — this must be sorted before you arrive, not on the day
- Signed sale agreement
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the bank, if the car is financed
For company transfers, add a trade licence with authorised signatory, company stamp and No Objection Letter, and a mortgage release letter if the vehicle is mortgaged.
One thing sellers often miss: your insurance policy needs to be valid for at least 13 months at the time of transfer. The buyer's insurance needs to be in their own name before the transfer kicks off. Most UAE insurers issue same day certificates, so this isn't as painful as it sounds.
Online vehicle ownership transfer in Abu Dhabi via TAMM
The TAMM portal at tamm.abudhabi lets you complete the Abu Dhabi vehicle ownership transfer entirely online, no Muroor queue needed, as long as the vehicle inspection is already done.
- Pay any outstanding fines on the Abu Dhabi Police website (es.adpolice.gov.ae) or the TAMM app. Unpaid fines are a hard block — the system will not move forward with them.
- Take the car to an ADNOC-approved or Abu Dhabi Police-authorised inspection centre. The certificate is valid for 30 days. Cars under 3 years old are typically exempt.
- The buyer arranges insurance in their own name before starting. A licensed UAE insurer — Shory included — can issue a certificate immediately.
- If the buyer is keeping the same plate number, both parties need to sign a digital service agreement through the TAMM app first. Open the app, search "digital service agreement," pick the duration, and sign via UAE Pass. Skip this step and TAMM will reject the transfer request.
- Log in to tamm.abudhabi with UAE Pass. Go to Drive and Transport, then Manage Personal Vehicle, then Transfer Vehicle Ownership. Click Start Service, enter the buyer's traffic file number, fill in vehicle and personal details, upload documents if prompted, verify with the OTP, and pay online.
- Once approved, the new Mulkiya is issued in the buyer's name. The digital version appears in the TAMM app straight away; the physical card is posted to the registered address.
In-person vehicle ownership transfer at Muroor, Abu Dhabi
If you'd rather handle it in person, or the online system flags documents for verification, head to the Abu Dhabi Traffic Department.
Muroor Abu Dhabi timings: Sunday to Thursday, 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Phone: 800-3333.
The main Traffic Department is on Al Muroor Road, Abu Dhabi. Additional approved registration and transfer centres can be found through the TAMM portal's service locator.
Muroor does not take appointments for standard ownership transfers in most cases. Arrive by 8 AM — queues build up fast after 9 and the department closes at 2:30 PM, which leaves less room than it looks like on paper.
The in-person process: both buyer and seller show up with Emirates IDs, hand in all documents, an officer checks the inspection certificate and insurance, you fill in the application at the counter, pay at the cashier (cash and card both work), and collect the new Mulkiya — usually on the same day within the working session.
How to transfer vehicle ownership in Dubai
In Dubai, vehicle ownership transfers go through the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The process differs from Abu Dhabi in one important way: as of July 2026, the final transfer still needs both parties physically present. You can't do it fully online.
Documents required in Dubai
The seller needs to bring: original Emirates ID, original Mulkiya, valid car insurance in their own name, and confirmation that all traffic fines are cleared.
The buyer needs: original Emirates ID, valid UAE driving licence, car insurance in the buyer's name (arranged before arriving, not after), and payment for the RTA fees.
If one party genuinely can't attend, a notarised Power of Attorney works — the authorised person brings the POA, their own Emirates ID, and all documents for whoever is absent.
If the vehicle is financed, the seller also needs a bank clearance letter (NOC) before the transfer date. Banks can take 3 to 5 days to issue one. Don't leave this to the last minute.
How the RTA ownership transfer works in Dubai
Step 1 is on the seller: clear all outstanding traffic fines before the transfer date, not on it. You can check on the RTA app, the Dubai Police app at dubaipolice.gov.ae, or at any RTA customer service centre. The RTA system blocks transfers with outstanding fines automatically. This is the single most common reason transfers fall apart on the day.
Step 2 is on the buyer: get car insurance in your own name before arriving. Third-party is the legal minimum, but comprehensive cover is worth considering for a used car. Most UAE insurers issue same day policies. Show up without this and the RTA will send you home.
Step 3 applies to cars over 3 years old without a current valid inspection sticker: both parties visit an approved RTA testing centre before the ownership transfer. The inspection takes 30 to 45 minutes. If the car already has a valid sticker, skip this.
Approved RTA vehicle testing centres in Dubai include Tasjeel (Al Qusais, Al Barsha, Umm Ramool), Shamil in Al Quoz, Wasel at various locations, Mumayaz across Dubai, and selected EPPCO and ENOC stations.
Step 4: both parties attend a typing centre or RTA Customer Happiness Centre together. Typing centres are generally faster because they handle the paperwork submission on your behalf. With everything in order, expect 30 to 45 minutes from arrival to new Mulkiya.
Step 5: pay the fees, collect the new registration card. Old plates stay with the vehicle unless the buyer specifically wants new ones, which costs an extra AED 35 per plate.
Can you transfer car ownership online in Dubai?
Partly. You can pay fines, pre-book appointments, and do some preliminary steps through the Dubai Drive app and rta.ae. But the final transfer still requires physical attendance for document verification. The RTA has signalled this may change — check official RTA channels for updates.
Transferring a vehicle between Abu Dhabi and Dubai
If the car is registered in Abu Dhabi but the buyer is in Dubai (or vice versa), it's a cross-emirate transfer and it takes longer than a standard same-emirate one.
For an Abu Dhabi-registered car moving to Dubai: clear all Abu Dhabi fines first, get an inspection passing report from an Abu Dhabi-approved centre, settle any finance and get the bank clearance letter, arrange insurance in the buyer's name, then visit an RTA licensing centre or Dubai Police headquarters with the full document set.
The RTA coordinates with Abu Dhabi's traffic authority records in the background. The whole process usually takes 2 to 5 working days once you've submitted everything.
Why ownership transfers fail on the day
These are the actual reasons people make a wasted trip. None of them are complicated to avoid. They just need to be thought about in advance, not on the day.
Unpaid fines are the most common. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai systems block transfers automatically if fines are outstanding. The seller should check before booking the transfer date, not the morning of.
Photocopies instead of originals. Both the Mulkiya and Emirates ID must be originals. Copies are not accepted at Muroor or RTA centres. No exceptions.
Insurance in the wrong name. The certificate needs to be in the buyer's name when you arrive. The seller's existing policy won't do it, even if it's still valid.
An expired inspection certificate. If the certificate is over 30 days old, or the vehicle failed inspection, nothing moves until a passing certificate is obtained.
Outstanding finance. A financed vehicle has a bank hold on it. The seller needs the bank's clearance letter (NOC) before the transfer — this takes time to organise, sometimes several days.
Missing the digital service agreement on TAMM. For Abu Dhabi online transfers where the buyer wants to keep the same plate, skipping the digital service agreement step causes the TAMM system to reject the request. It's a minor step that's easy to overlook and frustrating to redo.
Neither party available in person. A notarised POA needs to be prepared in advance through a notary public, not written up on the day. If one party is abroad, the POA goes through the UAE Embassy in their country.
Car insurance and the ownership transfer
There's an ordering problem that catches people off guard: the buyer needs insurance before the transfer, but technically only becomes the owner after it.
The way around it: the buyer arranges a UAE car insurance policy effective from the transfer date, listing themselves as the registered owner and using the car's chassis number. Most UAE insurers accept this without issue.
Once the transfer is done, the seller's existing policy gets cancelled. The seller should contact their insurer directly — unused premium is usually refunded on a pro rata basis.
Shory issues car insurance certificates that can be active within minutes. The digital certificate is accepted by both Abu Dhabi and Dubai traffic authorities. If you're heading to Muroor or an RTA centre and need cover arranged quickly, that's the fastest route.
Things that actually help
In Abu Dhabi, use the TAMM online process if the inspection is done and insurance is sorted. It removes the Muroor queue entirely.
In Dubai, go to a typing centre rather than straight to an RTA Customer Happiness Centre. Typing centres process transfers faster and handle the paperwork on your behalf.
Pay any fines at least 24 hours before your transfer date. Fine payments take time to clear in both systems — showing up the same day the fine was paid can still result in a rejection.
Cars under 3 years old are generally exempt from vehicle inspection in both emirates.
If the car is financed, ask the bank for the NOC as early as possible. Some banks charge a fee, and processing takes 3 to 5 working days. Don't assume it'll be ready quickly.
At Muroor in Abu Dhabi, arriving before 9 AM makes a real difference. The afternoon rush is what it sounds like.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai vehicle transfer at a glance
| Abu Dhabi | Dubai | |
| Authority | Abu Dhabi Police / TAMM | RTA |
| Online transfer | Fully online via TAMM | Partial (final step in person) |
| In-person location | Muroor / approved centres | RTA centres, typing centres |
| In-person timings | Sun–Thu, 7:30 AM–2:30 PM | Varies by centre (most 8 AM–8 PM) |
| Phone | 800-3333 | 800-9090 |
| Light vehicle fee | AED 350 | AED 350 |
| Inspection fee | AED 170 | AED 110–150 |
| Online portal | tamm.abudhabi | rta.ae / Dubai Drive app |
The most common delay is the buyer arriving at the counter without a valid insurance certificate in their name. Shory issues policies in under 3 minutes — the digital certificate is accepted at Muroor and any RTA centre across the UAE.
