A Comprehensive Guide to Transferring Car Ownership Between Emirates

To transfer car ownership between Emirates in the UAE:

• The seller must clear all traffic fines or mortgages on the vehicle
• Obtain the vehicle’s transfer certificate (often called a transfer letter)
• Transport the car physically after completing the vehicle inspection
• Register in the new Emirate

Which Authority Handles Each Emirate

Emirate	Handling Authority	Portal
Dubai	Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)	rta.ae
Abu Dhabi	TAMM Abu Dhabi	tamm.abudhabi
Sharjah	Sharjah Police Traffic Department (via EVG)	evg.ae
Ras Al Khaimah	RAK Police Traffic Department (via EVG)	evg.ae

Documents Required To Transfer Vehicle Ownership Within Emirates

For a successful transfer of automobile ownership, both the current owner and the buyer should have certain documents.

Seller’s Documents Required:

• Original Emirates ID
• Mulkiya (the original vehicle registration card)
• Original and a copy of passport with residence visa
• In the case of a car loan, the final loan payment confirmation

Buyer’s Documents Required:

• Emirates ID
• Original and a copy of UAE driving license
• Original and a copy of passport with a valid residence visa 
• Original insurance certificate

Process Of Transferring Vehicle’s Ownership Inter-Emirates

Phase 1: Pre-Transfer Requirements

Before visiting any traffic department, the buyer and seller must complete three mandatory steps.

1. Vehicle Technical Inspection

The car must pass a safety test so it proves it is roadworthy.

• Where to go: Take the car to an authorized testing center in the vehicle’s current emirate (e.g., Tasjeel or Shamil in Dubai, or a TAMM-approved center in Abu Dhabi).
• What you get: A Vehicle Passing Certificate.
• Validity: The certificate is valid for exactly 30 days.

2. Clearing Fines and Salik/Darbi Accounts

Outstanding Traffic Fines Payment

If you want to have a smooth transfer, the seller should clear all Salik and traffic fines before handing the car over to the other party.

But, the process may vary depending on the Emirate the car is currently registered in: 

• The Dubai Police traffic fines payment portal or the RTA website for any fines issued in Dubai, or Salik fees.
•  Abu Dhabi Police portal for fines issued in Abu Dhabi 
• Sharjah Road and Transport Authority will collect the fines registered in Sharjah
• If the fine is issued in any other Emirate, visit the Ministry of Interior website 

3. Bank Loan Clearance (Mortgage Release)

If the car was purchased on finance, it cannot be sold until the loan is fully paid.

• The Process: The seller must clear the outstanding loan with their bank.
• The System: Then, the bank will send an electronic “Mortgage Release” directly to the traffic department’s system. This can take 24 to 48 hours to reflect.

Phase 2: The Ownership Transfer & Deregistration

Once the prep work is complete, both the buyer and seller must physically meet at the traffic authority center in the car’s currently registered emirate (for instance, an RTA center if the car is registered in Dubai).

Required Documents Checklist

• Seller: Original Emirates ID, original Mulkiya (registration card).
• Buyer: Original Emirates ID, valid UAE Driving License, Passport & Visa copy (sometimes requested for first-time buyers).

Step-by-Step Vehicle Ownership Process:

1. Submit Request: Approach the counter and state that you want to perform an Inter-Emirate Ownership Transfer.
2. Sign Agreement: Both parties sign the official sales contract generated by the traffic authority.
3. Plate Removal: The traffic authority will officially deregister the vehicle from that emirate and physically remove the old license plates.
4. Export Certificate: The authority will issue an Inter-Emirate Vehicle Export Certificate printed under the buyer’s name.

At this point, the seller’s responsibility is legally finished, and the car belongs entirely to the buyer.

Phase 3: Moving the Plate-Less Vehicle

Because the license plates were removed at the counter, the car is no longer road-legal and cannot be driven on public roads. The buyer must choose one of two strict methods to transport the vehicle to their home emirate.

Option A: The Recovery Truck (Most Popular & Easiest)

• How it works: You hire a private flatbed towing service (recovery truck) to load the car and drive it across the emirate border.
• Destination: Have the driver drop the car off directly at the vehicle registration center in your home emirate.
• Estimated Cost: Between AED 250 and AED 500 depending on the distance between emirates.

Option B: Blue Export Plates

• How it works: If you prefer to drive the car yourself, you must request Temporary Blue Export Plates at the counter during Phase 2.
• Requirement: You must buy a short-term, temporary “Export Insurance” policy at the center to cover the drive.
• Execution: Attach the blue plates, drive the car directly to your home emirate, and return the plates during final registration.

Phase 4: Final Registration at the Destination Emirate

The buyer must now open a traffic file and permanently register the vehicle in their home emirate (where their visa is issued or where they reside).

1. Purchase a New Insurance Policy

You cannot register a vehicle without insurance.

• Action: Purchase a new, full 13-month insurance policy in your name.
• Detail: Give the insurance provider the Chassis Number listed on your new Vehicle Export Certificate. The policy must be registered to your home emirate.

2. Visit the Local Traffic Authority

Go to the traffic center in your home emirate (e.g., an RTA center if you live in Dubai, or a TAMM/Muroor center if you live in Abu Dhabi).

• Present the Vehicle Export Certificate, your New Insurance Policy, Emirates ID, and Driving License.
• Pay fees.
• Collect new Mulkiya (registration card).
• Get new License Plate.

Estimated Inter-Emirate Ownership Transfer Costs (2026)

Expense Item	Estimated Cost Range (AED)	📝 Official Verification & 2026 Proof
Vehicle Technical Testing	AED 150 – AED 220	The core Tasjeel Vehicle Testing fee is AED 120–170 for private light vehicles, scale-adjusted by minor site administration and tech-pass filing fees.
Export Certificate & Transfer	AED 400 – AED 600	Consists of the standard AED 350 RTA Light Vehicle Transfer Fee, an AED 50 selling agreement fee, and an AED 100–120 Inter-Emirate Export/Transfer Certificate.
Recovery Truck / Towing	AED 250 – AED 500	Industry data tracks local cross-city hauling (e.g., Sharjah to Dubai) at AED 300–350, scaling up closer to AED 500+ for longer hauls like Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
New Registration & Plates	AED 400 – AED 500	New registration files for light vehicles on the TAMM Platform run exactly AED 400, with an additional AED 35–70 applied for new standard physical plates.
Car Insurance	Varies by Profile	Under UAE central regulations, 13-month comprehensive premiums remain strictly calculated based on the car’s driver history and total book valuation.

So, the total estimated cost of transferring ownership of a vehicle from one Emirate to another Emirate in the UAE is from AED 1,200–1,800(weight and distance dependent).

FAQs

Real-Life Scenarios: Uncommon Car Transfer Situations

My mum’s car is Abu Dhabi-registered and her visa is expiring while she’s abroad. Can I still transfer it into my name and keep the plate?

Yes to the plate. Abu Dhabi plates stay with the car wherever the new owner lives, so you can keep them even if you’re based in Dubai.

The visa timing is the real constraint: if a Power of Attorney is arranged and notarized before her visa expires, a representative here can complete the transfer on her behalf.

If the visa expires first, the process becomes significantly harder because RTA/TAMM generally require the seller to hold valid residency status, so this is worth resolving in the next few days, not weeks.

I’m buying a Fujairah-registered car, but I have an Abu Dhabi visa. What actually happens with the plates and insurance, and can I do this online?

You’ll need new plates, keeping the Fujairah plates isn’t an option once the car is re-registered in Abu Dhabi, since each emirate issues its own plates and they don’t carry over.

Insurance, Salik, and Darb accounts also don’t transfer automatically; the buyer has to set up fresh accounts under their own name rather than inherit the seller’s.

A vehicle test is required as part of the transfer, and both buyer and seller need to be physically present unless one of them has arranged a Power of Attorney. Part of the process can be started online, but final registration still requires an in-person visit to a service center.

Can I complete the export and transfer of an Abu Dhabi car in Dubai or Sharjah instead, and where do I sort out mortgage clearance?

No, the export and deregistration must happen in the emirate where the car is currently registered, so this has to be done in Abu Dhabi, not Dubai or Sharjah.

For the mortgage clearance letter, since it’s only valid for a short window, confirm directly with TAMM or your bank on where and how to submit it rather than assuming.

Banks increasingly send clearance electronically to the traffic authority, but the exact process can vary, and this isn’t worth guessing on given the tight deadline.

Can I put a number plate I bought in Fujairah onto my Dubai-registered car?

No, the number plates are tied to the emirate that issued them, and Fujairah’s plate system isn’t interchangeable with Dubai’s RTA system.

To use that specific plate, the car itself would need to be registered in Fujairah, not Dubai. If you have already purchased the plate, contact Fujairah’s traffic authority directly to confirm whether it can be held for a future vehicle registered there.

The car owner is abroad and can’t return immediately but is willing to provide an NOC. Can the ownership transfer still go through?

Yes, as long as the owner’s visa hasn’t expired, a Power of Attorney is the standard route.

The owner has the POA notarized in their current country and attested through the UAE embassy or consulate there.

Then a trusted representative in the UAE can use it to complete the transfer at TAMM, including signing paperwork and handling the NOC.

The buyer still needs to be present in person with their own documents.

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