Dubai Car Export 2026 Documents, Fees & Process. Exporting a car from Dubai generally involves cancelling its UAE registration through the RTA’s Cancel Vehicle Registration service, obtaining the export certificate and, where applicable, export plates, and then completing the required Dubai Customs export declaration before shipment. This guide from Bolo Asan walks through the documents, the fees, and the order you need to follow to avoid delays at the port.
In short: clear your traffic fines and any finance restriction, pass an inspection if your registration has expired or your ownership isn’t valid, apply for the RTA Export Certificate, arrange export plates if you need them, then handle Dubai Customs clearance before the vehicle leaves. The full breakdown is below.
What Is a Dubai Car Export, Exactly?
A Dubai car export is the formal process of removing a vehicle from the UAE’s traffic registration system so it can legally leave the country — whether you’re selling it overseas, relocating, or shipping it as part of a business.
This is different from temporary travel with a Carnet de Passage, where the car stays registered in the UAE and simply crosses a border for a trip. A genuine export permanently deregisters the vehicle. Once that happens, it can no longer be driven on UAE roads under its old registration, and you’ll need to surrender the original number plates.
According to RTA’s own eligibility listing, the individual export service is generally available to citizens, residents, and GCC nationals. That said, RTA’s published FAQs note some flexibility — for example, a valid Emirates ID isn’t required if your residence visa has been cancelled, in which case a passport copy can be used instead. Businesses apply through a separate corporate version of the same service, with a different document list.
When Do You Need to Export a Vehicle from Dubai?
You’ll go through the Dubai car export process if you are:
- Selling a used car to a buyer outside the UAE
- Relocating abroad and taking your vehicle with you
- Shipping a vehicle on behalf of a business, such as a used-car dealer or freight company
- Moving a car permanently to another country after it’s no longer needed in the UAE
If you’re only moving a car to another emirate rather than out of the country, that’s a different process — a standard ownership or emirate transfer, not an export.
Documents You Need for a Dubai Car Export
Requirements vary slightly for individuals and companies, but the core documents generally include:
For individuals:
- Original vehicle registration card (Mulkiya)
- Emirates ID (a passport copy can be used instead if your residence visa has been cancelled)
- Mortgage or finance clearance letter, only if the vehicle currently has a finance restriction
- Police report, only if the number plates are lost or damaged
- Existing motor insurance — if the vehicle is being exported to the same owner and is still registered, the remaining period on the current policy can be used to issue export plates, rather than needing a separate new policy
- Technical inspection, required if the vehicle is unlicensed or the ownership isn’t currently valid
For companies:
- Copy of the trade licence
- Official Arabic letter from the company authorising the export
- The freight carrier’s traffic code, or a copy of its commercial licence if none exists
- Mortgage or finance clearance letter, if applicable
You’ll also need to pay all outstanding traffic fines before RTA will process the application — this is stated as a direct requirement on RTA’s own service page. If the vehicle has an active finance restriction, that also needs to be cleared first. One detail worth knowing in advance: RTA’s current rules require the removal of window tinting films before a vehicle can be exported.
Dubai Car Export Fees in 2026
RTA publishes an exact, itemised fee schedule for this service based on vehicle type and the exact combination of services you need (certificate only, certificate with export plates, certificate with an ownership change, or all three together). For a standard private car (RTA’s “light vehicle” category), the core fees are:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Export Certificate | AED 50 |
| Knowledge & Innovation fee | AED 20 |
| Certificate only — total | AED 70 |
| Export plates (blue plates), if needed | AED 70 |
| Certificate + export plates — total | AED 140 |
| Ownership change + selling fee, if also transferring ownership | AED 350 + AED 50 |
Fees scale up for larger vehicles — a vehicle over 12 tonnes pays AED 100 for the certificate instead of AED 50, and a trailer or semi-trailer pays AED 170. A handful of other charges apply in specific situations:
- Replacing a lost or damaged Export Certificate: AED 100 + AED 20 Knowledge & Innovation fee = AED 120 total
- Chassis test for a heavy vehicle exported by an individual: AED 35
- Technical test for a heavy vehicle exported by a company: AED 130
- Opening a new traffic file, if you don’t already have one: AED 200
These figures come directly from RTA’s official Export Certificate service page, which lets you select your exact vehicle type and service combination to see the total. Since RTA can update fees at any time, it’s worth checking the live fee calculator on that page before you apply.
Separately, budget for Dubai Customs export declaration and clearance fees, shipping costs, and any import duties charged by the destination country — these sit outside the RTA process entirely and depend on your shipping method, destination, and the type of customs declaration filed. Destination-country import duties and taxes are a matter for that country’s rules, not RTA or Dubai Customs charges.
Step-by-Step: The Dubai Car Export Process
- Pay all outstanding traffic fines and clear any active finance restriction on the vehicle. RTA lists this as a direct requirement before the application can proceed.
- Pass an inspection, if needed. A chassis inspection applies mainly if the vehicle is unlicensed or its ownership isn’t currently valid. A licensed vehicle with valid ownership generally doesn’t need one just for export.
- Apply for the Export Certificate. You can do this through the RTA website, the RTA Dubai smart app, Dubai Now, or in person at a Customer Happiness Centre or an approved vehicle testing centre such as Tasjeel, Shamil, Wasel, Al Mutakamela, or Mumayaz. Log in with UAE Pass or your account, select the vehicle, choose “Export Outside UAE,” and specify your exporting method (via a shipping agent, or by driving the vehicle out yourself).
- Decide what happens to your plates. You can choose to return them to RTA or reserve them for future use, and separately request export plates if you plan to drive the vehicle out of the country.
- Pay the applicable fees online by credit card, DubaiPay, or eWallet, or in person by cash or card.
- Hand over your original plates and collect your export plates, if requested, either at the centre or via delivery. RTA gives you 14 days from the online application and payment to hand over the plates — miss that window and the transaction is cancelled with no refund.
- Receive your certificate electronically by SMS and email, and from your dashboard on the RTA website.
- Complete Dubai Customs clearance. Submit the export declaration together with your Export Certificate and ownership documents to Dubai Customs, generally coordinated through your shipping agent; customs officials verify the chassis and engine numbers as part of this step.
- Hand the vehicle to your shipping agent for the final leg — typically roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping for standard cars, or container shipping for high-value or classic vehicles.
RTA describes the certificate service itself as instant once your documents and payment are in order — the time-consuming parts are usually gathering documents beforehand and completing customs and shipping arrangements afterward.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
The RTA side of a Dubai car export — paying fines, getting the certificate, and arranging export plates — is generally instant once your documents and payment are submitted correctly. Add extra time if a chassis inspection is required first, or if you need to gather documents like a mortgage clearance letter.
The certificate and any export plates carry validity conditions that RTA sets at the point of issue, and these can differ by situation — for example, RTA’s own FAQs reference a certificate valid for 7 days in at least one scenario, with a chassis test required to proceed if it lapses. Rather than assuming a fixed number applies to your case, check the exact expiry shown on your certificate and plates when they’re issued, and time your shipping to fit that window. Separately, remember the 14-day rule for handing over your old plates after paying online — missing it cancels the transaction with no refund.
The full timeline, including customs clearance and the sea voyage, commonly runs from about one to a few weeks on the UAE side, plus shipping transit time that depends entirely on the destination country.
Choosing a Shipping Method
Two shipping methods are typically used for vehicles exported from Dubai’s ports, most commonly Jebel Ali:
- Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) — the car is driven directly onto the vessel. This is generally the more affordable option and is widely used for standard, running vehicles.
- Container shipping — the car is loaded into a sealed container. This costs more but offers greater protection, and is often the preferred choice for high-value, classic, or luxury vehicles.
Air freight is technically possible but rarely used for personal vehicle exports, mainly because of the higher cost.
What to Check Before You Ship
A few details are easy to overlook but can cause real delays at the destination port:
- VIN accuracy. Make sure the vehicle identification number on the export certificate matches the chassis, engine bay, and dashboard exactly. Even a small mismatch can lead to the car being held at the destination.
- Destination-country rules. Some countries restrict vehicle age, emissions standards, or steering position (left-hand vs. right-hand drive), and some require a pre-approved inspection agency’s report before arrival. Check these requirements well before booking shipping.
- Export plate expiry. Export plates remain subject to UAE traffic law and its fines and penalties, so don’t let them lapse before the car physically leaves the country.
- Certificate and plate handover timing. Check the exact expiry RTA shows when your certificate and plates are issued, and remember you have 14 days from your online application and payment to hand over your original plates, or the transaction is cancelled.
- Window tinting. RTA’s current rules require tinting films to be removed before a vehicle is exported, so factor this in if your car is tinted.
FAQs
Can I export a car from Dubai if I’m not a UAE resident?
RTA’s individual export service is generally listed as available to citizens, residents, and GCC nationals. That said, RTA’s own FAQs note some flexibility — a valid Emirates ID isn’t required if your residence visa has been cancelled, since a passport copy can be used instead. Requirements can vary by situation, so it’s worth confirming your specific eligibility with RTA.
Do I need a technical inspection to export my car?
Only in certain cases — mainly if the vehicle is unlicensed or its ownership isn’t currently valid. A licensed vehicle with valid ownership generally doesn’t need a chassis inspection purely for export, though this can vary, so it’s worth confirming with RTA for your specific vehicle.
How long are export plates and the certificate valid?
RTA sets validity conditions at the point of issue, and these can differ by case rather than following one fixed rule. Check the expiry shown on your certificate and plates when you receive them, and note separately that you have 14 days from your online application and payment to hand over your original plates, or the transaction is cancelled.
Does Dubai charge tax on vehicle exports?
The RTA and Dubai Customs charges covered in this guide are service and clearance fees, not an export tax. Any import duties or taxes are set by the destination country under its own rules, separate from UAE charges.
Can I export a financed vehicle?
Only after clearing the finance restriction. You’ll need a mortgage or bank clearance letter confirming there’s no outstanding balance before RTA will process the export.
What happens if my export certificate expires before the car ships?
Based on RTA’s own FAQs, at least one scenario requires a chassis test to proceed if the certificate lapses, rather than a straightforward reapplication. The exact outcome can depend on your situation, so check directly with RTA if your certificate is close to expiring.
Disclaimer
Bolo Asan is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Customs, or any other UAE government body, bank, or shipping authority. The information in this article reflects publicly available information at the time of writing and is intended for general informational purposes only. Fees, document requirements, validity periods, and procedures are set by the RTA and Dubai Customs and are subject to change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with the RTA, Dubai Customs, or a licensed shipping agent before proceeding with a vehicle export. This article is not a substitute for professional legal, customs, or shipping advice.
Last Updated: August 28, 2026
