Selling or buying a car in Abu Dhabi? The ownership transfer itself is quick. For most private cars it’s done on TAMM in under an hour and costs around AED 370 in government fees, plus an inspection if the car is more than three years old. What slows people down is everything that has to be clear before you press submit: fines, the bank’s mortgage, and the buyer’s insurance. Get those three sorted and the transfer is the easy part.
The short version
- Transfer through TAMM (app or website, using UAE Pass) or at an Abu Dhabi Police customer service centre.
- The transfer fee for a light vehicle is AED 350, plus a small AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee.
- Cars older than three years usually need a technical inspection first, which costs around AED 170.
- All traffic fines must be paid and any bank mortgage released before the transfer can go through.
- The buyer needs insurance in their own name. The seller’s policy does not move with the car.
What you need before you start
Get this list ready and the transfer won’t stall halfway through.
From the seller
- Emirates ID (and UAE Pass if you’re doing it online)
- The vehicle registration card (Mulkiya)
- A valid technical inspection (passing) certificate, if the car needs one
- A mortgage release from the bank, if the car was financed
From the buyer
- Emirates ID and UAE Pass
- A valid UAE driving licence
- Car insurance issued in the buyer’s name for this specific vehicle
Selling through a company? You’ll also need the trade licence and an authorisation letter or power of attorney for whoever signs.
How much it costs
Government fees are low. The table below covers the costs most private sellers and buyers in Abu Dhabi will actually see.
| Item | Typical cost (AED) | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership transfer, light vehicle | 350 | Buyer |
| Knowledge and innovation fee | 20 | Buyer |
| Technical inspection (cars over 3 years old) | 170 | Seller |
| New number plates (only if plates change) | From 35 | Buyer |
| Insurance in the buyer’s name | Depends on car and cover | Buyer |
Who pays what is negotiable. The split above is simply the most common one. Agree it before the day of transfer so nobody is surprised at the payment screen.
The transfer, step by step
1. Agree the price and the paperwork
Settle the price, who pays the fees, and whether the plates stay with the car. A simple written sale agreement signed by both sides protects everyone if something comes up later.
2. Clear fines and the bank
Check the car for traffic fines on TAMM or the Abu Dhabi Police app and pay them. If the car is financed, the loan must be settled and the bank has to release the mortgage before the system will allow a transfer. That release can take a few working days, so start early. Our guide to selling a financed car in Abu Dhabi walks through it.
3. Book the inspection, if needed
Cars more than three years old usually need to pass a technical inspection at an approved centre, such as ADNOC Vehicle Inspection, Al Masaood or Auto Central. Newer cars are normally exempt. TAMM tells you which applies when you start the request. The passing certificate is only valid for a short window, so book it close to the transfer date.
4. The buyer arranges insurance
The buyer buys a policy for the car in their own name. Most insurers issue it digitally within minutes, and it links to the vehicle automatically.
5. Submit on TAMM
Log in to TAMM with UAE Pass and search for “Transfer Vehicle Ownership”. The seller starts the request and enters the buyer’s details. The buyer then approves it and pays the fees. If you’d rather do it in person, both of you can go to an Abu Dhabi Police customer service centre with the same documents.
6. Collect the new registration
Once approved, the car is registered to the buyer and both parties get a confirmation. The new Mulkiya is digital, with a printed card available by courier or at a service centre.
“In Abu Dhabi the transfer itself is the fast part. The deals that drag are the ones where a fine or a bank mortgage turns up on the day. Clear those first and most people are done in under an hour.”
Kamel Abbou, Country Manager UAE, CarSwitch
Buying from Dubai or another emirate?
If the car is registered in Dubai or Sharjah and the buyer lives in Abu Dhabi, the car has to be moved across. The seller’s emirate issues a vehicle transfer certificate, and the buyer then registers the car in Abu Dhabi. That certificate is time-limited, so plan the inspection and insurance before it’s issued. For the Dubai side of the process, see what to do at the RTA when you sell a car in Dubai.
Seller checklist after the transfer
- Cancel your insurance. Many insurers refund the unused part of the policy if there were no claims.
- Remove the car from your Darb account. Otherwise toll charges can keep landing on you. Here’s how the Darb toll system works.
- Cancel any Mawaqif residential parking permit linked to the car.
- Keep the transfer confirmation. It’s your proof of the date the car stopped being your responsibility.
Want to skip the legwork?
If you’re selling, sell your car in Abu Dhabi with CarSwitch. We inspect the car, find the buyer and guide you through the transfer. Buying instead? Browse inspected used cars in Abu Dhabi.
For a light vehicle the transfer fee is AED 350, plus a AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee. If the car is older than three years it usually needs a technical inspection, which costs around AED 170. New plates, if needed, start from AED 35.
Yes. Log in to TAMM with UAE Pass and use the Transfer Vehicle Ownership service. The seller starts the request, the buyer approves it and pays, and the new registration is issued digitally.
Cars older than three years usually need to pass a technical inspection at an approved centre before the transfer. Newer cars are normally exempt. TAMM shows whether your car needs one when you start the request.
Not until the loan is settled and the bank releases the mortgage on the vehicle. The release is sent to the licensing system electronically and can take a few working days.
There is no fixed rule. The buyer usually pays the transfer fee and the seller pays for the inspection, but both sides can agree any split before the transfer.
