Transfer Car Ownership & Registration from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi

The purchase and sale of cars in the UAE is an ongoing process. Of course, it may come to pass that an individual might find it more sensible to purchase a used vehicle in the UAE, instead of going through the hassles of buying a new vehicle all over. This may be due to several reasons. They may be looking for a backup vehicle, or their priority might be to save up on their budget. Whether it is a friend or an acquaintance, in case you wish to go for a pre-owned car, it will save you a lot of dirhams in the process. Not to mention, the process of buying a second-hand car has been simplified further in today’s day and age. With the prevalent use of social media, all you need to do is ask for a photograph online of the vehicle that you are interested in, and you may reach out to the owner of the concerned vehicle to initiate negotiations.

Transferring Car Ownership – Inter Emirates

Buying a second-hand car in the UAE requires the new and the current owners of the car to complete a transfer of registration documents of the car. The official papers including the license plate of the car are registered in the name of the new owner. While the process of transfer of registration of cars is easy, you may have to cover a few additional steps when transferring the ownership from one emirate to the other. Provided below is a discussion of the process that has to be followed, as well as the additional details for transferring a car registration, specifically from the Emirate of Sharjah to that of Abu Dhabi. 

Prerequisites to Initiate Car Ownership & Registration Transfer from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi

Clearing Existing Dues and Fines

The principal condition that needs to be satisfied for the transfer to take place smoothly is that all the outstanding Salik, as well as traffic fines on the vehicle, need to be cleared. A transfer of registration procedure is not allowed to proceed without having these dues cleared. This responsibility falls to the current owner of the car. This can be done on the website of the Emirates Vehicle Gate if the current owner is a resident of Abu Dhabi. The online website and mobile app of the Abu Dhabi Police Ministry of Interior and TAMM can also be used for fine payments in Abu Dhabi.

Alternatively, within the premises of the Sharjah City Municipality, the fines might be paid off at four physical locations, which include the Sharjah Municipality headquarters, the Public Parking department building in Industrial Area 5, the Sharjah City Municipality Center in Al Khalidiya, and Tasjeel Village on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. For miscellaneous traffic violations, the current owner might also login to the Sharjah Police Headquarters website to take care of these issues. Finally, there is always the option to check the applicable traffic fines, as well as clear them through the Emirates Vehicle Gate website.

Payment for the Process of Car Registration Transfer

The burden is upon the buyer, or the new owner to settle all the charges that shall be incurred in the process of handling the transfer, as well as transportation. For the purchase of new number plates in Abu Dhabi, the cost may vary from AED 35 to AED 500. The buyer needs to pay up to AED 400 per vehicle regarding the transfer fees. An additional fee for innovation requirements amounting to AED 20 may be applicable.

What is the Process of Transfer Vehicle Ownership from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi ?

There are two ways of effectively transferring car ownership in the UAE, from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi:

Transferring only the ownership of the car:

It may sometimes be the case that the prospective car buyer does not have the time, or the intention, to come to the Tasjeel centre. Tasjeel is a commercial partnership between the Dubai Police, and the Emirates National Oil Company, which seeks to provide vehicle testing and registration services not just in Dubai, but across the span of the United Arab Emirates. It has extended its services to Sharjah presently as well. In the Emirate of Sharjah, the Tasjeel centres may be found in the Heavy Vehicle Industrial Area, on Sharjah Auto Village Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, on Abu Amr Al Basri Street, on Beirut Road and so on. In case the prospective owner is unable to undergo the required process at the Tasjeel Centre, they may pay the negotiated amount to the owner through the agreed modes of payment online, as long as it does not violate the terms of the agreement.

Transferring the car along with the number plate, and registering the vehicle simultaneously:

In case the prospective car buyer, as well as the erstwhile owner are both in agreement that they need to transfer the ownership of the car, as well as get it registered at the same time, there is a due process that needs to be followed. Both of them need to visit the respective Tasjeel Centre jointly, with the relevant documents including the insurance policy, new passing certificate, original emirates Id and so on. The registration transfer application request can be filed at Happiness Service Centers, Abu Dhabi Police Website or the MOI website/app.

Once both of them are present at the centre, a routine new vehicle registration test will have to be undertaken. Of course, in this context, this is regarding the transfer of vehicle ownership from one owner to another, but it is effectively the same as the test which is applicable when a new vehicle is being purchased. The chargeable cost is approximately AED 150. After the routine testing, the documents and the passing certification will be handed over, along with the relevant token number. After the transfer papers have been duly signed, a total fee of AED 720 shall be charged, which is exclusive of any insurance charges.

Documents Required for Transfer Car Ownership from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi

The following is a list of documents that need to be provided by the person in line to make the purchase i.e., the new owner:

• UAE driving license (original as well as photocopy)
• Copy of their original Emirates ID Card
• Passport copy with valid proof of UAE residency aka the resident visa.
• Original copy of car insurance certificate

The following documents need to be supplied by the current original owner of the vehicle:

• Original copy of the Vehicle registration card (better known as the Mulkiya)
• Original copy of the Emirates ID
• Copy of passport with residence visa
• Confirmation of payment of the last instalment on outstanding loan or evidence of loan transfer from the concerned financial institution (in case the vehicle was originally purchased on a loan arrangement).

Final Things to Remember

Registration Plate: If the vehicle has been originally registered in Sharjah, it needs to contain one of the numbers of either 1, 2 or 3, which has to be embossed on either white or orange plates according to official policy. The numbers may contain a maximum of five digits. In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, license plates are allowed to contain a wider variety of numbers ranging from 1,4,5,6,7, and so on. It should be kept in mind that when the car is transferred from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi or vice versa, these regulations are also duly complied with, to avoid any unnecessary complications.

Hayaza Paper: Once the transfer has been completed, and the new owner is allowed to effectively take the vehicle into custody and drive it off, they will be handed a key document. This is known as the ‘Transfer paper’ or ‘Hayaza’ in Arabic. It is solid testimony that the old owner has effectively transferred the ownership of the car, and a photocopy should be duly kept by both parties to prevent any disputes about the negotiation in the future.

In case the transferable vehicle’s owner has passed away: The procedure in this case naturally becomes a bit more protracted. A legal representative of the deceased will have to be present in the Sharjah court, and provide an issued letter, conjoined with the authentic death certificate. Once these documents have been duly submitted, the transfer process of the car registration can be legally initiated. 

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