Registering a car in Dubai

dizzyizzy · #1 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 09:35 AM

Dear all,

I am looking at the option of buying a used car as soon as I get back to Dubai but I would like to know what is the process to get it registered.

I will be arriving on a free zone employment visa and I have a mexican drivers license plus international driving permit but my license can not be converted. Which is why I want to buy and drive the first month as visitor with my IDP, and then go and do the bloody lessons once I get the residence, so I can get a Dubai drivers license.

Anybody could tell me if this is possible? Can I buy an used car and get it registered on my name if I still don't have residency?

Or what other options may you suggest? I will do the whole driving lesson thing when I have the residence, is just that between now and then I need a means of transport as I work on Jebel Ali so taking taxis every day is just too expensive and inconvenient.

Any advice is very appreciated.

Thank you guys!

Isabel

mazdaRX8 · #2 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 10:20 AM

To register a car in Dubai, you need to show your local driver's license and resident visa. Since you won't have a DL until you get your residency, that means you won't be able to purchase a car until you go through the whole DL process. You can BUY a car without a license or a resident visa, but it wont have plates, nor will it be registered under your name

You can drive on your IDL and Mexican DL, on your visit only. Once you submit your passport for the resident visa and obtain it, you have to surrender the rental car. You can postpone getting the resident visa to drive your rental car, but this means postponing the UAE driver license indirectly as well.

My suggestion is drive a rental here on your IDL for a few weeks get used to everything, then submit for your residency and get ready for your whole "class" thing.

In between the local license and the IDL limbo, your only choice is to take a taxi, or a car share. I would make friends at work and see if they can pick you up on the way or something.

dizzyizzy · #3 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 02:18 PM

what a nightmare... oh well... thank you for your suggestions Mazda!!

Finally, do you know what are the cheapest rental car companies?

thank you!

Maz25 · #4 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzyizzy

what a nightmare... oh well... thank you for your suggestions Mazda!!

Finally, do you know what are the cheapest rental car companies?

thank you!

If you are arriving on an employment visa, you will have a problem renting a car. Most reputable car rentals will turn you away. You are only able to hire a car with an IDP if you are on a visit visa! There are places that will still rent out the car but bear in mind that if you are get caught by the Police, you will be in quite a lot of trouble! The fact remains that it will be illegal for you to drive without the UAE liecense!

Again, once your residency is stamped into your passport, it becomes illegal to drive on any other license other than a local UAE license. An inconvenience no doubt - I know first hand about this but sometimes the risk is not worth it, especially here. Anywhere else, I would have said take the chance. In Dubai, likelihood, you might end up spending a few days in jail for such a minor thing! I had planned to do excatly what you are planning until I opened Gulf News and read about a lorry driver who had been jailed for driving without a UAE license. It put paid to my crazy idea!

mazdaRX8 · #5 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzyizzy

what a nightmare... oh well... thank you for your suggestions Mazda!!

Finally, do you know what are the cheapest rental car companies?

thank you!

Tell me about it!
Anyways using Fast rent a car, and for about 2k a month you can grab a peguot 206. They cheaper cars like a lancer for 1600 a month.

You can prolly get cheaper using small no name places and bargain em down. Most no name "non chain" rental places are concentrated in one area of the city so u can walk from one to the other asking about the rates.

If you work in Jebal Ali, where do you stay?

dizzyizzy · #6 (**permalink**) 15th October 2008, 11:08 PM

oh lord, i think i should speed taking those "lessons" then !!

i am staying in al barsha very near the mall of emirates. I can daily get a lift with one of the office colleagues to return home, problem is getting there in the mornings, is a nightmare to get a taxi, and of course, a little fortune at the end of the month...

OH WELL!!!! AGGGGHHHH

sorry. frustration out (a little bit)

thank you everyone for your advice, you are very kind

xoxo

izzy

mancgary79 · #7 (**permalink**) 16th October 2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maz25

If you are arriving on an employment visa, you will have a problem renting a car. Most reputable car rentals will turn you away. You are only able to hire a car with an IDP if you are on a visit visa! There are places that will still rent out the car but bear in mind that if you are get caught by the Police, you will be in quite a lot of trouble! The fact remains that it will be illegal for you to drive without the UAE liecense!

Again, once your residency is stamped into your passport, it becomes illegal to drive on any other license other than a local UAE license. An inconvenience no doubt - I know first hand about this but sometimes the risk is not worth it, especially here. Anywhere else, I would have said take the chance. In Dubai, likelihood, you might end up spending a few days in jail for such a minor thing! I had planned to do excatly what you are planning until I opened Gulf News and read about a lorry driver who had been jailed for driving without a UAE license. It put paid to my crazy idea!

Hi Maz,

I am on a flight out tomorrow (

) and wanted to ask about gaining a UAE license. I have about 12 years driving under my belt over here in the UK, would I still need to go through the lessons to gain a UAE license?

sgilli3 · #8 (**permalink**) 16th October 2008, 08:00 AM

If you have a UK passport and a UK license- you can just swap over your DL for a UAE one.

If your passport and DL dont' match, you may need to sit lessons.

mancgary79 · #9 (**permalink**) 16th October 2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgilli3

If you have a UK passport and a UL license- you can just swap over your DL for a UK one.

If your passport and DL dont' match, you may need to sit lessons.

Hi Sgilli,

Not sure if this was a reply to my post? Do you mean that if I have a UK passport and UK license I can do a swap for a UAE license? If so thanks a lot for the heads up!

sgilli3 · #10 (**permalink**) 16th October 2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mancgary79

Hi Sgilli,

Not sure if this was a reply to my post? Do you mean that if I have a UK passport and UK license I can do a swap for a UAE license? If so thanks a lot for the heads up!

Yes. If your passport AND license are both from the UK, you will be able to go to the RTA and get a UAE DL without having to sit for DL test.

sorry- just about to edit other post...didnt notice the spelling errors 1st time...sorry mancgary