How To Import Car In UAE? - See Process, Cost, Documents, Tax, Vehicle Inspection Details
Things You Will Learn In This Blog
- Basic requirements to import a car in UAE
- Documents required to import a car in UAE
- How to collect an imported car in UAE
- Cost of importing a car in UAE
- Taxes on importing cars from different countries in UAE
- How to calculate the cost of importing a car in the UAE
- Our Verdict
- FAQs
Importing a car in the UAE has become quite a fashion nowadays. With modernization, a lot of residents of the UAE prefer to import foreign vehicles of their choice. Similar to the popularity of used cars in UAE, the imported cars require a set of rules and regulations to be followed, before being officially accepted and allowed to run on the perfect Emirati tarmac. If you are also planning to import a car in the UAE, go through our detailed guide below to understand every step in detail.
Also Read: Petrol Price In UAE Today: Check October 2024 Fuel Price Update
Basic Requirements To Import a Car In UAE
To import a vehicle in the UAE, there are two main requirements that need to be fulfilled by the car owners. These requirements are as follows:
- UAE Resident Visa
The car owner must be a resident of the UAE to import a car legally. A valid residence visa is required by the Road and Transport Authorities of the UAE. The residency proof is required so that the officials can ensure that the car importer lives and works lawfully in the UAE. - NOC From RTA
An NOC (no objection certificate) needs to be attained from the Road and Transport Authority of the UAE before importing a vehicle. The NOC states that the car importer is obliged to follow all import rules and regulations related to safety, security, and emission laws.
Also Read: 5 Tips To Get Best Used Car Loan Interest Rate In UAE - Check All Details
Documents Required To Import a Car In UAE
While importing a car from a foreign country into the UAE, a car owner must comply with the following necessary requirements of the documents to ensure a smoother process. These documents are as follows:
- A valid passport, driving license, and UAE residence visa to ensure that you are importing the car into the UAE as a resident.
- An original invoice of the car with its previous ownership details and other details like the purchase price, etc.
- A certificate of origin that shows where the car belongs to.
- All original documents of the vehicles belonging to the previous country.
- An original shipping document or receipt of the car to be imported.
- Credit for the payment of the UAE customs duty over the imported car.
Also Read: 2025 Nissan Patrol SUV: 5 Reasons Why It Is Popular In UAE
How To Collect an Imported Car In UAE?
Once you’ve imported a vehicle into the UAE, it needs to be collected by following a simple procedure. The following steps to do so:
Step 1 - Paying Customs Duty Fees
UAE’s government has specified a fixed amount of fees for each vehicle that is imported individually into the country. Once your vehicle has been received by the customs department of the UAE, you will need to clear out the customs duty associated with its value. The average car import fee in the UAE is AED 4,700 while a container inspection is also carried out at an additional cost of AED 700 by the RTA officials.
The customs officials give clearance along with a blue export plate that the owner needs to stick to the vehicle immediately. This export plate costs AED 60 with an additional amount of AED 10 for the clearance certificate paper.
Step 2 - Vehicle Inspection by the RTA
Post the clearance of the customs duty, an NOC (no objection certificate) needs to be obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Industry by submitting the clearance certificate paper. This vehicle inspection is mandatory as it ensures that the imported car abides by the safety and emission norms of the UAE.
The car owner should visit any RTA (by obtaining a date) or any RTA-approved inspection center near them. These inspection centers have dedicated car inspectors who thoroughly inspect the imported vehicles. Some of the popular RTA-approved car inspection centers are Tamam, Tasjeel, and Al Shamil.
Documents required for the imported vehicle inspection in the UAE are as follows:
- Car owner’s original UAE resident visa, Emirates ID, passport, and driving license.
- Import documents of the vehicle including the previous ownership details and more.
- UAE customs clearance certificate paper.
Step 3 - Vehicle Testing of the Imported Vehicles
Once you get to an RTA-approved vehicle inspection center, the imported car is then checked thoroughly by an RTA car inspector. This inspection is mandatory to ensure the roadworthiness of the imported vehicle. The crucial steps that are taken to check the condition of the imported vehicle are as follows:
- Safety Features
The primary step of the vehicle inspection is to ensure the basic safety features of the imported vehicle. The vehicle inspector ensures that the imported car is equipped with the basic and mandatory safety features like frontal airbags, seatbelts, etc. The inspector checks the functioning ability of these safety features. - General Roadworthiness
To ensure the safety of road users, every vehicle is inspected annually in the UAE. This inspection is for the general roadworthiness of the vehicle. The same goes for the imported vehicle, as the inspector ensures the functionality of the crucial parts like tyres, suspension, brakes, engine, transmission, lights, etc. These parts must be in working and fine condition as per the UAE official RTA guidelines. - Emission Checks
As the UAE is very strict towards pollution and polluting vehicles, the emission generation levels of imported vehicles are checked thoroughly. Depending on the fuel type and body type of the imported vehicle, the emission levels should be produced under the specified limits set by the government. If not so, the vehicle is not given a clearance certificate.
Also Read: Buying a Used Car In UAE - A Complete Detailed Guide
Cost Of Importing a Car In UAE
Along with the vehicle testing comes the additional cost of testing. As per the UAE’s RTA rules and regulations, if a car is being imported from a GCC region, then a fee of AED 120 is applied to it. If a vehicle is being imported from a non-GCC region or country, then a fee of AED 450 is applied to it. However, to know the exact and the latest amount of fee for your specific import, please connect to your nearest RTA office.
Step 4 - Imported Vehicle Registration & Insurance
After you have cleared all the vehicle inspection tests, it is time to get your imported car registered and insured in the UAE.
To get your imported vehicle registered in the UAE, you will need to have valid insurance for your vehicle. Various insurance companies offer attractive coverage schemes that are cost-effective as well. Do research and find the best deals on used car insurance in the UAE first. Once done, get your imported vehicle insured by showing the following documents to the insurance agency:
- Car owner’s original driving license, passport, and Emirates ID with copies
- Vehicle inspection report and clearance certificate paper
To register your imported vehicle in the UAE, reach out to your nearest RTA headquarters with the following documents:
- Purchase of vehicle proof - either from a dealer or an individual
- Blue export plates - to be provided at the time of customs clearance
- A completed application form for registration
- Insurance documents - in case if you do not have these then get your car registered first
- Original and copies of the owner’s driving license, resident visa, and passport
- A customs clearance certificate paper
- Residency proof in UAE
- Vehicle inspection report and clearance certificate paper
Taxes On Importing Cars In UAE From Different Countries
As UAE’s official norms for importing cars include customs duty taxes, a car’s cost, insurance, and freight value are considered to create tax amount for it. You can use an online tax calculator to calculate an estimated tax amount on your next car import in the UAE. However, for the following countries, UAE has fixed the below-mentioned tax percentages:
Import from the USA: 5% customs duty tax
Import from Japan: 5% customs duty tax
Import from India: 5% customs duty tax
Import from Oman: No customs duty tax for GCC-origin cars
Import from the UK: 5% customs duty tax
Also Read: How To Sell Your Used Car In Dubai - A Complete Guide
How To Calculate The Cost Of Car Import In UAE? - Formula
As we mentioned above, a car’s import cost is determined by various factors like the value of the vehicle, shipping charges, and insurance fees. A simple breakdown of these charges is given by the below formula:
Car Value + Shipping Charges + Insurance Fees X Customs Duty Percentage = Total cost of car import in the UAE
Our Verdict
When it comes to the love for cars, UAE’s people have been known to have spent millions of Dirhams to buy their favourite vehicles from around the world. Imported cars are an everyday sight on the roads of the UAE because of the simplified process and easy import laws. However, the customs duty payment and a detailed vehicle inspection are a must before you get your hands on your loved imported vehicle. Meanwhile, the previously imported vehicles have now hit the used car market in the UAE. Popular brands like Chevrolet, Porsche, etc., are available as used cars in UAE. If you are looking for used Chevrolet cars in the UAE or used Toyota cars in the UAE, make sure to check the CARS24 inventory.
FAQs
How much does it cost to import a car to the UAE?
The cost of importing a car in the UAE is usually calculated by the CFI (cost freight insurance) value + VAT + Import Tax on the vehicle.
How to bring a car from India to the UAE?
To import a car from India to the UAE, the owner needs to get clearance from the Indian authorities and pay the import duties to the UAE authorities which is 5% on the CIF (cost freight insurance) value.
What is the import tax in the UAE?
The import tax in the UAE is 5% which is applied as the customs clearance tax from non-GCC countries.
Things You Will Learn In This Blog
- Basic requirements to import a car in UAE
- Documents required to import a car in UAE
- How to collect an imported car in UAE
- Cost of importing a car in UAE
- Taxes on importing cars from different countries in UAE
- How to calculate the cost of importing a car in the UAE
- Our Verdict
- FAQs
Importing a car in the UAE has become quite a fashion nowadays. With modernization, a lot of residents of the UAE prefer to import foreign vehicles of their choice. Similar to the popularity of used cars in UAE, the imported cars require a set of rules and regulations to be followed, before being officially accepted and allowed to run on the perfect Emirati tarmac. If you are also planning to import a car in the UAE, go through our detailed guide below to understand every step in detail.
Also Read: Petrol Price In UAE Today: Check October 2024 Fuel Price Update
Basic Requirements To Import a Car In UAE
To import a vehicle in the UAE, there are two main requirements that need to be fulfilled by the car owners. These requirements are as follows:
- UAE Resident Visa
The car owner must be a resident of the UAE to import a car legally. A valid residence visa is required by the Road and Transport Authorities of the UAE. The residency proof is required so that the officials can ensure that the car importer lives and works lawfully in the UAE. - NOC From RTA
An NOC (no objection certificate) needs to be attained from the Road and Transport Authority of the UAE before importing a vehicle. The NOC states that the car importer is obliged to follow all import rules and regulations related to safety, security, and emission laws.
Also Read: 5 Tips To Get Best Used Car Loan Interest Rate In UAE - Check All Details
Documents Required To Import a Car In UAE
While importing a car from a foreign country into the UAE, a car owner must comply with the following necessary requirements of the documents to ensure a smoother process. These documents are as follows:
- A valid passport, driving license, and UAE residence visa to ensure that you are importing the car into the UAE as a resident.
- An original invoice of the car with its previous ownership details and other details like the purchase price, etc.
- A certificate of origin that shows where the car belongs to.
- All original documents of the vehicles belonging to the previous country.
- An original shipping document or receipt of the car to be imported.
- Credit for the payment of the UAE customs duty over the imported car.
Also Read: 2025 Nissan Patrol SUV: 5 Reasons Why It Is Popular In UAE
How To Collect an Imported Car In UAE?
Once you’ve imported a vehicle into the UAE, it needs to be collected by following a simple procedure. The following steps to do so:
Step 1 - Paying Customs Duty Fees
UAE’s government has specified a fixed amount of fees for each vehicle that is imported individually into the country. Once your vehicle has been received by the customs department of the UAE, you will need to clear out the customs duty associated with its value. The average car import fee in the UAE is AED 4,700 while a container inspection is also carried out at an additional cost of AED 700 by the RTA officials.
The customs officials give clearance along with a blue export plate that the owner needs to stick to the vehicle immediately. This export plate costs AED 60 with an additional amount of AED 10 for the clearance certificate paper.
Step 2 - Vehicle Inspection by the RTA
Post the clearance of the customs duty, an NOC (no objection certificate) needs to be obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Industry by submitting the clearance certificate paper. This vehicle inspection is mandatory as it ensures that the imported car abides by the safety and emission norms of the UAE.
The car owner should visit any RTA (by obtaining a date) or any RTA-approved inspection center near them. These inspection centers have dedicated car inspectors who thoroughly inspect the imported vehicles. Some of the popular RTA-approved car inspection centers are Tamam, Tasjeel, and Al Shamil.
Documents required for the imported vehicle inspection in the UAE are as follows:
- Car owner’s original UAE resident visa, Emirates ID, passport, and driving license.
- Import documents of the vehicle including the previous ownership details and more.
- UAE customs clearance certificate paper.
Step 3 - Vehicle Testing of the Imported Vehicles
Once you get to an RTA-approved vehicle inspection center, the imported car is then checked thoroughly by an RTA car inspector. This inspection is mandatory to ensure the roadworthiness of the imported vehicle. The crucial steps that are taken to check the condition of the imported vehicle are as follows:
- Safety Features
The primary step of the vehicle inspection is to ensure the basic safety features of the imported vehicle. The vehicle inspector ensures that the imported car is equipped with the basic and mandatory safety features like frontal airbags, seatbelts, etc. The inspector checks the functioning ability of these safety features. - General Roadworthiness
To ensure the safety of road users, every vehicle is inspected annually in the UAE. This inspection is for the general roadworthiness of the vehicle. The same goes for the imported vehicle, as the inspector ensures the functionality of the crucial parts like tyres, suspension, brakes, engine, transmission, lights, etc. These parts must be in working and fine condition as per the UAE official RTA guidelines. - Emission Checks
As the UAE is very strict towards pollution and polluting vehicles, the emission generation levels of imported vehicles are checked thoroughly. Depending on the fuel type and body type of the imported vehicle, the emission levels should be produced under the specified limits set by the government. If not so, the vehicle is not given a clearance certificate.
Also Read: Buying a Used Car In UAE - A Complete Detailed Guide
Cost Of Importing a Car In UAE
Along with the vehicle testing comes the additional cost of testing. As per the UAE’s RTA rules and regulations, if a car is being imported from a GCC region, then a fee of AED 120 is applied to it. If a vehicle is being imported from a non-GCC region or country, then a fee of AED 450 is applied to it. However, to know the exact and the latest amount of fee for your specific import, please connect to your nearest RTA office.
Step 4 - Imported Vehicle Registration & Insurance
After you have cleared all the vehicle inspection tests, it is time to get your imported car registered and insured in the UAE.
To get your imported vehicle registered in the UAE, you will need to have valid insurance for your vehicle. Various insurance companies offer attractive coverage schemes that are cost-effective as well. Do research and find the best deals on used car insurance in the UAE first. Once done, get your imported vehicle insured by showing the following documents to the insurance agency:
- Car owner’s original driving license, passport, and Emirates ID with copies
- Vehicle inspection report and clearance certificate paper
To register your imported vehicle in the UAE, reach out to your nearest RTA headquarters with the following documents:
- Purchase of vehicle proof - either from a dealer or an individual
- Blue export plates - to be provided at the time of customs clearance
- A completed application form for registration
- Insurance documents - in case if you do not have these then get your car registered first
- Original and copies of the owner’s driving license, resident visa, and passport
- A customs clearance certificate paper
- Residency proof in UAE
- Vehicle inspection report and clearance certificate paper
Taxes On Importing Cars In UAE From Different Countries
As UAE’s official norms for importing cars include customs duty taxes, a car’s cost, insurance, and freight value are considered to create tax amount for it. You can use an online tax calculator to calculate an estimated tax amount on your next car import in the UAE. However, for the following countries, UAE has fixed the below-mentioned tax percentages:
Import from the USA: 5% customs duty tax
Import from Japan: 5% customs duty tax
Import from India: 5% customs duty tax
Import from Oman: No customs duty tax for GCC-origin cars
Import from the UK: 5% customs duty tax
Also Read: How To Sell Your Used Car In Dubai - A Complete Guide
How To Calculate The Cost Of Car Import In UAE? - Formula
As we mentioned above, a car’s import cost is determined by various factors like the value of the vehicle, shipping charges, and insurance fees. A simple breakdown of these charges is given by the below formula:
Car Value + Shipping Charges + Insurance Fees X Customs Duty Percentage = Total cost of car import in the UAE
Our Verdict
When it comes to the love for cars, UAE’s people have been known to have spent millions of Dirhams to buy their favourite vehicles from around the world. Imported cars are an everyday sight on the roads of the UAE because of the simplified process and easy import laws. However, the customs duty payment and a detailed vehicle inspection are a must before you get your hands on your loved imported vehicle. Meanwhile, the previously imported vehicles have now hit the used car market in the UAE. Popular brands like Chevrolet, Porsche, etc., are available as used cars in UAE. If you are looking for used Chevrolet cars in the UAE or used Toyota cars in the UAE, make sure to check the CARS24 inventory.
FAQs
How much does it cost to import a car to the UAE?
The cost of importing a car in the UAE is usually calculated by the CFI (cost freight insurance) value + VAT + Import Tax on the vehicle.
How to bring a car from India to the UAE?
To import a car from India to the UAE, the owner needs to get clearance from the Indian authorities and pay the import duties to the UAE authorities which is 5% on the CIF (cost freight insurance) value.
What is the import tax in the UAE?
The import tax in the UAE is 5% which is applied as the customs clearance tax from non-GCC countries.
