Are you interested in selling your car? If you’re selling your vehicle, make sure you start by understanding the regulations and market behavior in the United Arab Emirates.
In this guide, we’ll review each step of the process to help you sell your car in Dubai and secure the best deal, from pricing your car realistically to registering the vehicle and handling paperwork. We’ll focus on making the experience a hassle-free and transparent process.
Step 1: Prepare for Process of Selling Your Car in Dubai
Before starting the sales process, get your vehicle ready for inspection. This is the first step to sell car in Dubai. Clean the exterior and interior, polish any visible scratches, and address minor issues. Check all fluids and inspect the tyres for wear or low pressure.
Buyers in the UAE often decide within minutes (due to the wide selection), so present the car in the UAE in its best condition. A clean and properly working vehicle, regardless of make and model, attracts more attention and facilitates smoother negotiations. Don’t forget to remove personal items and make sure the number plates are visible and clean. Spray a light, pleasant air freshener inside the car.
These simple steps make the process fast and easy.
Step 2: Determine the UAE Market Value for Best Price
Start by using an online platform for valuation. If you want to sell any car, these resources are your first stop for setting a realistic price and finding the right buyer. These tools help estimate the current market value for your car based on its condition, mileage, and demand.
- Dubizzle: One of the most involved car marketplaces in the UAE. You can list your vehicle, check current listings for similar models, and compare prices to find the best deal. It also helps calculate the selling range based on make, mileage, and age.
- CarSwitch: Offers a free car valuation service and handles inspections, photography, and buyer coordination for a fee. Ideal if you want a guided process without having to manage every step yourself.
- YallaMotor: For comparing prices across listings and reviewing market trends. The platform is used by both dealers who buy cars and private sellers.
When considering prices, consider your car’s mileage, condition, and year of manufacture. A vehicle with low mileage and no mechanical problems will typically receive a higher offer. Be transparent about the vehicle’s plate number, service history, and whether it has any outstanding bank loans.
- Tip: Set a price slightly above your minimum to allow for potential negotiation and flexibility. Keep it competitive, and express it clearly in AED. Overpricing may delay the sale, while underpricing can raise suspicions or reduce trust. A realistic price helps you sell faster and closer to actual market conditions for a car in the UAE.
Step 3: Required Documents to Sell Car in the UAE
Clear documentation will help you sell your car faster. Before proceeding with the sale, make sure that all documents are valid and well-organized.
- Emirates ID: This is required for identity verification during the ownership transfer process. Ensure it’s not expired, as the RTA and the buyer will use it for record updates.
- Car registration card (Mulkiya): Proves legal ownership of the vehicle. It will be handed over to the new owner at the time of sale. The details on the card must match the vehicle precisely to avoid delays in future car registrations.
- Service history: If available, this reassures buyers that the car has been properly maintained. A complete service log increases trust and can justify a higher asking price.
- Loan clearance: If the car was financed, get an official clearance letter from the bank confirming that the loan has been settled. Without it, you can’t legally transfer ownership.
Missing or expired papers can delay the transfer or decrease the buyer’s trust. All documents should be kept organized, up-to-date, and ready for review at any point in the sales process.
Step 4: Where to Sell or List Your Car Details
Once your car is ready for sale, the next step is choosing where to list it. Different platforms and selling methods offer various benefits, depending on how quickly you want to close the deal, how much time you’re willing to invest, and whether you prefer to sell your car online or in person.
Private Listings
- Dubizzle: The most visited classified platform for vehicles in the UAE, it enables you to advertise your used car with detailed photos, service records, and an asking price. While it is popular throughout Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you are responsible for arranging viewings, negotiating, and handling the paperwork.
- Facebook Marketplace: Offers quick visibility with no listing fees. Ideal for informal, local connections but offers less security. You’ll need to carefully screen inquiries and handle all logistics between the buyer and seller.
Online Car Platforms Where You Can Sell a Car in Dubai
- SellAnyCar: Focused on quick transactions. After submitting your car information, you’ll receive an instant estimate. If accepted, the company will inspect and purchase the car directly. Fast, but less likely to get the best price.
- CarSwitch: Automation + human assistance. You can buy and sell cars through the platform. It also arranges inspection, photos, and handles legal procedures. Convenient, but be ready to pay a commission.
Other Car Selling Methods
- Trade-in at a dealership: When you trade in your old car, you hand it over to a dealership in the UAE. Instead of paying you money, they give you a discount or credit to buy a new car from them. This is a quick and easy option to sell your used car. But usually, the amount they give you for your old car is less than what you could get by selling it yourself.
- Car dealers and resellers: Useful for quickly offloading your car. Resellers handle paperwork, including issuing a new license plate if needed. You will get less money, but they take care of all the paperwork and hassle for you.
Private ads, such as Dubizzle, give you control and better margins, but require more effort. Platforms like CarSwitch reduce workload but take a cut. Trade-ins and dealers save time but often don’t offer market value. Choose based on your priorities (speed, price, or convenience) in your car selling process.
Step 5: Schedule a Vehicle Inspection (RTA)
Before finalizing the sale of a used car, you’ll need to have the car inspected by an approved center. You can’t keep this step if you plan to transfer ownership. It confirms the vehicle is ready for road and matches the registration details. Below are the main centers where you can get this done:
- Tasjeel, operated by ENOC, has multiple branches across Dubai and Sharjah. It’s a popular and convenient way to sell a car, if you can complete the inspection, registration, and insurance in one place.
- Shamil: Managed by Emarat, available in Dubai, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. Offers both testing and renewal services. Usually with shorter waiting times.
- Wasel: Located mainly in Abu Dhabi, approved by the RTA and ideal for sellers outside of Dubai.
- Vehicle Testing Partners (VTPs): Smaller centers, partnered with the RTA, often offer fewer additional services but are less crowded.
Now, let’s review what you must check and the prices for each point for a used car for sale:
- VIN and registration match
- Chassis and frame condition
- Engine and transmission
- Odometer reading and mileage verification
- Lights, brakes, and tires inspection
The inspection typically costs between AED 150 and AED 200, depending on the center and emirate. If a car fails to pass inspection, it cannot be legally transferred to a new owner. This means that if you want to sell your car in Dubai, your vehicle must pass an RTA inspection. Passing the test also supports a fair valuation and gives buyers confidence in the car’s condition. Skipping this step is not an option if you plan to complete the sale through official channels.
Step 6: Finalize the Sale and Transfer Ownership
Once you’ve agreed on the price and selected a buyer, it’s time to complete the transfer of ownership. If you’re looking to sell your car in the UAE through official channels, this process must be completed at an RTA-approved center. Here’s how the process works:
- Visit an RTA Customer Happiness Centre or approved testing facility with the buyer.
- Both car buyers and sellers must present original Emirates IDs and the current registration card (Mulkiya).
- Submit the car for a quick ID check to verify chassis and registration data.
- Clear any outstanding traffic fines or final paperwork issues.
- Hand over Mulkiya, keys, and documents once the process is completed.
- The RTA issues a new registration card in the buyer’s name.
Always complete the documentation if you want to sell your car with full legal coverage.
- How to Transfer Mulkiya: The seller must physically hand over the original Mulkiya to the RTA staff. After processing, the system updates the vehicle’s legal status and issues a new Mulkiya linked to the buyer’s ID. This officially completes the transfer of ownership.
- Payment, Contract, and Receipts: Always make payment securely (by cash at the RTA counter or via verified bank transfer). Prepare a simple contract outlining the transaction terms, including date, agreed amount, and car condition. Both parties should sign and keep a copy. RTA will also provide a stamped receipt to verify completion.
Step 7: Cancel Insurance and Salik
After the price of your car is agreed and ownership is transferred, don’t forget to close or update related accounts. Canceling your insurance and managing your Salik tag makes sure there are no liabilities under your name.
- To cancel your insurance, please get in touch with your provider and request termination of your policy. Make sure to check for any outstanding fines before closing accounts. These must be cleared to avoid delays in refunds or future registrations.
- If there are unused months, you can ask for a refund.
- Most companies allow partial refunds after subtracting usage and admin fees.
- Many insurers offer online services that allow you to sign the cancellation digitally, making the process fast and remote.
Next, log in to your Salik account. You can either deactivate the tag or transfer it to another vehicle if you’re buying a new car. If there’s a remaining balance, it can be refunded upon request or applied to your following tag.
Additional Tips for a Smooth Car Sale in Dubai
Here are some additional tips for a smooth car sale in Dubai, now in English, including practical case quotes from Reddit and no unnecessary information. How to avoid scams:
- Meet in safe, public locations, such as RTA centres. Don’t agree to meet in back alleys, empty parking lots, or places that aren’t neutral and public.
- Accept only cash or certified manager’s cheques (never personal cheques). One Redditor writes: “Accept cash only at the time of transfer. … The cheque will bounce 100 percent and your car would have left the country.”
- If you receive instant cash, make sure the money is genuine.
- Always verify the payment in your bank before handing over plate number, keys, or documents.
- Get a simple written agreement and a deposit to secure the deal.
- Verify the potential buyer’s Emirates ID or license to confirm their identity before proceeding.
Let others make the mistakes so you don’t have to. Here are some highlighted cases from Reddit:
- A scam targeted sellers when they transferred ownership using forged cheques at night; the cars were shipped before the cheque fraud was detected.
- Another person lost AED 91,000 after accepting a personal cheque, only to find there was no money behind it.
Should you sell yourself or use a platform? Let’s summarize:
- Private ads on Dubizzle, Facebook, etc., offer complete control and potential for higher returns, but require handling all aspects of the selling process and manually screening car buyers.
- Platforms like CarSwitch or professional car buyers allow you to sell my car quickly and safely. They simplify steps, handle documentation, and provide secure payment to streamline the process, allowing you to worry less.
Support from Rental and Buyout Companies
These firms act as full-service car buyers, covering evaluation, paperwork, transfer of ownership, and payment. All in 3 simple steps: inspection, offer, transfer. They’re great when you want speed, zero stress, and a clean transaction.
- SellAnyCar
- CarSwitch
- DubiCars
- Expat Wheels
- Al Futtaim Automall
- Carzaty
- WeBuyCarsDXB
- Simply Car Buyers
- Al Tayer Motors (For Used Cars)
