Mulkiya renewal: how to renew your car registration
Updated 11 October 2026
Your Mulkiya, the vehicle registration, has to be renewed every year. Before you can renew, the car needs valid insurance, a passed inspection if it's more than three years old, and no unpaid fines. Here's the order to do it in, what it costs and what happens if you're late.
Before you renew
- Insurance. In Dubai the policy must be valid for at least 6 months, counting the 30-day grace period, and can't start after the old registration ends.
- A technical inspection if the car is more than three years old. In Dubai a car bought new from a UAE dealer can be renewed without one for its first three years, but a change of owner always needs a test. Dubai's inspection certificate is valid for 30 days.
- No unpaid fines. Traffic fines and Salik violations have to be paid before the renewal goes through.
What it costs in Dubai
| For a private light vehicle | AED |
|---|---|
| Registration renewal | 350 |
| Knowledge and innovation fee | 20 |
| Technical inspection, if needed (150 + 20) | 170 |
| Re-inspection after a fail (50 + 20) | 70 |
| Delivering the printed card (optional) | 20–50 |
So a car that doesn't need inspecting costs AED 370 to renew, and one that does about AED 540. Fees are paid by card.
Step by step in Dubai
- If the car needs an inspection, book it in the RTA Dubai app or on the RTA website, and pass it at a testing centre.
- Renew or extend the insurance.
- Pay any fines.
- Renew in the RTA Dubai app, the Dubai Now app or on rta.ae, or at a Customer Happiness or testing centre. A car that doesn't need an inspection can be renewed fully online.
You can renew up to 150 days before the registration expires.
Abu Dhabi and the other emirates
In Abu Dhabi, renew on TAMM with UAE PASS, or at a service centre with your Emirates ID. The fee is AED 350 for a private light vehicle and AED 400 for a private vehicle of 3 to 12 tonnes. In every emirate except Dubai you can also renew in the MOI UAE app, and the same checks apply: insurance, an inspection report if the car is more than three years old, and no unpaid fines.
If you're late
- There's a 30-day grace period after the registration expires.
- After that, late fees depend on the vehicle type and how late you are. In Dubai, if the car isn't renewed within 2 months of expiry, your traffic file is blocked.
- Driving with an expired registration is a AED 500 fine and 4 black points. If it expired more than 3 months ago, the car can also be impounded for 7 days.
More on fines and black points: UAE traffic fines.
Never miss a renewal
Add your Mulkiya and insurance expiry dates to Benzeen_. It reminds you early and again the day before, so the inspection and the insurance are done in time. Follow @benzeen.app or see the app.
Sources: RTA: renew vehicle registration, RTA: vehicle inspection, TAMM: renew vehicle registration, Gulf News on renewing through the MOI app, Ministerial Resolution 178 of 2017. Fees are as listed in October 2026; the app shows the total before you pay.
Questions
How much does Mulkiya renewal cost in Dubai?
AED 350 for a private light vehicle plus a AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee, and AED 170 for the inspection if the car is more than three years old.
Can I renew my Mulkiya online?
Yes: in Dubai through the RTA Dubai app, Dubai Now or rta.ae, in Abu Dhabi on TAMM, and in the other emirates in the MOI UAE app. A car that needs an inspection has to pass it at a testing centre first.
Is there a grace period after the Mulkiya expires?
Yes, 30 days. After that late fees apply, and in Dubai the traffic file is blocked if the car isn't renewed within 2 months.
Does a new car need an inspection to renew?
In Dubai, a car bought new from a UAE dealer can be renewed without an inspection for its first three years, unless it changes owner.
What is the fine for an expired Mulkiya?
AED 500 and 4 black points, and 7 days' impoundment if it expired more than 3 months ago.
How early can I renew my car registration?
In Dubai, up to 150 days before it expires.