How to renew your Mulkiya

Check this first

Fees and procedures change without notice. Before you act on anything below, confirm it at the RTA, which is the authority that actually handles this.

The short version

• Where: Your emirate's transport authority, or an approved testing centre.
• Cost: AED 370 for a private car, which is AED 350 plus AED 20 in knowledge and innovation fees, plus about AED 170 for the inspection if one is needed.
• Takes: Same day. Minutes online if no inspection is required.
• If you are late: AED 10 a month after the 30 day grace period, capped at AED 500. Driving on an expired registration is a separate traffic offence on top of that, and the car can be impounded.
• Valid for: 1 year, plus a 30 day grace period.

The steps

1. Renew or confirm your car insurance first. It has to cover the new registration year, so doing this second wastes a trip.
2. Pay any outstanding traffic fines. Renewal is blocked until they are cleared.
3. If the car is more than three years old, it needs a technical inspection.
4. Renew online through your emirate's portal, or in person at a testing centre.

The part people get wrong

The order. Insurance has to be in place before the registration can renew, and outstanding fines block the whole thing. People arrive at a testing centre, discover a fine from four months ago, and lose the afternoon.

The grace period is thirty days of breathing room, and you can drive through it as long as the insurance is still valid. Once it ends, the late fee is small, AED 10 a month, but driving on an expired registration is a separate offence with its own fine, and impound is on the table.

Track it so you never read this page twice

Expyr photographs the document, reads the expiry date, and reminds you weeks ahead rather than the day before. It carries these same steps, the typical cost and the late fine, and opens the right portal for you. It is free for five items.