2nd Hand car - UAE buying advice
Discussion
Hi All - as always, I'm turning to the good folkes on PH for trustworthy advice!! 
I've got my eye on a Mustang in Dubai...but I live in and am resident in Abu Dhabi.
So, I've been googling, and the nearest thing I've found is a guy who bought a Golf in Abu Dhabi were he was resident in Dubai!
It sounds like I need a NOC letter from my employer, but has anyone done this and if so, could they describe the process?
Also is there an equivalent HPI process? If not, is there any way to find out if the cars got outstanding finance or had previous damage?
Cheers all,
J.
I've got my eye on a Mustang in Dubai...but I live in and am resident in Abu Dhabi.
So, I've been googling, and the nearest thing I've found is a guy who bought a Golf in Abu Dhabi were he was resident in Dubai!
It sounds like I need a NOC letter from my employer, but has anyone done this and if so, could they describe the process?
Also is there an equivalent HPI process? If not, is there any way to find out if the cars got outstanding finance or had previous damage?
Cheers all,
J.
Edited by jezzaaa on Wednesday 29th April 17:37
You will also need to "export" the car to AD. I understand that the process is to deregister from DXB and get export plates which are valid for a certain period of time, then you register it in AD. There are various companies advertising in the Classified section of Gulf News who will help you with this for a couple of hundred of Dirhams.
Not sure about the equivalent of HPI here but as the previous poster mentioned, perhaps Dubai Police can help.
Not sure about the equivalent of HPI here but as the previous poster mentioned, perhaps Dubai Police can help.
Edited by tamago on Wednesday 29th April 20:18
I exported a car from Dubai to Abu Dhabi last year.
Arrange Export and Annual Insurance
Take your passport and drivers license and copies.
Go to Tasjeel (fast track is obviously quicker/better for you)
Request an export of vehicle
Seller pays the fees
Seller clears all outstanding fines/Salik etc
Vehicle goes through an MOT type test
Plates are changed to blue export plates
Take paperwork and ensure your name is on the new owner paperwork (it will be in Arabic so get it checked)
Arrive at Abu Dhabi Vehicle Licensing
Go to the upstairs office and present paperwork ie from Dubai AND NOC letter, license, passport and visa copy. I cant recall if you present the plates at this time
They'll check paperwork and charge you the fees
You get sent to the testing centre
Go back to the office and they'll issue you paperwork for new plates
Go back and pick up your new plates
Don't pay for the car until DXB authorities release the car to your name
Its been over a year since so the order may be slightly out of sequence but I suspect this covers most of it, it's quite straight forward really!
As for vehicle history, ask the seller to provide you with his dealership contact and call them to obtain details about the history of his car (they will only tell you if he ives them permission to do so). Provide the dealership with the chassis number and they will tell you all they know about the car. Al Tayer did this for me and were very helpful.
Goodluck
Deep
Arrange Export and Annual Insurance
Take your passport and drivers license and copies.
Go to Tasjeel (fast track is obviously quicker/better for you)
Request an export of vehicle
Seller pays the fees
Seller clears all outstanding fines/Salik etc
Vehicle goes through an MOT type test
Plates are changed to blue export plates
Take paperwork and ensure your name is on the new owner paperwork (it will be in Arabic so get it checked)
Arrive at Abu Dhabi Vehicle Licensing
Go to the upstairs office and present paperwork ie from Dubai AND NOC letter, license, passport and visa copy. I cant recall if you present the plates at this time
They'll check paperwork and charge you the fees
You get sent to the testing centre
Go back to the office and they'll issue you paperwork for new plates
Go back and pick up your new plates
Don't pay for the car until DXB authorities release the car to your name
Its been over a year since so the order may be slightly out of sequence but I suspect this covers most of it, it's quite straight forward really!
As for vehicle history, ask the seller to provide you with his dealership contact and call them to obtain details about the history of his car (they will only tell you if he ives them permission to do so). Provide the dealership with the chassis number and they will tell you all they know about the car. Al Tayer did this for me and were very helpful.
Goodluck
Deep
D33p said:
I exported a car from Dubai to Abu Dhabi last year.
Arrange Export and Annual Insurance
Take your passport and drivers license and copies.
Go to Tasjeel (fast track is obviously quicker/better for you)
Request an export of vehicle
Seller pays the fees
Seller clears all outstanding fines/Salik etc
Vehicle goes through an MOT type test
Plates are changed to blue export plates
Take paperwork and ensure your name is on the new owner paperwork (it will be in Arabic so get it checked)
Arrive at Abu Dhabi Vehicle Licensing
Go to the upstairs office and present paperwork ie from Dubai AND NOC letter, license, passport and visa copy. I cant recall if you present the plates at this time
They'll check paperwork and charge you the fees
You get sent to the testing centre
Go back to the office and they'll issue you paperwork for new plates
Go back and pick up your new plates
Don't pay for the car until DXB authorities release the car to your name
Its been over a year since so the order may be slightly out of sequence but I suspect this covers most of it, it's quite straight forward really!
As for vehicle history, ask the seller to provide you with his dealership contact and call them to obtain details about the history of his car (they will only tell you if he ives them permission to do so). Provide the dealership with the chassis number and they will tell you all they know about the car. Al Tayer did this for me and were very helpful.
Goodluck
Deep
Deep - thanks so much for this...sounds like a day's work!! Arrange Export and Annual Insurance
Take your passport and drivers license and copies.
Go to Tasjeel (fast track is obviously quicker/better for you)
Request an export of vehicle
Seller pays the fees
Seller clears all outstanding fines/Salik etc
Vehicle goes through an MOT type test
Plates are changed to blue export plates
Take paperwork and ensure your name is on the new owner paperwork (it will be in Arabic so get it checked)
Arrive at Abu Dhabi Vehicle Licensing
Go to the upstairs office and present paperwork ie from Dubai AND NOC letter, license, passport and visa copy. I cant recall if you present the plates at this time
They'll check paperwork and charge you the fees
You get sent to the testing centre
Go back to the office and they'll issue you paperwork for new plates
Go back and pick up your new plates
Don't pay for the car until DXB authorities release the car to your name
Its been over a year since so the order may be slightly out of sequence but I suspect this covers most of it, it's quite straight forward really!
As for vehicle history, ask the seller to provide you with his dealership contact and call them to obtain details about the history of his car (they will only tell you if he ives them permission to do so). Provide the dealership with the chassis number and they will tell you all they know about the car. Al Tayer did this for me and were very helpful.
Goodluck
Deep
I was chatting to one of the guys in the office yesterday who did this a few months back...he seemed to suggest that I would also need the seller to be present at the Abu Dhabi licensing agency when I was importing it! Sounds unlikely to me, and it may just be the way he worded his e-mail. But he did mention the need to organise a taxi back to Dubai for the seller...which is why I took it seriously. But it sounds like this wasn't the case when you did it...
Ok thanks again...and to all the other guys who commented.
J.
Edited by jezzaaa on Friday 1st May 06:27
jezzaaa said:
Deep - thanks so much for this...sounds like a day's work!!
I was chatting to one of the guys in the office yesterday who did this a few months back...he seemed to suggest that I would also need the seller to be present at the Abu Dhabi licensing agency when I was importing it! Sounds unlikely to me, and it may just be the way he worded his e-mail. But he did mention the need to organise a taxi back to Dubai for the seller...which is why I took it seriously. But it sounds like this wasn't the case when you did it...
Ok thanks again...and to all the other guys who commented.
J.
J,I was chatting to one of the guys in the office yesterday who did this a few months back...he seemed to suggest that I would also need the seller to be present at the Abu Dhabi licensing agency when I was importing it! Sounds unlikely to me, and it may just be the way he worded his e-mail. But he did mention the need to organise a taxi back to Dubai for the seller...which is why I took it seriously. But it sounds like this wasn't the case when you did it...
Ok thanks again...and to all the other guys who commented.
J.
Edited by jezzaaa on Friday 1st May 06:27
As long as you get your name on the transfer documents you don't need the seller present in Abu Dhabi. The reason is that they need some form of proof that the vehicle is now yours, hence making sure its your name on the transfer docs before you leave Dubai. Thats exactly what I did and had no problems, the Dubai seller was definetely not with me in Abu Dhabi. I recall I went and discussed this with the Abu Dhabi authorities on Muroor Road and they told me the procedure. Probably worth checking just incase things have changed.
Hope that helps.
D33p said:
jezzaaa said:
Deep - thanks so much for this...sounds like a day's work!!
I was chatting to one of the guys in the office yesterday who did this a few months back...he seemed to suggest that I would also need the seller to be present at the Abu Dhabi licensing agency when I was importing it! Sounds unlikely to me, and it may just be the way he worded his e-mail. But he did mention the need to organise a taxi back to Dubai for the seller...which is why I took it seriously. But it sounds like this wasn't the case when you did it...
Ok thanks again...and to all the other guys who commented.
J.
J,I was chatting to one of the guys in the office yesterday who did this a few months back...he seemed to suggest that I would also need the seller to be present at the Abu Dhabi licensing agency when I was importing it! Sounds unlikely to me, and it may just be the way he worded his e-mail. But he did mention the need to organise a taxi back to Dubai for the seller...which is why I took it seriously. But it sounds like this wasn't the case when you did it...
Ok thanks again...and to all the other guys who commented.
J.
Edited by jezzaaa on Friday 1st May 06:27
As long as you get your name on the transfer documents you don't need the seller present in Abu Dhabi. The reason is that they need some form of proof that the vehicle is now yours, hence making sure its your name on the transfer docs before you leave Dubai. Thats exactly what I did and had no problems, the Dubai seller was definetely not with me in Abu Dhabi. I recall I went and discussed this with the Abu Dhabi authorities on Muroor Road and they told me the procedure. Probably worth checking just incase things have changed.
Hope that helps.
J.
Edited by jezzaaa on Saturday 2nd May 15:33
Info from Jassem from ADPCC site:
1 - find a car you like, place a deposit I guess.
2 - arrange for the owner of the car to join you at one of the 'Tasjeel' places dotted around Dubai. Note that not all of them are open on a Saturday, but the one that is closest to AD is the one at Barsha which is just after the Mall of Emirates as you enter Dubai (it's sign posted).
3 - queue the car up at one of the inspection lanes. There is a small fee you need to pay before entering the inspection lane. The car is not going to be passed or failed. The inspection simply aims to cross reference the chassis number to the paperwork, and possibly the engine number. Don't worry if your car doesn't 'pass' as it due to be exported anyway; your chassis number needs to match that's all.
4 - after inspection, park the car, remove the Dubai license places (hope you brought a screwdriver), and enter the admin building with the owner of the car. Now you can either take a ticket number and queue up for the procedures, or you can pay AED150 and get the whole thing fast-tracked by one of the guys while you have a coffee in relative comfort.
5 - once your queue comes up you will need to have a copy of your passport and residence permit handy. The clerk will transfer ownership to your name, and then hand you a set of blue 'export' number plates. After you get your plates you need to go to a different window to issue insurance for the duration of the validity of the export plates (which is 72 hours or so).
6 - after you issue the insurance, slap those export plates on the car (there are people there who can do it for you if you don't want to get your hands dirty), say goodbye and drive over to AD
7 - drive to Muroor (which is off 4th street between 25th and 27th), park you car there and go in to take a ticket to pay the inspection fee. After you have your little inspection card, queue up at one of the inspection lanes. (if the inspection queues are long and you have a friend with you then queue up at the inspection lane first and have your friend go into the admin building to pay the inspection fee to save some time). The inspectors will look for accident damage, noisy exhausts and exhaust emissions. Minor mods are allowed, and major mods too if they are neat/tidy and safe. They might ask you to remove some panels in case they suspect accident damage taht has been repaired, and for that there is a mechanic with a lift just adjacent to the inspection lanes.
8 - when (if?) your car passes go the admin building and wait for a pass certificate to be printed out.
9 - now you need to issue some insurance from the small building adjacent to the admin building. There are a number of insurance companies under the same umbrella, but if you have a 2 door then the only 2 companies that will insure your car are the first two companies on your left and right hand side, so don't bother going in deeper since the other companies don't want the liability.
9 - once you have your insurance then head over to one of the windows to get your car registered. The clerk there will want a passport copy and residence copy so have that ready beforehand. You will be issued a registration number and the car will be registered.
10 - the final step is to go over the number plates factory (a small building on the side of the Muroor complex) and pay to have the plates made up. You have a choice of long or short number plates. Try to have change with you as the guys there seem to be short of change almost perpetually.
11 - get the worker outside to drill and install the plates on your car, and you're on your way to becoming an Abu Dhabian petrolhead.
1 - find a car you like, place a deposit I guess.
2 - arrange for the owner of the car to join you at one of the 'Tasjeel' places dotted around Dubai. Note that not all of them are open on a Saturday, but the one that is closest to AD is the one at Barsha which is just after the Mall of Emirates as you enter Dubai (it's sign posted).
3 - queue the car up at one of the inspection lanes. There is a small fee you need to pay before entering the inspection lane. The car is not going to be passed or failed. The inspection simply aims to cross reference the chassis number to the paperwork, and possibly the engine number. Don't worry if your car doesn't 'pass' as it due to be exported anyway; your chassis number needs to match that's all.
4 - after inspection, park the car, remove the Dubai license places (hope you brought a screwdriver), and enter the admin building with the owner of the car. Now you can either take a ticket number and queue up for the procedures, or you can pay AED150 and get the whole thing fast-tracked by one of the guys while you have a coffee in relative comfort.
5 - once your queue comes up you will need to have a copy of your passport and residence permit handy. The clerk will transfer ownership to your name, and then hand you a set of blue 'export' number plates. After you get your plates you need to go to a different window to issue insurance for the duration of the validity of the export plates (which is 72 hours or so).
6 - after you issue the insurance, slap those export plates on the car (there are people there who can do it for you if you don't want to get your hands dirty), say goodbye and drive over to AD
7 - drive to Muroor (which is off 4th street between 25th and 27th), park you car there and go in to take a ticket to pay the inspection fee. After you have your little inspection card, queue up at one of the inspection lanes. (if the inspection queues are long and you have a friend with you then queue up at the inspection lane first and have your friend go into the admin building to pay the inspection fee to save some time). The inspectors will look for accident damage, noisy exhausts and exhaust emissions. Minor mods are allowed, and major mods too if they are neat/tidy and safe. They might ask you to remove some panels in case they suspect accident damage taht has been repaired, and for that there is a mechanic with a lift just adjacent to the inspection lanes.
8 - when (if?) your car passes go the admin building and wait for a pass certificate to be printed out.
9 - now you need to issue some insurance from the small building adjacent to the admin building. There are a number of insurance companies under the same umbrella, but if you have a 2 door then the only 2 companies that will insure your car are the first two companies on your left and right hand side, so don't bother going in deeper since the other companies don't want the liability.
9 - once you have your insurance then head over to one of the windows to get your car registered. The clerk there will want a passport copy and residence copy so have that ready beforehand. You will be issued a registration number and the car will be registered.
10 - the final step is to go over the number plates factory (a small building on the side of the Muroor complex) and pay to have the plates made up. You have a choice of long or short number plates. Try to have change with you as the guys there seem to be short of change almost perpetually.
11 - get the worker outside to drill and install the plates on your car, and you're on your way to becoming an Abu Dhabian petrolhead.
Mattt said:
Info from Jassem from ADPCC site:
1 - find a car you like, place a deposit I guess.
2 - arrange for the owner of the car to join you at one of the 'Tasjeel' places dotted around Dubai. Note that not all of them are open on a Saturday, but the one that is closest to AD is the one at Barsha which is just after the Mall of Emirates as you enter Dubai (it's sign posted).
3 - queue the car up at one of the inspection lanes. There is a small fee you need to pay before entering the inspection lane. The car is not going to be passed or failed. The inspection simply aims to cross reference the chassis number to the paperwork, and possibly the engine number. Don't worry if your car doesn't 'pass' as it due to be exported anyway; your chassis number needs to match that's all.
4 - after inspection, park the car, remove the Dubai license places (hope you brought a screwdriver), and enter the admin building with the owner of the car. Now you can either take a ticket number and queue up for the procedures, or you can pay AED150 and get the whole thing fast-tracked by one of the guys while you have a coffee in relative comfort.
5 - once your queue comes up you will need to have a copy of your passport and residence permit handy. The clerk will transfer ownership to your name, and then hand you a set of blue 'export' number plates. After you get your plates you need to go to a different window to issue insurance for the duration of the validity of the export plates (which is 72 hours or so).
6 - after you issue the insurance, slap those export plates on the car (there are people there who can do it for you if you don't want to get your hands dirty), say goodbye and drive over to AD
7 - drive to Muroor (which is off 4th street between 25th and 27th), park you car there and go in to take a ticket to pay the inspection fee. After you have your little inspection card, queue up at one of the inspection lanes. (if the inspection queues are long and you have a friend with you then queue up at the inspection lane first and have your friend go into the admin building to pay the inspection fee to save some time). The inspectors will look for accident damage, noisy exhausts and exhaust emissions. Minor mods are allowed, and major mods too if they are neat/tidy and safe. They might ask you to remove some panels in case they suspect accident damage taht has been repaired, and for that there is a mechanic with a lift just adjacent to the inspection lanes.
8 - when (if?) your car passes go the admin building and wait for a pass certificate to be printed out.
9 - now you need to issue some insurance from the small building adjacent to the admin building. There are a number of insurance companies under the same umbrella, but if you have a 2 door then the only 2 companies that will insure your car are the first two companies on your left and right hand side, so don't bother going in deeper since the other companies don't want the liability.
9 - once you have your insurance then head over to one of the windows to get your car registered. The clerk there will want a passport copy and residence copy so have that ready beforehand. You will be issued a registration number and the car will be registered.
10 - the final step is to go over the number plates factory (a small building on the side of the Muroor complex) and pay to have the plates made up. You have a choice of long or short number plates. Try to have change with you as the guys there seem to be short of change almost perpetually.
11 - get the worker outside to drill and install the plates on your car, and you're on your way to becoming an Abu Dhabian petrolhead.
Hi gents, 1 - find a car you like, place a deposit I guess.
2 - arrange for the owner of the car to join you at one of the 'Tasjeel' places dotted around Dubai. Note that not all of them are open on a Saturday, but the one that is closest to AD is the one at Barsha which is just after the Mall of Emirates as you enter Dubai (it's sign posted).
3 - queue the car up at one of the inspection lanes. There is a small fee you need to pay before entering the inspection lane. The car is not going to be passed or failed. The inspection simply aims to cross reference the chassis number to the paperwork, and possibly the engine number. Don't worry if your car doesn't 'pass' as it due to be exported anyway; your chassis number needs to match that's all.
4 - after inspection, park the car, remove the Dubai license places (hope you brought a screwdriver), and enter the admin building with the owner of the car. Now you can either take a ticket number and queue up for the procedures, or you can pay AED150 and get the whole thing fast-tracked by one of the guys while you have a coffee in relative comfort.
5 - once your queue comes up you will need to have a copy of your passport and residence permit handy. The clerk will transfer ownership to your name, and then hand you a set of blue 'export' number plates. After you get your plates you need to go to a different window to issue insurance for the duration of the validity of the export plates (which is 72 hours or so).
6 - after you issue the insurance, slap those export plates on the car (there are people there who can do it for you if you don't want to get your hands dirty), say goodbye and drive over to AD
7 - drive to Muroor (which is off 4th street between 25th and 27th), park you car there and go in to take a ticket to pay the inspection fee. After you have your little inspection card, queue up at one of the inspection lanes. (if the inspection queues are long and you have a friend with you then queue up at the inspection lane first and have your friend go into the admin building to pay the inspection fee to save some time). The inspectors will look for accident damage, noisy exhausts and exhaust emissions. Minor mods are allowed, and major mods too if they are neat/tidy and safe. They might ask you to remove some panels in case they suspect accident damage taht has been repaired, and for that there is a mechanic with a lift just adjacent to the inspection lanes.
8 - when (if?) your car passes go the admin building and wait for a pass certificate to be printed out.
9 - now you need to issue some insurance from the small building adjacent to the admin building. There are a number of insurance companies under the same umbrella, but if you have a 2 door then the only 2 companies that will insure your car are the first two companies on your left and right hand side, so don't bother going in deeper since the other companies don't want the liability.
9 - once you have your insurance then head over to one of the windows to get your car registered. The clerk there will want a passport copy and residence copy so have that ready beforehand. You will be issued a registration number and the car will be registered.
10 - the final step is to go over the number plates factory (a small building on the side of the Muroor complex) and pay to have the plates made up. You have a choice of long or short number plates. Try to have change with you as the guys there seem to be short of change almost perpetually.
11 - get the worker outside to drill and install the plates on your car, and you're on your way to becoming an Abu Dhabian petrolhead.
I'm looking at an S2000 for the missus tomorrow (Sunday) in Dubai where I (finally) have residency now. Do I just need to follow steps 1-3 from above?
Any further advice is more than welcome.
Thanks,
Hitch
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