Dubai: Registration of all commercial vehicles will be diverted online from the beginning of next month as part of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) to ease congestion at customer service centres.
The authority began the process of gradually moving commercial vehicle registration online in 2013, when it introduced e-wallet and banned cash transactions for companies at RTA customer service centres.
“The move is aimed at moving bulk transactions on to the internet and adding more convenience for regular customers by reducing the rush at customer care centres. By the end of this month no commercial vehicle transactions will be allowed over the counter,” said Ahmad Hashem Behroozian, CEO of RTA’s Licensing Agency.
The initiative covers all vehicles owned by private and public firms as well as transport operators.
Following the successful diversion of commercial vehicle registration online RTA plans to introduce the policy for individual car owners next year.
“The RTA is committed to implement and improve the means of delivering services to corporate and individual customers at world-class standards. This has prompted us to divert the services offered via customer service centres to alternative electronic and smart channels, such as RTA website (www.rta.ae), and the Drivers & Vehicles smartphone app starting from November 1,” added Behroozian.
RTA started the process of moving vehicle registration online from mid-2013 through a series of policy changes and initiatives like no-cash transations and e-wallet.
The ban on cash transactions for big fleet owners came into effect in a phased manner, with firms owning more than 1,000 vehicles in Dubai being the first target, followed by firms with more than 500 vehicles and then smaller firms covered by the policy
Around 55,000 firms with a combined fleet of more than 400,000 vehicles will have to process registrations online once the system is implemented from November 1.
With cash banned, firms were left to choose between debit/credit cards or the e-Wallet payment option that RTA launched in 2013.
RTA claims e-Wallet is the most secure payment option commercial customers will have, as it negates fraud or misuse.
“Firms can use both eWallet or credit/debit cards to pay for their transactions but we feel the eWallet is safer as it minimises chances of financial irregularity or any kind of fraud. With the eWallet corporate customers will just have to open an account with the RTA free of cost and transfer the required amount of funds into the eWallet, which can be used to carry out transactions online,” said Behroozian.
The online registration system has been available for motorists for the last five years, but the RTA is now making it mandatory for commercial vehicles, which means no commercial vehicle registration will be done at the RTA’s customer care centres.
However, commercial vehicles will continue to visit vehicle testing centres for the annual vehicle inspection before renewing the registrion online.
“We are making persistent efforts to make the RTA act as a team in realising the vision of the Dubai Government, which calls for reducing the number of visitors to customer service centres, and enabling them to process their transactions at the time and place of their choice,” Behroozian added.
He said: “Electronic and smart channels have a significant role in encouraging companies and individuals to use them since they save the hassle of waiting, and enable them to process their transactions and services in an express manner, without obliging them to visit the service points.”
