Al Ain court orders buyer to pay Dh20,000 for unsettled car purchase and traffic fines

An individual purchased a car valued at Dh20,000 from its owner but failed to pay the agreed amount to the seller (plaintiff). During his possession of the vehicle, the buyer (defendant) also committed traffic violations amounting to Dh2,680. As a result, the owner was unable to renew the car registration due to those fines.

Accordingly, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit requesting the court to oblige the defendant to pay the full agreed purchase price under the sales contract, to transfer the traffic fines of Dh2,680 to the defendant’s traffic file, and to award him Dh4,000 in compensation for the damages he suffered as a result of the failure to transfer ownership and the accumulation of violations on his traffic record. The plaintiff also argued that these issues prevented him from renewing the registrations of his other vehicles and caused financial delays due to the defendant’s refusal to pay.

The Al Ain Court of Civil, Commercial, and Administrative Claims ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to pay Dh20,000 to the plaintiff, while rejecting the remainder of the claims.

In its reasoning, the court emphasized that, under traffic regulations, when transferring vehicle ownership, the original owner must notify the relevant licensing authority within 14 days, attaching a copy of the documents proving the transfer of ownership. The new owner must, within the same period, submit a transfer request to the licensing authority using the prescribed form, along with the vehicle registration card, the deed of transfer, proof of identity, residence, status, nationality, as well as valid third-party liability insurance, and a clearance certificate showing that all traffic fines incurred within the UAE have been settled up to the date of transfer. Until the ownership is officially transferred, the original license holder remains legally responsible for all obligations related to the vehicle.