Dubai: If your vehicle registration has expired, would you get into trouble for driving the car even though the insurance – which is valid for a month longer – is valid? A Gulf News reader wrote in asking this question: “If someone owns a car and their vehicle registration has expired, but they still have a month left for the insurance to be renewed, is it legal to drive on UAE roads? I am asking specifically regarding the period when the registration has expired but the insurance hasn’t.”
Gulf News raised the reader’s query with Ministry of Interior (MoI), who said that motorists should renew their vehicle registration as soon as it expires, regardless of the extra month of insurance to maintain the safety and security of all road users.
The statement added: “However, a driver can drive his or her own vehicle during this month in certain circumstances that prevent him or her from renewing the vehicle registration. However, if they commit any violation or get involved in a traffic accident after the end of the insurance period, they will be subject to a hefty fine.”
A driver can drive his or her own vehicle during this month in certain circumstances that prevent him or her from renewing the vehicle registration. However, if they commit any violation or get involved in a traffic accident after the end of the insurance period, they will be subject to a hefty fine.
Late renewal fines
In case the individual fails to renew the registration during the grace period, a charge of Dh35 per month is levied by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai. For all other emirates, the Ministry of Interior imposes a fine of Dh10 per month, according to the MOI website.
Caught while driving a vehicle with an expired registration
If a car is driven on UAE roads, which does not have a valid registration, the violators will be fined Dh500 and four black points recorded against their licence. The vehicles will also be impounded for seven days, as per Article 25B of Road Traffic Law (driving a vehicle with expired licence). These violations can be recorded by police patrols as well as smart radars that have been installed across the UAE.
