You register a vehicle under your company trade licence by completing the purchase or transfer at an RTA service centre or Tasjeel centre in the company’s name, with the valid trade licence, an official company letter and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory or representative, plus insurance taken in the company’s name. The vehicle file, plate and Mulkiya are then held by the company rather than an individual, and renewals, Salik and fines are managed against that company traffic file. Prepare the company documents first — most delays are paperwork, not the transfer itself.
Quick facts
- Cost: Transfer and registration fees are similar to a personal transfer, typically a few hundred dirhams plus plates and insurance — check the RTA fee screen for the current amount
- Time needed: About 1 hour at the centre if documents are complete; longer if a mortgage or finance release is involved
- Where it happens: RTA Customer Happiness Centres, Tasjeel, Shamil and other authorised testing and registration centres
- Core documents: Valid trade licence, company letter, authorised person’s Emirates ID, insurance in company name
Step-by-step: Register a company vehicle
- Confirm the licence can hold the vehicle. Check your trade licence is valid and that your business activity fits the vehicle type — a standard commercial licence can register cars and light vehicles, while certain heavy vehicles, passenger transport or rental use need specific activities and approvals. Resolve any licence renewal or RTA block first, because an expired licence stops the transaction.
- Prepare an authorisation pack. Bring the original trade licence and a copy, a company letter on letterhead stating the vehicle details and who is authorised to complete the registration, the Emirates ID of the owner, partner or authorised manager, and a copy of the memorandum or establishment card if the centre asks for it. If a PRO or employee will attend, the letter must name them clearly with their Emirates ID number.
- Arrange insurance in the company name. The policy must match the trade licence name exactly — including punctuation and “LLC” wording. A policy bought in a director’s personal name will not be accepted for a company registration, and fixing it at the counter wastes the visit.
- Clear fines and complete the vehicle test. Settle outstanding fines on the seller’s file and, for a used vehicle, pass the RTA technical inspection at Tasjeel or an authorised centre. For a brand-new car, the dealer normally handles the test exemption and initial registration paperwork, but the company documents above are still required.
- Complete the transfer at the centre. The seller and your authorised representative attend, or the sale is completed through the approved digital channel where available. The RTA officer opens or verifies your company traffic file, links the vehicle, and you choose whether to keep an existing plate (where permitted), transfer a reserved plate, or issue a new plate number.
- Pay fees and receive the Mulkiya. Pay the transfer, registration and plate fees by card and receive the vehicle registration card (Mulkiya) in the company name, also available digitally in the RTA and DubaiNow apps linked to the file. Check the licence name, plate number and expiry date before you leave the counter.
- Set up Salik and accounts under the company file. Register a Salik tag against the company vehicle and plate, and record the vehicle in your company asset and insurance renewal lists. Fines for company vehicles go to the company traffic file, so assign one person internally to check the RTA app monthly and recover driver-caused fines promptly.
Documents needed — full checklist
Take originals and copies of: trade licence (valid, with all pages if activities are listed separately), company authorisation letter on letterhead with stamp where your company uses one, Emirates ID of the attending authorised person, the seller’s Mulkiya and Emirates ID for a used purchase, the passed vehicle inspection report, and the insurance certificate in the exact company name. If the vehicle is financed, you also need the bank’s approval or a mortgage registration — the RTA system will show the finance hold until the bank releases or transfers it. Free zone companies should bring their establishment card as well, as centres commonly ask for it to verify the file. Names must match across every document character for character; a trade licence in one spelling and insurance in another is the single most common reason for a second trip.
Costs and ongoing responsibilities
Expect the same broad fee bands as a personal registration: transfer fee, registration fee, plate fees and the inspection fee for used vehicles — together typically a few hundred dirhams for a standard car with a standard plate, plus insurance. Ask for the itemised receipt. Diary the Mulkiya expiry, keep insurance continuous, and remember that fines sit on the company file and can block other transactions until paid. If the company later closes, vehicles must be sold, transferred or exported before licence cancellation can complete.
Common mistakes to avoid
Businesses most often trip on authority: sending a driver with no named authorisation letter, or a letter signed by someone who is not on the licence. The second is buying the car personally and assuming it can be “moved to the company later for free” — a later transfer is a full second transaction with its own fees and test. Also avoid registering delivery or staff vehicles under a manager’s personal file for convenience; an accident or fine then entangles a personal record with a business asset. Finally, keep the company traffic file details updated when you renew the trade licence or change partners, so the next renewal does not stall on a mismatch.
FAQ
Can any employee drive a company-registered car?
Generally yes, if they hold the correct UAE driving licence category and your insurance covers authorised drivers for that use. Check your policy wording — some company policies name specific drivers or restrict use — and keep a copy of the driver’s licence on file.
Can a free zone company register a vehicle in Dubai?
Yes, free zone companies register vehicles through RTA using their trade licence and establishment documents. Bring both, and confirm your free zone licence is valid on the day of transfer.
What happens to company car fines?
They accumulate on the company traffic file and must be paid before renewals and other vehicle transactions. Check the file regularly in the RTA app and agree internally how driver-caused fines are recovered.
