Grace Period for Car Registration in Dubai: All You Need to Know

Dubai: Dubai drivers get a short grace period to renew car registration. Here’s how it works, the fines involved, and what happens if you miss it.

• 30-day grace period to renew expired Mulkiya without penalties.
• Late fees apply after the grace period ends.
• Driving with expired registration brings heavy fines and black points.
• Insurance may become void if caught driving past expiry.

Car registration is a crucial requirement for all drivers in Dubai, but life’s busy pace can sometimes cause delays in renewal. To help motorists, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) provides a grace period for vehicle registration renewals.

This grace period gives drivers more time to complete the process without immediately facing penalties, though delaying beyond it comes with strict consequences.

What Is the Grace Period?

Once your Mulkiya (vehicle registration) expires, the RTA grants a 30-day grace period. During this time, you can renew your registration without paying late fees. In other words, you have a full month to settle your paperwork without facing extra charges.

As one motorist noted: “You have a grace period of 1 month immediately after the expiry of registration... The penalty of AED 35 p.m. for late renewal will start immediately.”

This statement reinforces the importance of acting promptly within those 30 days to avoid additional costs.

What Happens After the Grace Period?

Missing the grace period triggers late fees and serious legal risks if you continue driving.

• Late renewal fees: Drivers who renew after the grace period but keep their vehicles off the road will face a monthly fee of AED 25 to 35 until renewal is completed.
• Driving with expired registration: If caught, you could be fined AED 500, given at least 4 black points, and have your vehicle impounded for up to 7 days. Your insurance also becomes invalid, which means you bear full responsibility for any accidents.

Another driver shared: “The grace period is still valid but they will charge the late fee around 30 AED... Just updated my registration after 12 months + 29 days. 30 AED extra fee.”

Summary of Scenarios

To make things clear, here’s how the grace period and penalties work:

• Within 30-day grace period: No fines. Renewal can be completed normally.
• After grace period, not driving: AED 25 to 35 per month late fee applies until renewal.
• Driving with expired registration: AED 500 fine, black points, vehicle impoundment risk, and invalid insurance.

Why Timely Renewal Matters

Beyond avoiding fines, renewing on time ensures your vehicle insurance remains valid and your car stays road-legal. With Dubai’s strict traffic rules, failing to renew can bring financial and legal trouble that far outweighs the effort of timely renewal.

For many drivers, insurance policies often run for 13 months, which can create confusion about the actual registration expiry date. Keeping an eye on both dates and using the grace period wisely ensures smoother renewals and fewer risks.