Exporting a car from Dubai | ExpatWoman.com
 

Exporting a car from Dubai

121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 July 2011 - 11:24

We have a 4x4, less than 5 years old that we want to take from Dubai to Doha. DH used it for work until the day he finished and I've used it since then for all the running round you have to do to move prepare to move countries. On Wednesday I came over from Doha to start the process of getting blue export plates etc so we can take the car to Qatar. The RTA 'Customer Service' centre told me it would be at least 4 hours before anyone could help me so I returned at 7:30am the following day. I explained that DH now works in Qatar and I'd be doing everything on his behalf, no problem, the lady was very helpful and listed the papers I'd need which included a Dubai warrant of fitness. So I took the car to the WOF place, the car passed the test, but after nearly an hour of waiting the lady there told me that the warrant of fitness would not be issued. She said car registration and immigration records are now linked and because the car is registered in DH's name and he no longer has a valid UAE visa so no warrant of fitness! Aaagh he doesn't have a valid UAE visa because he had to have it cancelled before he could get a Qatar RP for his job and he has to have an Qatar RP to import a car into Doha.
So this indicates that we cannot sell the car in Dubai ourselves or even transfer ownership to a friend with a UAE visa in order to sell it rather than export. Does this mean that as soon as you are made redundant/decide to leave Dubai you must sell your car before your employer cancels your visa? So how does anyone export a car from the UAE? This is doing my head in.
<em>edited by Safiya Dafiya on 15/07/2011</em>

789
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 16:37
I see - well, hope you can sort it out at another test centre! Good luck - it's hard sometimes to get the right info from people here and some do enjoy making us jump through hoops!! lol...
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 15:52
Two different cars: the 4x4 is in Dubai and is only 2 years old. This is the car that, despite passing the vehicle test at Rashidya, they refused to issue a test certificate b'coz DH's visa had been cancelled. Thank you to you and Azaiba for your help. I'll be back in Dubai next week and will take the 4x4 to another testing centre and repeat the process using the service where they do it for you. Fingers crossed.
789
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 12:00
Well, that's what our car had done at the testing centre and DH didn't have a valid Residency Visa, nor did the other poster. Unless, they are saying that your car failed its testing - not sure, but I would go to another testing centre and ask - DH went to the one near us, close to Al Wasl Hospital - there's a girl on reception who speaks English perfectly and knows what she is talking about - she explained everything to us....Did I not read on the Qatar forum that your car is older than 5 yrs and that you are seeking special permission to export it? (forgive me if I read that incorrectly) - that's a whole other ballgame and may be why they won't give you the WOF? <em>edited by chizz on 17/07/2011</em>
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 09:18
Thanks Ladies. Chizz the WOF (Warrant of Fitness) is the same as the test certificate, you take the car to a testing station, they test the brakes, lights, put it up on the hoist etc and issue the clear certificate at the end (hopefully). And this is where the problem arises, the RTA tell me I must have the test certificate before they will issue export plates but the test station will not issue the certificate because DH no longer has a valid UAE visa. Catch-22.
157
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 July 2011 - 11:38
I agree with chizz. I cancelled my visa when I moved to Oman. I was here for almost 2 years before I brought my car up to Dubai to de-register and get export plates for Oman. I was just given an export certificate and plates. Didn't have a WOF. If in doubt get one of the companies that do the service on your behalf which is what I did. We went to the RTA near the Al Gharhoud Bridge and I was in and out in 10 minutes. Worth the Dhs 200. If you do a search in here there are a number of companies who can help you.
789
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 July 2011 - 21:26
We are also taking our car to Doha and DH got the export plates for it before he left for Qatar last week. You can drive around the UAE for 2 weeks with the plates on and the car has to be exported within 6 months. DH's UAE Residency was also cancelled in his passport when he did the de-registering/got the export plates, etc., so not sure why they are telling you that you can't do it when his visa is cancelled - I would double check that! I thought the registered owner of the car had to be present to complete this process or you need a letter of authorization from your DH to do it on his behalf. Sorry, do not know what a warrant of fitness is? All DH got was an Export Certificate which allows us to export it through the freight company we are using....that is after it passes it's inspection.. <em>edited by chizz on 15/07/2011</em>
 
 

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