As of 1 October 2026: transferring a Dubai vehicle plate number costs a flat AED 120 and processes instantly, read directly from RTA’s own service page. The process itself is simple, but RTA splits it into two distinct paths depending on whether the number is already attached to a vehicle or sitting in reserve, and the second path comes with a restriction worth knowing about before starting.
What does this service actually cover?
A Dubai plate number transfer lets a seller move ownership of a plate number to a buyer, producing an Electronic Plate Number Ownership Certificate once complete. It runs entirely through RTA’s own channels: the website, RTA’s smart apps, Customer Happiness Centres, or Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres, with a UAE PASS or RTA account login at the centre of the process.
Why does a plate number carry its own transfer process at all?
In Dubai specifically, a plate number is treated as a distinct, tradeable asset separate from the vehicle it happens to be attached to, which is why RTA runs ownership of the number itself through its own transfer service rather than folding it into vehicle registration. Low-digit and single-letter combinations in particular carry real resale value, which is part of why RTA tracks and certifies plate ownership as formally as it does.
Who can actually use this service?
RTA lists the eligible categories as citizens, residents, and GCC nationals. The only document required on either side is the Emirates ID, both the buyer’s and the seller’s, and the fee is a flat AED 120 regardless of which type of transfer is being completed.
What is the difference between an owned number and a reserved number transfer?
This is the detail most likely to matter. RTA splits the service into two paths: transferring an owned number, a plate already registered to a vehicle, which can go to any eligible buyer, and transferring a reserved number, a plate held in reserve rather than attached to a car, which RTA restricts specifically to relatives. A distinctive or low-digit plate held in reserve cannot simply be sold to any buyer the way an ordinary registered plate can; it can only move within the family.
How does the actual transfer process work?
The steps run in a fixed sequence: log in using an RTA account, UAE PASS, or Emirates ID, Driving Licence, plate number, or Traffic File details, select the plate number, then choose Transfer Plate Number Ownership from the Plates Services menu. The seller’s identity is confirmed through UAE PASS and their registered phone number, then the seller enters the buyer’s details and submits the application. The buyer then receives an email and SMS to sign the selling agreement, both parties sign it, the buyer pays the AED 120 fee, and the buyer receives the Plate Number Ownership Certificate along with the payment receipt by email and SMS, or can download both from the website.
How fast does this actually happen?
RTA lists the service time as instant once the application, signatures, and payment are all complete. There is no multi-day waiting period built into the process itself, the main variable is how quickly both the buyer and seller complete their respective steps, particularly signing the selling agreement once it is issued.
How does this fit with the rest of registering a vehicle in Dubai?
A plate transfer is a separate action from registering the vehicle itself. Our Dubai vehicle registration guide covers the fees for registering, renewing, and transferring a vehicle’s registration, which is the process that usually runs alongside a plate transfer rather than replacing it. Our guide to buying a used car in Dubai covers the wider purchase process this plate transfer often sits inside, and anyone who still owes fines on the vehicle should check our UAE traffic fines and Salik guide first, since unpaid fines can hold up a registration-linked transfer even when the plate transfer itself goes through cleanly.
What is the short version?
RTA charges a flat AED 120 to transfer a Dubai plate number, processing instantly once both parties sign the selling agreement and the fee is paid. An owned number already on a vehicle can go to any eligible buyer; a reserved number not yet attached to a vehicle can only be transferred to a relative. Both sides need only their Emirates ID, and the whole process runs through RTA’s website, app, or service centres.
Last updated: 1 October 2026. Primary source: RTA, Apply for Transferring a Vehicle Plate Number.
