Buying a used car in the UAE: the checklist

1. Before you go: the listing

• Compare the price. Look at five to ten similar cars on Dubizzle, Dubicars and YallaMotor: same model, year, spec and similar mileage. A car priced well under the rest usually has a reason.
• Check the spec. GCC spec, US import, Japanese import and European cars are priced differently. If the listing does not say, ask. See GCC spec vs imported cars.
• Ask for the VIN. A seller who will not share the chassis number before a viewing is a warning sign. With the VIN you can check the spec and, for imports, the overseas history.
• Ask the right questions. How long have you owned it? Where was it serviced? Any accidents? Is it under finance? Why are you selling?

2. Paperwork

• Registration card (mulkiya). The name should match the seller's Emirates ID, or the seller should have authority to sell. Check the chassis number on the card against the car.
• Bank finance. Ask if the car is under a loan. If it is, the loan must be settled and the bank's hold released before the car can be transferred. Agree in writing how and when that happens.
• Traffic fines. Outstanding fines on the car generally need to be cleared before a transfer. Ask the seller to settle them first.
• Service history. Dealer stamps, invoices or a printout from the agency system. Check that the mileage on each record goes up in a sensible way.
• Warranty and service contracts. If the car is still under warranty or a service package, ask the dealer whether it transfers to you.

3. The viewing

• See it cold. Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. Rattles, smoke and slow starts show up on a cold engine.
• Walk around in daylight. Look along each side for ripples, mismatched colour and uneven panel gaps, all signs of repair. Our guide to spotting accident and flood damage goes deeper.
• Look underneath and under the hood. Fresh drips on the ground, wet patches on the engine or gearbox, and corrosion.
• Inside. Every switch, window and seat. Warning lights should come on at start and then go out. Run the AC at full and feel how cold it gets: UAE summers punish weak AC systems.
• Tyres. The four-digit DOT code shows the week and year made. Tyres older than about five years should be budgeted for, whatever the tread.

4. The test drive

• Drive for at least 15 minutes, including highway speed if you can.
• The gearbox should shift smoothly, cold and hot, with no flare or thump.
• The car should brake straight, with no pulsing through the pedal.
• Listen for knocks over bumps, humming that changes with speed, and whining from the engine bay.
• After the drive, look underneath again for anything that started dripping.

5. Get it inspected

A buyer's eyes catch the obvious. An inspection on ramps, with every computer module scanned and paint measured on every panel, catches the expensive things that do not show at a viewing: cleared fault codes, repainted panels, a tired gearbox, leaking suspension. It also gives you a repair bill in AED to negotiate with. Here is what we check.

6. Agree the price

• Negotiate from numbers: the cost of the repairs found and what similar cars sell for.
• Put the agreed price and conditions in writing, especially if the seller is clearing a loan or fixing something before the sale.
• Pay in a traceable way, never in cash to someone you cannot identify.

7. The transfer

• The transfer is done through the traffic authority of the emirate, in a service centre or online, depending on the case. Check what tests and documents are needed for your car before the day.
• Arrange insurance in your name so the car is covered from the moment it is yours.
• Collect all keys, the service book and any spare parts or accessories that were in the listing.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; check with the RTA or your emirate's traffic authority for your case.