How to Buy a Number Plate in Dubai (RTA Guide 2026)
January 13, 2026
Dubai
LicensePlate.ae Team
Dubai number plates are bought and sold every day, but the part that actually matters is not the “deal” you agree with someone. The part that matters is the official RTA process that issues the Plate Ownership Certificate and legally changes ownership.
This guide breaks the process into the four real routes buyers use, with exact RTA steps, timelines, and the common pitfalls that cause delays.
Quick answer
To buy a number plate in Dubai, log in to RTA using your RTA account or UAE Pass, then choose the correct route: Buy New Plate Number (instant), Buy New Plate Number with approval (up to 10 working days), join an RTA auction, or transfer plate ownership from a private seller. After payment and approvals (if required), RTA issues the Plate Ownership Certificate and receipts via SMS and email.
Table of contents
Choose the correct buying route
What you need before you start
Route A: Buy a new plate number instantly (RTA)
Route B: Approval-based purchase (10 working days)
Route C: Buy from a private seller (transfer ownership)
Route D: Buy via RTA auctions (online and open auctions)
Payments, documents, and timelines
Mistakes that delay plate purchases
FAQ
Choose the correct buying route
Use the route that matches the real situation of your plate number.
Route A: Buy New Plate Number (instant)
Best for: Plate is available for direct purchase
Typical time: Instant
Key output: Certificate and receipts via SMS/email
Route B: Buy New Plate Number (approval)
Best for: Plate requires approval/deposit before completion
Typical time: Up to 1-2 working days
Key output: Certificate after approval and payment
Route C: Transfer Plate Ownership
Best for: You are buying a plate already owned by someone
Typical time: Fast once both sign
Key output: Ownership certificate to buyer
Route D: RTA Auctions
Best for: You are bidding on special or distinctive plates
Typical time: Event-based
Key output: Certificate after winning and payment
If you operate a marketplace (like LicensePlate.ae), your credibility comes from being explicit: you can help source listings and coordinate the deal, but the legal ownership change is always completed through the RTA route that fits the transaction.
What you need before you start (checklist)
Have these ready to avoid failed sessions and pending transactions:
UAE Pass or an RTA account login
A UAE mobile number linked to your profile (RTA uses SMS for confirmations and signing links)
A Dubai traffic file (especially relevant for auctions)
A payment method that matches the channel (credit card is commonly supported online; auctions may also use manager’s cheque depending on value and rules)
Route A: Buy a new plate number instantly (RTA “Buy New Plate Number”)
Use this route when the plate is available for direct purchase and you want instant issuance.
Official RTA steps (website)
Log in using your username and password, or UAE Pass.
Select Buy New Plate Number from Plates Services.
Enter the details.
Pay the fees.
Receive the certificate and receipts through SMS and email.
Timing
RTA lists the service time as instantly.
What you should save immediately
Plate Ownership Certificate
Receipts (for audit trail, resale, or transfer)
Route B: Approval-based purchase (up to 1-2 working days)
Some plate purchases are not completed instantly. RTA documents a workflow where you submit details, wait for approval, then complete payment.
Official RTA steps (website)
Log in using your username and password.
Select Buy New Plate Number from Plates Services.
Enter the details.
Receive the approval within 1-2 working days.
Pay the fees.
Receive the certificate and receipts through SMS and email.
RTA Dubai App flow (important nuance)
RTA also describes paying a deposit and receiving approval within 10 working days to complete the transaction, then paying the remaining fees and receiving the certificate by email and SMS (also available in My Docs).
Practical advice
Treat approval received as the turning point. Before approval, do not assume the plate is secured. After approval, pay promptly to avoid delays.
Route C: Buying from a private seller (RTA “Transfer a Vehicle Plate Number”)
If the plate already has an owner, you do not buy it by paying the seller. You buy it when RTA issues the new ownership certificate to you after both parties sign and fees are paid.
This RTA route is also what protects both sides:
Seller avoids releasing control without a signed transfer agreement.
Buyer avoids paying without receiving an RTA-issued ownership certificate.
Official RTA steps (website)
- Seller logs in.
- Seller selects the plate number.
- Seller selects Transfer a Vehicle Plate Number from Plates Services.
- Seller identity is confirmed via the registered phone number.
- Seller enters buyer details, agrees to terms, and submits.
- Buyer receives an email and an SMS to sign the selling agreement.
- Buyer and seller sign the plate transfer agreement.
- Buyer pays the fees.
- Buyer receives the Plate Number Ownership Certificate and payment receipt via email and SMS (or downloads via the website).
What to agree in the deal (before initiating transfer)
Exact plate (code plus digits)
Price and who pays RTA fees
Deadline for signing the agreement link
Route D: Buying via RTA auctions (online and open auctions)
RTA auctions are where many headline plates trade, but operationally they work like any structured bidding system: you register, provide security, pay participation and insurance fees, bid, then complete settlement if you win.
Auction subscription steps (RTA)
- Log in
- Subscribe or register for the auction
- Pay insurance and participation fees
- Start bidding
- Receive the Plate Ownership Certificate and receipts electronically
- Refund detail many guides miss
If you paid auction insurance by credit card, RTA notes it will be refunded to the card within 40 working days; if you deposited a cheque, you retrieve it from the centre where it was deposited.
Online auction requirements (example format used in RTA announcements)
Security cheque (example: AED 5,000 for some online auctions)
Non-refundable participation fee (example: AED 120)
Online card payments supported
Participation fee can be paid online or at Customer Happiness Centres
Open auction requirements (example format used in public reporting)
5 percent VAT applies
- Bidders need a Dubai traffic file
- Security cheque (example: AED 25,000)
- Participation fee (example: AED 120, non-refundable)
- Documents you receive (and where to find them)
- Across plate services, RTA commonly issues:
- Plate Ownership Certificate (digital)
- Receipts (digital)
- Notifications via SMS and email
In the approval-based flow, RTA explicitly mentions accessing the certificate via My Docs.
Mistakes that delay plate purchases (and how to avoid them)
Using the wrong route
Trying to buy new when the plate is already owned creates loops and failed attempts. If it has an owner, use Transfer Plate Ownership.
Not signing the agreement link fast enough
Private transfers require both parties to sign. If one side delays, the transaction stalls.
Treating approval pending as secured
Approval-based purchases can take up to 1-2 working days; plan accordingly.
Auction deposits and refunds not understood
Know what is refundable, what is non-refundable, and the refund timeline.
FAQ
How to buy a number plate in Dubai?
Log in to RTA with UAE Pass or an RTA account and choose the correct route: Buy New Plate Number (instant), approval-based purchase (up to 10 working days), participate in an auction, or transfer plate ownership from a private seller. After payment and any required approvals, RTA sends the ownership certificate and receipts via SMS and email.
Can I buy a Dubai number plate from another person?
Yes, by using RTA’s plate ownership transfer process: the seller initiates, both parties sign the transfer agreement, then the buyer pays the fees and receives the Plate Number Ownership Certificate.
How long does it take?
Some RTA plate purchases are instant, while approval-based purchases can take up to 1-2 working days. Private transfers can be fast once both parties sign and fees are paid.
Do I need a Dubai traffic file for auctions?
Auction announcements and reporting commonly describe having a Dubai traffic file as a participation requirement, alongside deposits, fees, and VAT.
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