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Manage Vehicle Plates

This service enables you to change the vehicle plate number, renew the reservation of a plate number, replace a lost or damaged plate, and obtain or cancel a third plate number for your light vehicle if you mount a bicycle rack that obstructs the rear plate number.

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Eligibility
Citizens, residents, GCC nationals, companies, diplomatic bodies, and governmental entities are eligible to apply for this service.
Required documents

To change the vehicle plate number, renew the reservation of a number, and replace a lost or damaged plate:

Citizens, GCC nationals, and residents

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Letter from the police if the plates were lost.

Commercial companies

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Letter from the company
  3. Letter from the police if the plates were lost.

Companies (Free Zone)

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Letter from the company
  3. Letter from the police if the plates were lost
  4. Letter from the free zone authority in Jafza, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Airport.

Local and federal governmental and semi-governmental entities

  1. Emirates ID of the authorised person
  2. Letter from the governmental entity
  3. Letter from the police if the plates were lost.

Diplomatic bodies

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  3. Letter from the police if the plates were lost.

To obtain a third plate:

  1. No required documents.
Service fees

To change a plate number:

  • Short plate: 35 AED
  • Long plate: 50 AED
  • Short classical plate: 150 AED
  • Long classical plate: 150 AED
  • Motorcycle short plate: 25 AED
  • Luxury plate: 500 AED
  • Expo branded plate: 100 AED
  • Dubai branded plate: 200 AED
  • Vehicle registration card: 50 AED
  • +20 Knowledge and Innovation fees.

Note: For lost plates, the customer must replace them with the new plates, and pay the Knowledge and Innovation fees.

To renew a plate number reservation:

  • 3 months renewal fees: 20 AED
  • 6 months renewal fees: 40 AED
  • 1 year renewal fees: 80 AED (+ 20 AED Knowledge and Innovation in this case).

To apply for a third plate:

  • Short plate: 35 AED
  • Short classical plate: 150 AED
  • Short and colored Dubai branded plate: 200 AED
  • Short Expo branded plate: 100 AED
  • +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees, if the service fees exceed 50 AED.

To cancel a third plate:

  • Free

Note: For lost plates, the customer must contact Dubai Police to issue a Lost Plate Certificate, then replace them with the new plates, and pay the Knowledge and Innovation fees.

Process time
  • 3 minutes.
Process

Through the Website

To renew a plate number reservation

  1. The customer receives an SMS with the service link before the end of the reservation period.
  2. The customer clicks the link and logs in using his username and password, or through UAE Pass.
  3. The customer selects the reserved number then the required period.
  4. The customer pays the fees and receives the receipt electronically.

To change a plate number

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer selects the plate he wants to change then selects Manage Vehicle Plates from Vehicle Licensing Services.
  3. The customer pays the fines, if any.
  4. The customer selects the new plate details (number and design) then clicks Continue.
  5. The customer settles the required fees by credit card.
  6. The customer selects the service centre to hand over the old plates and receive the new ones.
  7. The customer receives the ownership certificate and receipts electronically.
  8. The customer heads to the centre to hand over the old plates and receive the new ones within 14 days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

To replace a lost or damaged plate

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer selects the vehicle.
  3. The customer selects the lost or damaged plate (front, rear, or both).
  4. If both plates are lost, the customer chooses to replace the plate number with another reserved, random or owned number.
  5. The customer selects the plate design and the centre where he will hand over the old plates and receive the new ones.
  6. The customer settles the required fees by credit card after agreeing to the terms and conditions.
  7. The customer receives the ownership certificate and receipts electronically.
  8. The customer heads to the centre to hand over the old plates (in case of damage) and receives the new ones within 14 days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

To apply for a third plate

  1. The customer logs in to the website using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer selects the plate number then selects Manage Vehicle Plates from Vehicle Licensing Services.
  3. The customer settles the required fees.
  4. The customer selects the centre from which he will receive the plate.
  5. The customer heads to the centre to receive the plate within 14 working days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

To cancel a third plate

  1. The customer logs in to the website using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer selects from the dashboard the vehicle with the third plate.
  3. The customer clicks Cancel Third Plate.
  4. The customer is notified once the transaction is completed.
  5. The customer hands over the third plate at one of the Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres.

Through RTA Dubai

To renew a plate number reservation

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer clicks Plates.
  3. The customer selects Manage Plates.
  4. The customer selects the reserved number then the required period.
  5. The customer pays the fees and receives the receipt through email.

To change a plate number

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer clicks Plates.
  3. The customer selects Change Vehicle Plate Number.
  4. The customer reviews the vehicle information and enters the details.
  5. The customer selects the service centre to hand over the old plates and receive the new ones.
  6. The customer settles the fines and required fees.
  7. The customer receives the receipts electronically.
  8. The customer heads to the centre to hand over the old plates and receives the new ones within 14 days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

To replace a lost or damaged plate

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer clicks Plates.
  3. The customer selects Replacing a lost/ damaged plate number.
  4. The customer uploads the ownership certificate in case the plate is lost outside Dubai.
  5. The customer selects the lost or damaged plate (front, rear, or both).
  6. The customer selects the service centre to receive the new plates.
  7. The customer settles the required fees by credit card after agreeing to the terms and conditions.
  8. The customer receives the ownership certificate and receipts electronically.
  9. The customer heads to the centre to hand over the old plates (in case of damage) and receives the new ones within 14 days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

To apply for a third plate

  1. The customer logs in using his username and password, or UAE Pass.
  2. The customer clicks Plates.
  3. The customer selects Add a third plate number (bicycle rack).
  4. The customer selects the vehicle and plate number.
  5. The customer settles the required fees by credit card after agreeing to the terms and conditions.
  6. The customer selects the centre from which he will receive the plate.
  7. The customer heads to the centre to receive the plate within 14 working days to avoid the cancellation of the application.

Through Customer Happiness Centres or Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres

To change a plate number or replace a lost or damaged plate

  1. The customer heads to the front desk employee.
  2. The employee sends to the customer the link of the requested service.
  3. The customer uploads the required documents through the link.
  4. The customer receives the transaction code.
  5. The customer submits the transaction code to the front desk employee to complete the service process, check and electronically sign the application.
  6. The customer settles the required fees.
  7. The customer receives the payment receipt with the list of centres he can receive the plates from.
  8. The customer hands over the old plates and receives the plates and the ownership certificate of the vehicle.

Through Mahboub Chatbot

To renew a plate number reservation

Customers with no RTA account

  1. The customer types Renew Plate Number Reservation.
  2. The customer enters the vehicle plate number.
  3. The customer confirms the vehicle details.
  4. The customer enters the required information: traffic file number, birth year, or trade licence number.
  5. The customer provides the plate number reservation period (3 months, 6 months, or 1 year).
  6. The customer settles the required fees by credit card.
  7. The customer receives the certificate electronically.

Customers with RTA account

  1. The customer types Renew Plate Number Reservation.
  2. The customer enters his username.
  3. The customer confirms the vehicle details.
  4. RTA checks if there are any plate numbers reserved under the customer’s name.
  5. The customer enters the required information: traffic file number, birth year, or trade licence number.
  6. The customer provides the plate number reservation period (3 Months, 6 Months, or 1 Year).
  7. The customer settles the required fees by credit card.
  8. The customer receives the certificate electronically.
Average waiting time
  • Website and smart app: instantly
  • Customer Happiness Centres or Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centres: 8 minutes.
Validity
  • 1 year.
  • Plate number reservation: 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.
What you will get
  • In case of changing a plate number: Vehicle ownership certificate and 2 vehicle plate numbers.
  • In case of renewing a plate number reservation: Receipt of the plate number reservation renewal.
  • In case of applying for a third plate: Additional vehicle plate.
Terms and conditions
FAQs
  • Question 1: Should the customer bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the bank to change the plate number if the vehicle was under mortgage?

Answer 1: No, the customer does not need an NOC from the bank.

  • Question 2: Can the customer change the vehicle plate number if the residence visa was issued in another emirate?

Answer 2: Yes, if the residence visa or the Emirates ID was valid.

  • Question 3: Can the customer renew the reservation of the plate number before the expiry of the initial reservation?

Answer 3: Yes, the customer can renew the reservation of the plate number before its expiry.

  • Question 4: If the customer owns the number but lost both Dubai vehicle plates, will he get the same or a different plate number when he applies for Replacing a Lost/Damaged Plate Number?

Answer 4: The customer will receive the same number because he owns it.

  • Question 5: What's the procedure if the customer loses his plate number and applies for a replacement, but loses the replacement or the other plate number within 6 months or less?

Answer 5: The customer will receive a random plate number. However, if he wants to get the same plate number as the one he lost, he will have to wait 6 months if the plates were stolen and 1 year if they were lost, depending on the Police report.

  • Question 6: Can the customer replace a lost/damaged plate if the vehicle registration has expired or is about to expire?

Answer 6: No, but he can replace the plate when renewing the vehicle licence.

  • Question 7: If the customer loses the plates in one of the GCC countries, what’s the procedure to replace them?

Answer 7:

    • In case of losing 1 plate, the customer can drive back to the UAE and must present a police report.
    • In case of losing 2 plates, RTA forbids the customer from driving the vehicle back to the UAE and he must present a police report.

Note: If the police report is issued from outside the country, it must be certified. However, if it's issued within the country, RTA is not the authority responsible for requiring certification. The matter is referred to Dubai Police.

  • Question 8: If the customer wants to replace a lost/damaged plate, does he have to submit the second plate to the centre?

Answer 8: If the plate is damaged, the customer must submit it to the centre and replace it with a new one. If the plate is lost, the customer must submit a Police report. If only one plate is lost and the other one is available but old, the customer must submit the old one to the centre to receive 2 new plates.

  • Question 9: Does the customer need to remove the bicycle rack before the technical inspection at the inspection centre?

Answer 9: No, there’s no need to remove the bicycle rack.

  • Question 10: Are the service fees for applying for a third plate the same for short and long plates?

Answer 10: This service is only available for short plates.

  • Question 11: Can the customer receive a third Expo branded plate if the existing one is a regular plate, or vice versa?

Answer 11: No, the new third plate must match the plate already installed on the vehicle.

  • Question 12: Is it possible to place a small light around the vehicle wheel rim to make the bicycle rack visible at night?

Answer 12: No.

  • Question 13: Is there a limitation regarding the number of the bicycle racks?

Answer 13: No.

  • Question 14: Are there specific centres to deliver the plate?

Answer 14: No, the plate can be delivered at any Vehicle Registration and Inspection Centre.

  • Question 15: If the third plate isn’t delivered, will the application be cancelled?

Answer 15: If the third plate isn’t delivered within 14 working days, the application will be cancelled and the customer will have to reapply.

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