Quick answer
Before leaving the UAE, check every fine on your car through the official police or traffic app for the emirate. Fines must be paid before the car can be transferred or cancelled. When you sell to us, fines can be settled from the sale price so you leave with nothing outstanding on the car.
Why unpaid fines matter when you leave
Traffic fines are recorded against your traffic file. While the car is registered to you, they block any transfer or cancellation, which means you can't properly get rid of the car without paying them. Leaving them unpaid also means the car remains in your name, collecting more.
If you plan to return to the UAE for work, family or holidays, outstanding traffic matters can resurface when you need a new visa, licence or car. Clearing everything before departure is the cleanest way to leave.
How to clear car fines before you fly
- Check all fines using the official app for the emirate where the car is registered: RTA or Dubai Police for Dubai, TAMM for Abu Dhabi, or the MOI UAE app and emirate police services elsewhere.
- Look for fines from other emirates. They appear on the same file and still need paying.
- Check Salik or Darb violations separately if you've driven through toll gates without balance.
- Decide how to pay: directly now, or from the sale price when you sell.
- Get the transfer or cancellation done so no new fines can land on your file.
Fines, loan, fault: selling when everything happens at once
Departures are rarely neat. A car with fines might also have a loan and a warning light, and you might have ten days. We see this combination often. Send us the car details, a fines screenshot and, if relevant, your bank's settlement amount, and we'll give you a clear net figure so you can decide quickly.
Also see selling a financed car when leaving the UAE and the practical guide to clearing fines and Salik before selling.
Fines checklist before your flight
| Check | Where |
|---|---|
| Traffic fines on the car | RTA or Dubai Police app, TAMM, or your emirate's police services |
| Fines from other emirates | MOI UAE app |
| Salik or Darb violations | The toll operator's app or website |
| Municipal parking fines | Parking or municipality services |
| Transfer or cancellation confirmed | Your traffic file, after the sale |