Used Car Buying Guide UAE

Before inspecting the vehicle, make sure the vehicle itself matches your needs.

Ask: What will I mainly use the car for?

• Daily commuting?
• Family transportation?
• Long-distance driving?
• City driving?
• Weekend use?
• Desert trips or off-road driving?

Then ask:

• How many people and how much luggage will I usually carry?
• Will it fit where I park every day?
• How far will I drive each month, and what will the fuel cost?
• Petrol, hybrid or electric: can I charge at home or at work?
• How easy will it be to service, and to sell again later?

Once you know what you need, narrow your search: filter used cars for sale in the UAE by make, model, price and year.

The right car fits the way you live, not just your budget.

Every used car has a story. Your job is to find out whether it has been looked after, and whether anything is being left out.

Questions to ask the seller

• How long have you owned the car, and how many owners has it had?
• Why are you selling it?
• Has it ever been in an accident, even a small one?
• Was it bought new in the UAE, or imported? From where?
• Is there a bank loan on the car?
• Has it had major repairs, or a replacement engine or gearbox?

Match the chassis number (VIN)

The 17-character chassis number is printed on the Mulkiya (the vehicle registration card) and on the car itself, usually at the bottom of the windscreen and on the driver's door frame. They must all match.

Use it to run a vehicle history check. For an imported car, this can reveal auction, salvage, flood or mileage records from abroad.

Ask for the accident records

Ask to see any police accident reports and the repair invoices. In the UAE, garages normally need a police report before they repair accident damage, so a car that was repaired properly should come with paperwork.

A clean history is worth paying for. A hidden one costs more later.

Mileage tells you how much the car has been used, but not how well it has been looked after.

As a rough guide, 20,000 to 25,000 km a year is common in the UAE. Compare the reading with the car's age: very low or very high mileage deserves a question.

Does the reading add up?

• Compare the odometer with the service records, inspection reports and old invoices. The numbers should only ever go up.
• Look at the wear. A worn steering wheel, gear knob, pedals or driver's seat on a car showing very low mileage is a warning sign.
• A high mileage car with a full service history can be a better buy than a low mileage car with none.

Mileage is a number. The service history shows whether it is a true one.

Ask for the service book, the invoices, or a printout of the car's service record.

What to look for

• Services done on time, at the intervals the manufacturer recommends
• Where it was serviced: at the dealer (agency) or at a garage with a good name
• Major work already done, such as brakes, timing belt, gearbox service or suspension
• Big jobs that are due soon, and what they will cost
• Any warranty or service contract left, and whether it transfers to you

UAE heat is hard on cars

Summer heat wears out batteries, tires, rubber seals and cooling systems faster. Batteries often last only two to three years here, so ask when it was last replaced. On each tire, find the four-digit date code on the sidewall: 2323 means week 23 of 2023. Tires around five years old need replacing, even when the tread looks fine.

No records, no proof. Price the car as if nothing was done.

View the car in daylight, ideally when the engine is cold, and take your time.

Outside

• Paint that changes shade from panel to panel, or paint on the rubber seals: signs of repair work
• Uneven gaps between the doors, the bonnet and the panels
• Dents, scratches and rust, especially around the wheel arches and underneath
• Chips or cracks in the windscreen, and cloudy headlights
• Tires worn more on one edge, which can point to alignment or suspension problems

Inside

• Air conditioning that blows cold within a minute. In the UAE you will use it every day.
• No warning lights left on the dashboard once the engine is running
• Every window, seat, mirror, screen, camera and sensor working
• Damp carpets, a musty smell or rust on the seat rails: possible flood damage
• Wear on the seats and controls that matches the mileage

Under the bonnet

• Oil or coolant leaks, cracked hoses, or an engine bay washed spotless just before the sale (it can hide leaks)
• Oil and coolant at the right level, and clean
• Sand deep in the engine bay or underneath, a sign of regular desert driving

Photos show a car's best side. Your own eyes show the rest.

Even if the car looks perfect, have it checked by an independent inspection centre or a garage you trust before you pay anything.

A full pre-purchase inspection usually covers:

• The engine and gearbox, and a scan for stored fault codes
• Paint thickness readings that reveal repainted panels
• The chassis and structure, for signs of a serious accident
• Suspension, steering and brakes
• Leaks, the cooling system and the air conditioning

It costs a small fraction of the price of the car, and the written report gives you facts to negotiate with in Step 9.

If the seller says no to an inspection, say no to the car.

Start the engine yourself, from cold if you can. Listen for knocks or rattles, and watch the exhaust for smoke.

On the road

• Gear changes are smooth, with no slipping, jerking or delay
• The car brakes in a straight line, without shaking or noise
• The steering is straight and does not pull to one side
• No knocks from the suspension over bumps
• The engine temperature stays steady, and the air conditioning stays cold in traffic
• At highway speed, where it is safe and legal, there is no vibration and no unusual wind or tire noise

Park it

Try the parking sensors and the camera, and turn the steering fully both ways while listening for clicks. After the drive, look under the car for fresh drips and check the dashboard again.

Ten minutes around the block is not a test drive.

Before any money changes hands, check that the papers and the car tell the same story.

The Mulkiya (vehicle registration card)

• The owner's name matches the seller's Emirates ID
• The chassis number matches the one on the car
• The registration is valid, or you know what renewing it will involve

Bank loans

If the car was bought with a bank loan, it is usually registered as mortgaged to the bank. The seller must pay off the loan and get a clearance letter from the bank before the car can be transferred to you.

Traffic fines

Unpaid fines have to be cleared before the transfer. Check them together with the seller before you agree the deal.

What comes with the car

• Both keys. A lost smart key can be expensive to replace.
• The service book, the owner's manual and any warranty papers
• From a dealer: a written invoice showing the price, VAT and any warranty

If the papers are not right, the car is not right.

Before you make an offer, compare the prices of similar cars on DubiMotors: the same model, year and spec, with similar mileage.

• Use the inspection report. Worn tires, brakes, an old battery or a service that is due are all fair reasons to ask for less.
• Be polite and specific. Point to facts, not feelings.
• Agree in writing what is included: the spare key, any warranty or service contract, and any repairs the seller will do before the sale.
• Be ready to walk away. There is always another car.

The best time to negotiate is before you pay a deposit.

Paying safely

• Never send a deposit or any payment before you have seen the car, checked the papers and had it inspected
• Pay by bank transfer or manager's cheque rather than carrying large amounts of cash, and keep every receipt
• Sign a simple sale agreement with both names, both Emirates ID numbers, the chassis number, the price and the date
• Make the final payment when the ownership is transferred

Transferring ownership

Ownership is transferred through the traffic and licensing authority of the emirate, for example RTA in Dubai. You will usually need both parties' Emirates IDs, the Mulkiya, insurance in your name, a passed vehicle inspection where one is required, and every fine paid. Check the current requirements with the authority before you go.

Keys in hand, papers in your name. Only then is the deal done.