Dubai is a place where people hardly give a thought to petrol prices and prefer to take cars on road over public transport and walking, for obvious reasons. The scorching heat of the emirates makes having a car a necessity. Here is a guide for you about how to Drive, insure and register a car in Dubai.
How to Drive a car in Dubai
Dubai is a large city flooded with vehicles on the road and driving can be a daunting experience. But to avoid this hassle you should follow certain rules.
- Distance – Following the 3 seconds rule can help you maintain a decent distance from other cars. This helps to ensure that you have enough space for adjusting your speed and emergency brakes.
- Speeding – Keeping a check on the speed is a very important thing and it must be followed according to the speeds marked as per the roads. Try to not come in the way of speeding cars and give them space to move to avoid accidents and ensure safety for yourself.
3. Headlight Flashing – Drivers on the roads of UAE are usually very impatient and warn you to get out of their way by flashing the headlights. This can be really annoying so its better to get out of their way.
4. Indicators – No matter what country you are driving in, never fail to use indicators and keep checking your rear view mirrors for others.
5. Seatbelts – Seatbelts are for your own safety. Don’t wear them just for the sake of being saved from the cops but to protect yourself in case of massive accidents. Seatbelts help you avoid severe injuries.
Keeping too many points in mind while driving can be really pressurising and might as well increase the chances of accidents but there are 2 things that a person should always keep in mind. One, know the traffic rules and follow them. Second, keep your calm while you drive. Following these two rules will not only ensure your safety but also others on the road.
HOW TO INSURE YOUR CAR IN DUBAI
Car insurance can be a confusing task with so many insurance agencies, brokers and banks around. But it is very important to understand different policies they have to offer and then finding the best policy that fits your need.
Below are some important points you should know before you opt for any policy.
- Type of Insurance – There are two types of insurance available
- Comprehensive Insurance:Comprehensive insurance covers you as well as the car during an accident. This is generally costly as it gives a wider coverage. They include accidents, theft, fire, malicious acts and also personal accidents where driver of the passenger are injured.
- Third party liability insurance – this type of insurance covers only the other car and the passengers in case of accident. The premium is low but you have to pay for the damages caused to your own vehicle. Most banks in UAE do not allow third party liability insurance if the car has been purchased on a loan.
- Documents – You’d need the following documents to be submitted to the insurance company as an identity proof –
- Copy of your driving license
- Copy of your passport photo page and visa page
- Copy of your vehicle registration card (if it’s a new vehicle, you will need to provide a copy of the pro-forma invoice).
- Understanding the calculation of Insurance Premium – Car insurance premium are calculated on the basis of the year, model, size of the engine and make, history and risk profile of the driver. The following table shows other factors that help decide the insurance premium.
| Factor | Influence on Insurance Premium |
| New car with high safety features | Low |
| The price of the car is on the higher end | High |
| Driver’s age is under 30 | High |
| Driver has low driving experience | High |
| GCC coverage | High |
| Off-road coverage | High |
| Breakdown coverage | High |
- Emergency services – Emergency can occur at any time and of any type like running out of fuel or having a flat tire, you should know the emergency services provided by your insurer. Some companies provide an emergency number on the insurance card for assistance.
HOW TO BUY A CAR IN DUBAI
Buying a car is no rocket science. It is not as difficult as it seems if you know what you want and what are you looking for while you are making the choice. You basically need to answer the following questions-
- Why do you need the car?
- Determine what is more important – comfort and performance or brand?
- What details do you look for?
- What is your budget?
- Do you wish to buy a brand new car or a pre-owned car would suffice?
Having to answer all these questions, you should then start looking for the car according to what you have decided. You should evaluate the pros and cons of each selected car and think about it carefully before making the buy.
Next step is to address these key points to have all the more better experience –
- Type
- Safety
- Performance
- Handling
- Options and features available
- Design
- Brand
If the car you have selected falls in all these categories, you are good to make the buy!
HOW TO REGISTER A CAR IN DUBAI
Just like any other country, you cannot take your automobile on the roads without legal registration. To do so, you have to go to the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai and get your vehicle registered. It is not a very time consuming process and can be easily done in just one day.
If your car is brand new, the dealership will handle the registration procedure but in case of a second hand purchase, you have to sign up for the formalities and have to bring a copy of insurance agreement, passport or any other local ID, previous registration card and inspection certificate, if required.
You must re-register your car on yearly basis, failing to do so might lead you in legal troubles.
