Step-by-Step Guide to Vehicle Inspection in Dubai

Vehicle technical inspection in Dubai is annually imperative for all vehicles left the showroom for three years or more, regardless of whether the owner intends to renew the registration or sell the car.

Technical examination and scrutinizing of vehicles for performance is a well-managed process in the UAE which officially declares whether the evaluated vehicle meets the safety, operational and environmental standards or not.

The following article reveals first-hand information on vehicle technical testing in Dubai and it gives you step by step guide.

Where Do I Start From?

Through the application of modern methods, RTA has reduced the vehicle testing process to the minimum time. To achieve superior result, prior to heading to pertinent car testing branches review following steps.

1. Make sure you have supporting documents such as Emirates ID and car registration card.
2. Clean out the inside of car and make sure there is nothing cumbersome inside the vehicle.
3. Do not intervene and wait until the end of the car test. It is possible to see what is happening in the test rooms through the digital screen.
4. Once the car inspection completed, the vehicle test outcome whether passing or failing will be disclosed to you.
5. In case the car clears the test, “passed” certificate handed over you as an owner.

Process of car inspection in Dubai

• Verifying identification details

The main technical inspections that are carried out in the UAE are pre-purchase inspections, generally the technician must verify the brand and model, year of manufacture, and the VIN number associated with each car.

• Early-stage tasks

Before starting troubleshooting and evaluating the condition of a vehicle’s parts, the expert must make sure that the car starts and the engine is running. Putting on record the odometer number for future references is also one of the preliminary tasks.

• Physical inspection

Discovering visible damages is prioritized, but in no particular order. The checklist of this step includes the evaluation of mirrors, windshields, taillights, fenders, doors, tires on the vehicle’s exterior and the steering wheel and gear lever inside the cabin.

To document vehicle defects and present them to the owner, technicians use various checklists such as binary or percentage ratings.

• Hidden Damages

Rust, loosening, obsolescence of vehicle parts and oil leakage are the hidden damages that catches you off guard and endanger your safety on the road.

Common Causes of Inspection Failure

Chips and Cracks in the Windshield:

If any of the car’s windows are broken or missing, the car will be rejected by the technician. Regarding windshield, even minor cracks that compromise its integrity are subject to evaluation.

All chips, cracks, and damages must be less than three quarters of an inch in size.

There should be at least 3 inches between each solitary crack. Even minor cracks in the center of the rear window and the windshield, which prevents the reflection and refraction of light, will reject the car.

Lights Issue:

Most of the drivers do not take the improper function of the lights seriously. In this process, the operation of all lights, sensors and electronic features is checked.

Tires Issues:

In inspection process, all cracks or bulges, punctures, scratches or damages to tires or rims can reject the car.

Wear and abrasion are also evaluated, the standard tire tread depth for light cars is at least 1.6 mm, otherwise hydroplaning or car skidding on wet surfaces follows.

Suspension System:

Suspension system must be strong enough to handle the shocks and withstand various surfaces, otherwise, the drive becomes a rough ride. Any clunking sounds, atypical vibrations and jumps when hitting speed bumps, the car tilting and leaning out while turning and hard or loose steering wheel will reject your car in the inspection.

Fluid Leaking:

Any bold leakage or continuous gradual leakage of oil and antifreeze will cause the vehicle to fail the technical inspection.

Exhaust Leakage and Increased Engine Noise:

Unusual sound in the engine especially during acceleration, or popping/hissing sound coming out of the exhaust shows that the exhaust is leaking. In addition to increasing fuel consumption and reducing vehicle acceleration, exhaust leakage causes environmental pollution.

Engine:

Any engine modifications must comply with UAE regulations. Unauthorized modifications that increase pollutants or noise levels will result in instant vehicle rejection.

In general, the engine should run smoothly with no jumps and abnormal vibrations. All signs of not misfiring, rough idling, or other rattling noises, put the engine on the repair line.

Brake Issues:

if auto inspectors notice any suspicious and risky items in brake such as brittle and dry hoses, corrosion in metal pipes or broken discs, they immediately reject the car.

Vehicle Testing Centers in Dubai (VTC)

All Vehicle Testing Centers in Dubai operate under the supervision of RTA. These centers are available in all regions.

You can find your nearest branch with a simple search on google map.

• Tasjeel branches

Al Qusais: Near Al-Qusais Metro Station
Al Barsha: Opposite Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha 2
Warsan: Ras Al-Khor Industrial Area 2
Discovery Gardens: Located in Discovery Gardens Pavilion

• ENOCbranches

Al Qusais: Near Dubai International Airport, Al-Qusais Industrial Area
Al Barsha: Al-Barsha 2, behind Mall of the Emirates
Al Adheed: Sheikh Zayed Road near Al-Safa Metro Station

• Wasel branches

Al Jaddaf: Near Al-Wasl Sports Club, Jaddaf area.
Al Muhaisnah: Al-Muhaisnah 4, near Madina Mall.

• Al Shamil branches

Al Barsha: Al-Barsha 3, near Al Barsha Mall.

Ras Al Khor: Ras Al-Khor Industrial Area 2, near Dubai Festival City

• Quick Registration branches

Al Qusais: Al-Qusais near the industrial area
Rashidiya: Near Rashidiya Metro Station, Deira

• Tamam bramches

Al Ghusais: Near Dubai International Airport, Al-Ghusais Industrial Area

Al Qusais: Near Al-Qusais Metro Station

Frequently Asked Questions about Car Inspection in Dubai

How long does car inspection take?

The technical inspection process takes between 20 to 45 minutes. It may be longer depending on the condition of the car and especially if repairs are needed.

Although you can get walk-in car inspection services, it is recommended to make a scheduled appointment in advance to prepare your car for few hours of technical testing.

What if my car did not pass the technical inspection?

According to the prescribed timetable by RTA, the car owners carry out the repairs suggested by the technician and the car will undergo technical tests again up to 31 days later.

If my car fails inspection, can I take it somewhere else?

In Dubai and the UAE generally, technical inspection of cars is strictly monitors and follows a clear formulated protocol.

It means if your vehicle is found to be defective in a specific authorized center, all technical examination centers will observe this defect.

More clearly, you can not get away with the vehicle repairs by taking it to another testing center.

Can I take a car with Abu Dhabi number plate to another emirate for technical testing?

Fortunately, because of the UAE’s integrated vehicle inspection system, your car will be accepted in any emirate. But our suggestion is call ahead to inspection center in other emirates to get confirmation and see if they ask for other documents or not.

Afterward, make sure your vehicle insurance is valid in all emirates. Finally, you must be aware, while car examination is consistent across the UAE, process of renewal registration may need to be conducted in that emirate where the vehicle already registered.

End Note

Take into account that several reasons may impel you to show your car to an auto inspector such as annual renewal of vehicle registration, buying or selling a used car, after modifications and following an accident.

Whatever the reason is, as we read in this article one part of the technical examination guarantees vehicle safety and prevents road accidents, the other part traces back to environmental issues which controls air pollution.

It seems that fixing the obvious and hidden damages of the car is considered a kind of social foresight.