Who qualifies for two-year registration
From 1 January 2027, licensing authorities in the UAE may register an eligible light vehicle for two years, at the owner’s request. The change is in Article 98 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which approves the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on the Regulation of Traffic. Ordinary registration stays valid for one year.
All three of these conditions have to be true:
- The vehicle was newly manufactured when it was first registered. A car that was already used at first registration, including many used imports, does not meet this condition.
- It is no more than six years old from its date of manufacture. Count from the build date, not from the day it was bought or first registered.
- An individual owns it. A company or other legal entity is outside the rule.
The option is for light vehicles. Motorcycles, buses, and heavy vehicles are not covered by this two-year choice.
Meeting the conditions lets you apply. It does not issue the registration. The authority can refuse a vehicle that fails inspection or does not meet road-safety requirements. Fees for the longer period have not been specified in the published reporting.
Updated 5 November 2026. Source: Gulf News, “UAE to allow two-year car registration from January 2027: Who qualifies?”
What this checker does
You enter the vehicle type, whether it was new at first registration, who owns it, and the manufacture month and year. If you use the page before 1 January 2027, age is measured on that start date, because that is the first day a two-year application could be made. After the rule is in force, age is measured today.
The six-year limit includes the anniversary of the manufacture date. Because the form asks for a month, the count starts on the first day of that month. A vehicle built later in the month keeps a slightly longer window. The exact day on the manufacturer’s plate is the date to rely on when you apply. Open the driver’s door and read the metal plate on the door frame. The same plate can be under the bonnet or inside the boot.
What the checker does not do
It does not renew a registration, quote a fee, or replace the technical test. Right-hand-drive vehicles are prohibited for road use under the same regulations, though display use may be allowed. Steering position is a separate rule, and this page does not test it.
Sooqz publishes this guide so motorists can prepare, and so people buying or selling a car can see whether a light vehicle may still fall inside the six-year window. The licensing authority in each emirate remains the place that accepts or refuses the application.
Other points in the same regulations
Registration expired for more than five years
Article 117 gives licensing authorities the power to remove a vehicle from the traffic record if its registration has stayed expired for more than five years. The removal is not automatic. The same article covers suspension after an unauthorised change of body, engine, or colour, and cancellation when a vehicle is beyond repair or a court orders it.
Registration fee exemption
Article 104 exempts one vehicle owned by a person with a disability from the prescribed registration fee. That exemption is separate from the two-year registration option.
Buy and sell the car on Sooqz
If this vehicle is near the six-year line, or it is outside the rule, the next car is often already listed by a private owner. Browse cars for sale, compare cars for rent, or post an ad and reach buyers across the UAE. Motorcycles, heavy vehicles, spare parts, and properties sit on the same marketplace, on the website and in the Android and iPhone apps.
Questions people ask
Who qualifies for two-year car registration in the UAE?
From 1 January 2027 a licensing authority may approve two-year registration for a light vehicle when three conditions are all met: the vehicle was newly manufactured at first registration, it is no more than six years old from its manufacture date, and an individual owns it. Approval is discretionary.
When does two-year vehicle registration start in the UAE?
The executive regulations come into force on 1 January 2027. Until that date, registration follows the current one-year cycle.
Does a qualifying car automatically get two-year registration?
No. Article 98 allows the licensing authority to approve two years at the owner’s request. One-year registration remains the normal rule, and a vehicle that fails inspection or safety requirements can still be refused.
Can a company-owned car get two-year registration?
No. The vehicle must be owned by an individual. A company or other legal entity does not meet Article 98.
What does newly manufactured at first registration mean?
It means the car was brand new at its first registration. It had not already been registered or sold as a used car. Choose No if it was imported used, or it already had an owner before that registration. A typical used import from Japan, the US, or elsewhere does not qualify, even if it is still under six years old. Check the original invoice, the export certificate, or the import and first-registration papers. The date on today’s UAE vehicle licence shows when the car was registered here, not whether it was new.
How is the six-year age limit counted?
Age is counted from the date the factory built the car, not from the day you bought it, the model year on the badge, or the first registration date. The vehicle must be no more than six years old on the registration date. This checker uses the first day of the manufacture month you enter, so a car built later that month has a slightly longer window. Read the month and year on the manufacturer’s plate in the driver’s door frame.
How do I find my vehicle’s manufacture date?
Open the driver’s door and read the metal plate on the door frame, door edge, or sill. It usually prints the manufacture month and year beside the VIN. The same plate can sit under the bonnet or inside the boot. Do not use the model year on the badge, the year you bought the car, or the year on the registration card. If the plate shows only a year, choose January of that year here, then confirm the month before you apply.
Is there an extra fee for two-year registration?
The published reporting on Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 does not specify a different fee. Authorities may set procedures before 1 January 2027.
Is this Sooqz checker an official licensing decision?
No. Sooqz is a classifieds marketplace. This page is an independent guide based on the reported text of Article 98. Confirm the application with the licensing authority in your emirate. When you are ready to buy or sell, start at sooqz.com.