Importing a Classic Car to the UAE

The RTA's 30-year classic rule

RTA, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, classifies a car as a 'Classic' once it passes 30 years old and clears a technical test covering brakes, lights, tyres and structural integrity. That status qualifies the car for the dedicated Classic plate, redesigned in yellow and white from November 2020, replacing an earlier brown-toned design.

Ordinary used-car imports face a de facto age cap widely reported around 10 years. The 30-year classic pathway is the exception to that ban, not a tax break: it changes what you can bring in, not what you pay in duty.

Left-hand-drive is required for standard registration; right-hand-drive cars are generally barred outside the classic pathway, and sources disagree on whether a right-hand-drive classic needs the full 30 years or can qualify at 25 case by case. Treat 30 as the safe default.

Federal customs policy sets a 5% duty on CIF value under the GCC Common External Tariff, with Dubai Customs handling clearance. No classic-specific duty exemption exists. VAT adds a further 5% on the duty-inclusive value, for a combined burden commonly quoted around 10.25%. Of the four markets we cover, the UAE's rules are the most clearly documented; see our import services overview for how the others compare.

Shipping choices: container, RoRo or air

Jebel Ali Port is the main gateway for vehicle imports into the UAE, backed by mature container and RoRo infrastructure. The right method depends mostly on the car's value and whether it runs.

We default to enclosed container for anything genuinely collectible: standard practice for high-value vehicles, since RoRo needs a running, empty car and exposes it to weather and handling risk, while a sealed container does not. For the full comparison, read our enclosed container vs RoRo guide.

The import process, step by step

Five stages: see our UAE classic car import guide for the deeper walkthrough.

Pre-purchase inspection abroad

An independent inspector checks the car in person before money moves: matching numbers, rust, mechanical condition and service history. This is where a car gets rejected, not after it lands in Jebel Ali.

Marine insurance

The car is insured for the voyage itself, separate from road insurance arranged after registration. Industry practice favours an agreed-value policy, a pre-set payout from independent appraisal, over standard depreciation-based cover, though this reflects current broker practice, not a written regulation.

Shipping

Enclosed container or RoRo into Jebel Ali, based on the comparison above.

Customs clearance via a licensed broker

A licensed broker files the 5% duty and 5% VAT and handles Dubai Customs paperwork. We do not clear cars ourselves: the broker holds the customs relationship and the liability.

Registration and Classic plates

RTA inspects the car, confirms the 30-year classic status, and issues the plate. Blogs commonly cite a Vehicle Classification Certificate fee of around AED 350, unconfirmed against an official RTA schedule: budget for it, but confirm the number with RTA or your broker first.

What it costs

Two numbers are fixed by law: 5% customs duty on CIF value and 5% VAT on the duty-inclusive value, a combined burden commonly quoted around 10.25%. Freight, marine insurance, the broker's fee and the RTA inspection and plate fee are quoted per car and route, depending on declared value, origin port, whether it runs, and which broker handles the file.

We do not publish placeholder numbers for those items. Once we know the car, we get you real figures from our shipping and customs contacts. Browse current classic cars for sale in the UAE to see what similar cars trade for once landed.