Vehicle Power of Attorney — for UAE vehicles
A Vehicle POA authorises someone to sell, buy, transfer, export or register a vehicle with the RTA or the relevant traffic authority in another Emirate.
AED 790 · Our professional fee · Arabic + English included · Government fees quoted separately
What it is
A vehicle power of attorney is a short, specific document, and its value is entirely in what it names. Vehicle authorities are among the few in the UAE that publish the wording they expect: RTA states that for a Dubai change of ownership the representative "must have a power of attorney stipulating the ‘sale and disposal of vehicles’". So the document is drafted against what the receiving authority publishes rather than from a template - and where an authority publishes nothing, we say so instead of inventing a requirement.
Who it is for
Owners who are abroad, gifting a car, or selling through a representative.
Which acts you can authorise
A vehicle power of attorney is a list of permitted acts, not a general licence to deal with your car. Your representative can do what the document names and nothing else, so the useful work is deciding which of these you actually need:
- Selling and transferring ownership to a buyer.
- Buying and registering a vehicle in your name.
- Renewing registration, and arranging the technical inspection and insurance that go with it.
- Transferring, retaining or releasing a plate number.
- Exporting the vehicle and cancelling its UAE registration.
- Releasing a mortgage over the vehicle, or dealing with the finance company.
- Paying or contesting fines, and collecting documents and plates.
Why these are worth naming separately
Because at least one UAE authority publishes wording it expects to see, and a document that does not contain it can be turned away. RTA states that for a change of vehicle ownership in Dubai, "your legal representative must have a power of attorney stipulating the ‘sale and disposal of vehicles’".
That is a published requirement for one transaction at one authority. It does not follow that every act above needs its own phrase, and we do not claim it does - RTA publishes no equivalent wording for renewal, export or a plate transfer. What follows is narrower and more useful: find out whether the authority you are dealing with has named something, and if it has, make sure your document says it.
If your transaction is a change of ownership at RTA in Dubai, our RTA Vehicle Power of Attorney page is written for exactly that and quotes what RTA publishes.
Who is involved, and who has to be there
You are the principal. The person you name is the attorney, or agent. A notary witnesses your signature. The vehicle authority - RTA in Dubai, a different body in another emirate - is who receives the document.
One practical point that catches people out: the document covers your absence, not your representative's. RTA requires the representative to be present in person for a change of ownership, and says the same on its export service - "You or your legal representative must be present in person when applying at Customer Happiness or Inspection Centres." If nobody can attend on the day, a power of attorney does not solve that by itself.
Source: RTA, Export Certificate
Documents and language
What the authority asks for is separate from the power of attorney itself, and it is published. For a Dubai change of ownership RTA lists a valid Emirates ID for buyer and seller, electronic insurance, an electronic technical inspection, an electronic mortgage release if the vehicle is mortgaged, a Gulf Specifications compliance document where applicable, and a MOFA no-objection certificate for consulate plates.
The document itself is prepared in Arabic and English at no extra charge, because UAE authorities work in Arabic. If you are signing outside the country it also has to travel before it can be used here - our guide on using a UAE power of attorney from abroad sets out what official sources state about that route, and what they do not.
How it works
- Provide vehicle and representative details.
- We draft the POA matched to the authority.
- A wording check, then your approval.
- Notarisation and, if needed, legalisation.
- Stored in your Deedbox.
What is included
- Authority-matched draft
- A wording check against what the receiving authority publishes
- Notarisation coordination
- Deedbox storage
What is not included
- RTA transfer fees or fines settlement
- Vehicle inspection or insurance
What this page does not tell you
- The published requirements quoted here are RTA's, and RTA is Dubai only. If your vehicle is registered in another emirate, that emirate's authority publishes its own list and we do not restate Dubai's in its place.
- RTA names a required scope for a change of ownership. We have found no equivalent published wording for renewal, export or a plate transfer, so we do not tell you one exists.
- Whether a specific document will be accepted for a specific transaction is decided at the counter. We can tell you what the authority publishes; we cannot promise you the outcome.
- The Deedbox is not a law firm and not a notary office, and does not attend the authority on your behalf.
Common questions
Can the representative sell my car with this POA?
Yes, if you include sale authority in the scope. We confirm the exact wording before drafting.
Before you decide
Ready to start?
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