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Vehicle History Reports
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Salvage Records
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a significant luxury automotive market for every global brand, including automakers from the United States. With a booming economy, strong household spending, and easy access to financing, "The UAE has become an automotive paradise".
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a significant luxury automotive market for every global brand, including automakers from the United States. With a booming economy, strong household spending, and easy access to financing, "The UAE has become an automotive paradise".2015 saw an economic downturn after crude oil prices slumped, with governments cutting spending and delaying infrastructure builds. Since the downturn, oil growth is back on track. UAE came through the pandemic with a recovery rate far above that of other countries.
UAE thrives on Luxury Brands
Automotive trends show a fast-growing UAE marketplace for high-end sports cars and luxury SUVs. UAE is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, and its citizens have an exorbitant demand for supercars.
The luxury car market is healthy and growing inside the United Arab Emirates, with most experts showing nearly a 15% hold of total registrations. The UAE enthusiastically promotes EVs to its populace, and car buyers have responded with EV purchases showing a 50% increase from the previous year.
The latest available numbers show eighty percent of the UAE car market is imported, and cars come from all over the world. Japan is the biggest benefactor of this robust market, with $2.43 billion imported to the UAE in 2022, the United States ranks second with $1.85 billion, and Germany at $1,03 billion.
Importing Vehicles to The Emirates
The growing import market from every state in America to the United Arab Emirates continues to grow at an annual pace of 20%, with vehicle sales and parts accounting for 18% of the total. The most recent figures from vague numbers of the UAE says 83,112 cars and trucks were imported. A wide range of makes and models, from Toyotas, Kia, and Nissan to Ford, Dodge, Jeep, and Chevrolet, made the top ten imports list.
Dubai and other parts of the Emirates have become international business hubs, and with this, the city and country have one of the greatest collections of rare and vintage automobiles. For those who want to take a Dubai vehicle back to the United States, it is a wise decision to use an experienced shipping broker such as Schumacher Logistics and let them handle the entire process.
A large section of the import market is for salvage cars from Copart and IAA. Neighboring countries use the UAE as a port of entry. The cars and trucks are brought into the UAE by container and repaired as best they can. The vehicles are then forwarded to other countries or direct purchasers.
Importing cars from the United States to the voracious UAE market can be an enriching experience or nightmare for those who cut corners. Any person who wants to import a car into the United Arab Emirates must be a legal resident with a local visa and a local driver’s license.
The process of importing must be taken with a meticulous focus on completing all the forms and paying the fees. Importing cars to the UAE may be too confusing or overwhelming for some. However, employing a clearing agent or customs broker may be the answer. The US Customs and Border Protection agency is an excellent resource for the beginning car importer.
The Process
Understanding the import process is crucial for a successful transaction. Car imports and exports are governed by the Federal Customs Authority of the United Arab Emirates, which offers the latest regulations, duty amounts, import fees, and reputable customs brokers and clearing agents.
Once residency requirements have been met, the next step is to determine if the vehicle is eligible for import. Following the guidelines, the process of importing can be smooth and efficient. UAE residents can import any car less than ten years old, and a left-handed driving vehicle is recommended. There must not be any signs of damage to the car.
Documents Needed for Importing:
- A copy of your passport and UAE driver’s license should be attached to each packet.
- Bring the original shipping receipt, bill of lading, and payment alternatives to pay the fees.
- Import permit or relevant authorization.
- Make sure all documents are original, complete, and notarized if necessary. If any questions or concerns arise during shipping, always refer to the FCA for answers.
Options:
Importing cars to the United Arab Emirates has become a streamlined process for many import companies. Grey Imports and Japan Car Direct are prime examples of thriving car companies catering to the UAE automotive marketplace. Grey Imports sources its high-end performance cars primarily from the United States, Japan, and Europe. JCD is a Japanese Auction House catering to their 120 dealer network that sells and imports vehicles worldwide.
UAE Import Costs and Transport Times
Obtain quotes from the best Global shipping companies, focus on insurance and door-to-door services. Shipping companies such as Dedola Global Logistics have 46 years of experience in the business. Depending on the car and shipping method (roll-on/roll-off or container), costs can average between $1200 and $3500, with insurance ranging from 1.5% to 2.5% of the total. Better shipping companies will pick up the car at your location. Insurance concerns, tariffs, and other shipping information should be explained at pick-up.
Your car is eligible for shipping into the UAE. Have all your documentation ready and copies of each. Original copies of titles and insurance should be kept safe. Make sure to have updated Clearance and Handling Fees.
Once the car reaches the United Arab Emirates, there is a clearance procedure, everything, including cars, must pass this process. No matter the port of entry into the country, there will be a clearance procedure. One of the first fees you will pay at the port is a 5% Value Added Tax (VAT).
You can expect to pay Customs Duty Fees, Port Handling, and container inspection fees. Ensure you are current on the exchange rate of a dollar to the AED Emirate currency. The Central Bank of UAE has the latest exchange rates.
Once your vehicle has passed its customs inspection and all fees have been paid, a clearance certificate will be issued along with a Blue License plate.
Consult the RTA website if any questions or concerns arise during import. The RTA is the United Arab Emirates, Road and Transport Authority. And will issue the Clearance Certificate, and apply for your vehicle and driving license.
The fun is not over your vehicle must pass a mandatory inspection through one of hundreds of vehicle testing centers in the UAE. Vehicle testing will have an average cost of AED 170 to AED 450. Vehicle testing increases the overall cost of importing.
Vehicle Insurance and Registration
Your car has almost reached the finish line, and you can smell the open road. After going through export checks and import customs and dock fees, clearance procedures, and inspection fees, the car only needs to be insured and registered.
The process of gaining insurance is similar to that in the US. Obtain a few quotes and see who gives the most value for your money. The documents required are a driver’s license, passport, Emirates ID, and vehicle inspection report.
A Majority of these details can be handled in advance.
Vehicle registrations for first-time residents will be time-consuming, with even more documents needed. However, after the first registration, the procedure gets better. Dubai Land Department (DLD) is responsible for registering all properties, including cars and real estate.
The process of gaining insurance is similar to that in the US. Obtain a few quotes and see who gives the most value for your money. The documents required are a driver’s license, passport, Emirates ID, and vehicle inspection report.
Documents needed for registration:
- Proof of purchase
- Blue Export number plate and completed application form
- Insurance documentation
- Original driver’s license, passport, and visa
- Clearance letter from Customs
- Proof of residency
- Vehicle clearance inspection report
The documents will be checked and approved, and you will receive a registration card and a white-numbered license plate in a few days.
You are now ready for the open road in the United Arab Emirates.
Cars and Import Profits
Even though most of us hear only about extravagant supercars speeding down the highways in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the majority of cars purchased are the same ones we buy in America.
Fastest selling cars in the UAE:
Toyota dominates the Emirate car market, with every car in its lineup sold extensively nationwide. The high-end land cruiser is the best-selling vehicle in the UAE. The company’s Corolla and Camry are also best sellers.
Mercedes is an immensely popular brand in the UAE, with many of its vehicles used as chauffeur-driven cars. The Mercedes S and G class are the most sought-after models.
Nissan holds the number three position for the fastest-selling vehicle. Popular models include the Altima, X-Trail, and the Pathfinder. Nissan, like other Japanese models, is wanted for their reliability.
Ford is the number four car in the lineup based primarily on the sales of its Ranger truck and the ever-popular F-150 model. Ford is the only American model on the list, with the Mustang and the Bronco being popular as well.
Lexus, another luxury brand, offers the UAE a well-crafted, efficient automobile. Even though some models are high-end, Lexus is desired for its classic styling and design.
The rest of the best sellers list are Hyundai, BMW, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, and Kia. Used cars are extremely popular in the United Arab Emirates, and for the same reasons, we buy used vehicles in the United States. Less expensive, more value, and a better bang for the AED.
Electric Vehicles Are On The Rise
Electric vehicles are growing at a robust pace of 8.21% from the previous year, and the number of EVs on UAE roads reached 25,929 in 2023. Growth is expected to accelerate to 30% from 2023 to 2028 once environmental concerns take hold of other initiatives. The EV market in UAE is still in its infancy but growing fast along with the nation’s charging stations.
The foundation of moving to electric vehicles started with the RTA converting 50% of the Dubai taxi fleet to electric. The RTA is testing the self-driving waters by committing 25% of total taxi trips to the technology. Commercial vehicles are showing strong growth to electric vehicles, with commercial buses used in several Emirates.
Tesla, BYD, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and other brands are prominent players in the global push to convert to electric energy. Volkswagen, BMW, and the Chevrolet Bolt are making significant inroads into the UAE EV market.
Things to Know When Ordering Cars From the United States
The great thing about the car business is that the business procedures and internal processes are the same for anyone going from one country to the next. If a car transaction feels like a bad deal in one country, the same sentiment is mirrored in another. A good fact about importing US cars into the UAE is that websites and buying and selling enthusiasm are the same in the United States as in the UAE.
If the numbers do not add up while importing or exporting your car, the deal sounds too good to be true, or something just doesn’t feel right, trust your intuition and be cautious. Always double-check everything.
Without checking sources, you may never see that car again.