Traffic fines in the UAE are issued by the police force of the emirate where the offence happened, which is why there is no single national list and no one website that shows everything. If you drive between emirates, and most UAE drivers do, you can be carrying fines in more than one place at once without knowing it.
For most people that is an annoyance. For anyone buying or selling a car it is a hard blocker: an ownership transfer cannot complete while fines sit against the vehicle. This guide covers where to check, how the early payment discount works, what black points actually do, and the transfer trap that catches sellers on the day of the handover.
Where to check your traffic fines
Each emirate keeps its own record. Check your home emirate first, then check the federal service, because that is the one place a fine picked up in another emirate will surface.
Dubai
Dubai Police holds traffic fines issued in Dubai, including radar and parking violations. Salik toll and public parking charges are handled separately by the RTA, so a clean Dubai Police record does not mean a clean Salik account. Check both before you sell.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Police publishes fines for the emirate, and the TAMM platform handles payment and vehicle services in one place. Abu Dhabi Police also accept payment through the mobile apps of several UAE banks, including ADCB, ADIB, FAB, Mashreq Al Islami and Emirates Islamic.
Sharjah and the northern emirates
Sharjah Police lists fines issued within Sharjah. A large number of Sharjah residents drive Dubai registered cars, so if that is you, check both. For Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, the Ministry of Interior service is the practical single point of contact.
All emirates at once
The Ministry of Interior service covers federal traffic files and the northern emirates, and it is the fastest way to see whether you are carrying anything outside your home emirate.
One warning worth stating plainly. These are all official government services and they are free to search. Any site that asks for card details to "check" a fine, rather than to pay one on an official portal, should be treated with suspicion.
What you need before you search
Any one of these will usually pull up the record:
- The plate number, plus the plate code and the emirate that issued it.
- The traffic file number, which is tied to your licence rather than the car.
- Your Emirates ID or driving licence number.
If you are checking a car you do not own yet, the plate number alone is enough to see whether anything is outstanding against the vehicle. Do that before you hand over any money, and run the chassis number through a free VIN check at the same time to see accident and odometer history, which no fines portal will show you.
The early payment discount
This is the part most drivers do not know about, and it is worth real money. Several emirates run standing discount schemes for paying quickly:
- 35% off when the fine is paid within 60 days of the offence.
- 25% off when it is paid within a year.
In Abu Dhabi the reduction has applied not only to the cash penalty but also to the impoundment period, vehicle storage fees and any late penalties attached to the fine. Sharjah has run comparable schemes, and both emirates periodically announce additional initiatives around national holidays, sometimes including black point removal.
Two important limits. Serious violations are excluded from these discounts, and the excluded list is published by each police force. And the schemes are announced initiatives rather than permanent law, so the percentages and the qualifying window can change. Always confirm the current offer on the official portal before you pay, and be sceptical of unofficial claims: Abu Dhabi Police have publicly denied rumours of a 50% discount that circulated widely on social media.
The practical takeaway is simple. Checking your fines every couple of months is not admin for its own sake. Paying inside the 60 day window is the single easiest way to reduce what you owe.
How black points work
Most UAE traffic offences carry two penalties: a cash fine, and black points recorded against your licence. The points are the part that escalates.
Points accumulate over a rolling twelve month window rather than resetting on a calendar year. Reaching 24 black points suspends your licence. Repeat suspensions get longer, and a third can bring a suspension of up to a year together with mandatory retesting. Heavier offences add vehicle impoundment on top, where the car is held for a set number of days and released only after the release fee is paid.
Commonly cited penalties include AED 800 and 4 black points for using a mobile phone while driving, and AED 400 and 4 black points for not wearing a seatbelt, applied per unbelted occupant. Speeding is charged in bands, rising sharply with the amount over the limit. Fine amounts and point values are revised from time to time and differ in places between emirates, so treat any published list, including this one, as a guide and confirm the current figure on the official portal for the issuing emirate before you pay.
One structural point matters for car buyers. Black points sit against the licence, and fines sit against the vehicle. A car can be clear while its previous driver still carries points, and a driver can be clear while the car they are selling still has fines outstanding. They are separate records, and when you are buying you care about the second one.
Fines when buying or selling a car
This is where fines catch people out. Ownership cannot transfer while fines are outstanding against the vehicle, so a seller who has not checked will lose the transfer appointment, and a buyer who has not checked can find the handover blocked on the day.
If you are selling
- Clear every fine against the vehicle before you book the transfer. Do this a week ahead, not the night before, because payments can take time to clear against the record.
- Settle Salik and any parking accounts, and cancel the Salik tag transfer if needed.
- Have the registration card, your Emirates ID and valid insurance ready. Our RTA ownership transfer guide covers the full sequence, and the guide to selling a car in Dubai covers pricing and paperwork.
If you are buying
- Check the plate for outstanding fines before you hand over any money. A long list of unpaid fines also tells you something about how the car has been driven.
- Run the chassis number through a free VIN check for accident and odometer history, which fines records will not show.
- Budget the running costs properly. Work out the monthly figure with the car loan calculator, and read the UAE car insurance guide before you commit, since comprehensive cover is required for the life of a loan.
- If you are new to the process, the used car buying guide walks through inspection and negotiation.
Keeping your record clean
Fines are cheapest inside the first 60 days, black points are the penalty that actually threatens your licence, and both are easiest to manage when you check regularly instead of discovering everything at once at a transfer appointment. Set a reminder every two months, check your home emirate and the federal service, and pay anything outstanding while the discount window is open.
Ready to look? Browse used cars for sale in the UAE, cars for sale in Dubai, or used motorcycles. If you are on the other side of the deal, you can list your car free.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check traffic fines in the UAE by plate number?
Use the official police service for the emirate that issued the plate, or the Ministry of Interior service to cover federal traffic files and the northern emirates. Enter the plate number with its plate code and issuing emirate. Searching is free on all official portals, and you do not need card details to see what is outstanding.
Is there a discount for paying UAE traffic fines early?
Yes. Several emirates run schemes offering around 35% off when a fine is paid within 60 days of the offence and around 25% within a year, and in Abu Dhabi the reduction has also applied to impoundment periods and storage fees. Serious violations are excluded, and the schemes are periodic announcements rather than permanent law, so confirm the current offer on the official portal before paying.
How many black points can I get before my licence is suspended?
Reaching 24 black points within a rolling twelve month period suspends your licence. Repeat suspensions run longer, and a third can bring a suspension of up to a year along with mandatory retesting. Some emirates periodically run initiatives that remove black points when fines are paid within a set window.
Do I have to clear fines before selling my car in the UAE?
Yes. Ownership cannot transfer while fines are outstanding against the vehicle, so the transfer will be refused at the appointment. Clear them at least a week ahead, since payments can take time to register against the record, and settle Salik and parking accounts separately because they are not part of the police fines record.
Do traffic fines transfer to the new owner when a car is sold?
They should not, because the transfer cannot complete until the vehicle is clear. That is exactly why a buyer should check the plate before handing over money: if fines are outstanding, they are the seller's to settle before the handover can go ahead.
Are black points and fines the same record?
No. Fines sit against the vehicle, and black points sit against the driver's licence. A car can be clear of fines while its previous driver still carries points, and a driver can have a clean licence while the car they are selling has fines outstanding. When you are buying a car, the record that affects you is the one against the vehicle.
