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In the UAE, traffic laws related to road safety as well as the safety of drivers and passengers are strictly reinforced. The Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) impose heavy fines and penalties to discourage traffic violations. Depending on the severity of the violation, some offenses can cost thousands of dirhams, while some can result in the impounding of your vehicle.
Continuing along the latter, there can be multiple reasons why your vehicle gets impounded. Regardless of the reason, car owners would be required to complete a couple of steps to recover their cars. In this article, we will walk you through the process of recovering your vehicle from the impound lot and the details related to the process.
Traffic violations in UAE or late payments of traffic fines may result in the impounding of your vehicle. These confiscated vehicles are locked at the impounded lot until the owner pays the penalties. In case the vehicle owner does not respond to the request to settle the debt, the vehicle will be auctioned and anyone living in the UAE would be able to bid and purchase it.
Let's have a glance at some common traffic violations that can lead to car impound in the UAE without further ado –
As per traffic violation laws, vehicles are seized for 7-90 days in the impounded lot, with the traffic police of the respected state not being responsible for any damage incurred to the impounded vehicle. Apart from the violated fines, the vehicle owner would have to pay the impound yard fees to release the seized vehicle. Additional charges will apply if the car is not released within the stipulated timeframe.
Car owners mainly have two options concerning the impounding of their vehicles –
A smart impound system in Abu Dubai, Sharjah, and Dubai has been introduced to avoid overcrowding in the impounded lot. Smart impounding allows car owners to have their vehicles impounded at their own parking lot instead of having them at the police-designated impounded yards.
Follow the given steps to keep your car impounded at your place –
This technology would help the Police track the car's location. Whenever the car moves, a notification will be sent to the traffic police command room.
The light would turn red if the car moves, in which case the Police would also be notified. Moreover, the car owner will receive a text message alerting them of the violation, traffic fine, and the impounding of their vehicle by traffic police
Generally, vehicles are impounded for a period of 7 to 60 days. Keep in mind that if you are driving your car without a valid number plate, your vehicle will be impounded for 90 days.
Whether your car is impounded at the police impound yard or your home, you can follow the given steps to retrieve your vehicle out of impound –
To get your car out of the impounded lot, submit these documents to the traffic police –
Note: The documentation requirements differ from one emirate to the other
Besides the traffic fines, the vehicle owner would be required to pay specific fees during the impoundment period – a
Vehicle release certificates for impounded vehicles are subject to a fee of AED 100. If the owner fails to retrieve the vehicle within the impounding period, they would need to submit AED 50 as storage fees (provided it does not exceed AED 3,000).
Here are the service charges for smart impound –
There will be AED 50 penalty starting on the 8th day following the end of the impoundment period.
If you want to remove your car from the impounding lot during the impoundment period, you can pay a certain amount against the impoundment waiver. Please note that each emirate's police authority would determine the amount here.
For instance, in Abu Dhabi, a car owner would need to pay AED 50,000 to release their impounded vehicle with other fines.
Have a look at what people are asking about car impound in UAE –
Q1. What happens if I move a car under a 'smart impound system?
Ans: The smart impound order could be re-imposed on the violator if the vehicle is moved under any circumstances. Here, the vehicle can be impounded at the impound yard or the impound period can be replaced with a specified amount.
Q2. What is impounded car auction in the UAE?
If the vehicle owner doesn't pay the fines and take the vehicle, the traffic authorities of the Emirates can put up the vehicle for auction.
Q3. Will I get any warning if I don't pay the fines during an impounding period?
Ans: The traffic authorities will first warn about the impounding of the car, and the vehicle will be auctioned if the owner does not respond for 15 days. Regardless of whether the fines have been cleared, all vehicle owners are required to acknowledge and discuss the warning with authorities.
Q4. Should I return the smart impound device?
Ans: All vehicle owners are required to return the smart impound device to the Traffic and Licensing Services Centre after the impounding period ends and all traffic fines are paid.
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