How Much Does It Cost to Export a Car from Dubai? Full 2026 Breakdown

Dubai charges no export tax on vehicles, and the government side of an export is surprisingly cheap: the RTA's vehicle export certificate costs AED 70 for a light vehicle, or AED 140 if the car leaves on export plates, with only small service centre charges on top. What actually decides your budget is everything around those fees: the car itself, ocean shipping, insurance and the duties waiting at the destination port. This guide walks through every cost line in a 2026 Dubai car export so you can budget the landed price, not just the sticker price.

Seen as one number, exporting a typical sedan from Dubai to West Africa lands in the range of USD 1,200 to 2,200 on top of the car price once deregistration, RoRo shipping, insurance and agent handling are counted, before destination duties. Container shipping, larger vehicles and distant destinations push the total up from there.

The cost lines, one by one#

The official side is set by the RTA's vehicle export service, and the process requires the car to be free of fines and loans before a certificate is issued, a rule covered in detail in the UAE export rules and regulations.

RoRo or container: the biggest choice you control#

Shipping is the largest single line after the car itself, and the mode decision moves it by hundreds of dollars. RoRo is cheaper and faster to book; a container protects the vehicle and lets you load spares or a second car. We compared the two properly in RoRo vs container shipping, and the short version is: clean used sedans usually go RoRo, high value and classic cars go container.

The destination side: duties decide the real total#

Export from Dubai is the cheap half. Import duty at the destination is calculated on the vehicle's assessed value plus freight, and in several West African countries the total tax burden can reach 35 to 50 percent of CIF value with age penalties on older cars. For Ghana specifically, duties are assessed through ICUMS on arrival at Tema; the Ghana Revenue Authority customs pages publish the current schedules, and our Dubai to Ghana car shipping guide walks through the full clearance sequence.

A worked example#

A 2019 mid size SUV bought in Dubai for USD 15,000, shipped RoRo to Tema:

Destination duties then apply on the assessed CIF value. The spread between a good and a bad export on the same car is rarely the government fees; it is overpaying for the car, choosing the wrong mode, and arriving at the port with incomplete paperwork.

Where the car price itself comes from#

Buying well in Dubai is the other half of the saving. UAE auctions can run 10 to 25 percent below retail for equivalent cars, which usually outweighs every fee in this guide; our auction service bids on your behalf with an inspection first. If you prefer stocked vehicles, browse our inventory where export pricing is already factored in.

Frequently asked questions#

Is there an export tax on cars in Dubai?#

No. Dubai charges no export tax on vehicles; you pay only small fixed fees for the export certificate, plates and administration, typically under AED 250 in total. The destination country's import duty is where the real tax sits.

How much is shipping a car from Dubai?#

Typically USD 800 to 1,500 for RoRo to West African ports and USD 1,800 to 2,800 for a 20ft container in 2026, moving with fuel and season. Mode choice matters more than carrier choice, as our RoRo vs container comparison shows.

Can my car be exported with outstanding fines or a loan?#

No. The RTA will not issue an export certificate while fines are unpaid or a bank holds the mortgage file, per the export service requirements. Clear both before the car reaches the port, not after.

Is it cheaper to buy a car in Dubai and export it?#

For many African and CIS markets, yes: Dubai's used prices, condition and specification often beat local markets even after shipping and duties. The saving is largest on well specced SUVs and recent used stock bought at auction rather than retail.

How long does the export process take in Dubai?#

Deregistration and the export certificate are usually a one to two day job once fines and loans are clear. Add vessel schedules, and a realistic Dubai-side window is one to two weeks before sailing; the ocean leg to Tema then runs 21 to 30 days.

What documents do I get when exporting?#

The vehicle export certificate, the original invoice, the bill of lading once loaded, and your passport copy as the buyer. Keep digital copies of all four; destination customs will ask for each, as our car export documents checklist explains, and our VIN tracking keeps the shipment side visible while the car is at sea.

Get a landed cost before you commit#

The honest answer to "what does it cost" is a single landed number for your exact car and port, not a table of ranges. Tell us the car you want and where it is going, and we will price the purchase, export and shipping as one figure with the destination duties estimated up front. Start with our contact team or pick a car from the current stock and ask for its export quote.