With cheap fuel and excellent state of the roads, buying a car to get around Doha is smart. But, before you do that, you should get to know the local rules, obtain your license, and estimate your expenses. This guide has all the information about driving in Qatar — from driving lessons, license costs, and vehicle loans, to renewing Istimara, getting car insurance, and passing Fahes.

The first step in learning how to drive in Qatar is signing up for a driving school. All schools in Doha are under the Ministry of Interior’s oversight, meaning you can sign up for classes in any of them and you’ll be able to get a license. But the most popular ones are the Doha Driving Academy, Karwa Academy, and Gulf Driving School.

Bear in mind that Qatar has age restrictions for driving. For light vehicles and motorcycles, you have to be at least 18 years old. For heavy vehicles (buses, trucks) and public transport, you need to be at least 21 years old. 

For signing up, you’ll need:

• Qatar ID

• Two passport-sized photos

• Eye test results — can be completed at the driving school or an accredited clinic

Once you complete the theoretical lessons, you’ll be tested. The school usually provides practice tests for Qatar traffic signs and other rules. There are also some online mock test sites. Pricing for lessons and theory tests varies between schools, and starts from QAR 3,000.

After passing this, you can start your driving lessons and schedule a driving test at your school, which includes both road driving and parking. It costs QAR 750. You'll book it by navigating to the Traffic Section of Metrash and choosing License Service.

On the day of passing the test, you can get a Qatar driving license at the Traffic Department of your driving school. 

If you’ve just passed the driving test, request a license at your school’s Traffic Department. For this, you’ll need your ID, passport-sized photos, eye test results, and the medical fitness proof from the Primary Healthcare Corporation-approved facility.

A five-year Qatar license available for residents costs QAR 250. Qatari citizens can apply for a ten-year one for QAR 500. A month before your license expires, apply for renewal via either the MOI website or Metrash.

To renew the license via MOI, navigate to Traffic Services and choose Driving License. You can then choose the Renew driving license option.

In Metrash, go to Traffic and choose License Service. The Renew driving license option is available there. 

If you already have a license in your country and would like to convert it to a Qatari one, the process may differ. For instance, residence permit holders from one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Oman) won’t need to convert it unless they plan to stay in Qatar for more than 3 months. 

If you become a resident or stay for longer, you have to convert your license. GCC citizens likely won’t need to complete driving lessons, but they must pass theoretical and practical exams. GCC residents may be another story, depending on their nationality. Since the rules frequently change, it’s best to visit the Traffic Department of a nearby driving school and ask about the process for your citizenship. 

Got the Qatar driving license? It’s time to buy your first car! In case you don’t have enough funds to pay for the vehicle in full, don’t worry. Applying for a car loan is a good way to get a first vehicle without spending too much money at once. 

A bank loan is the most popular option in Qatar. The loan repayment period is one to five years, and the interest rates range from 2.49% to 4.25%. However, most banks require a down payment of 10% or 20%. In addition, there are minimum salary requirements. They can range from QAR 2,000 to QAR 10,000 per month, depending on the bank.

In case you’re buying a model that’s on a special promotion in a car dealership, or have a lower income or poor credit rating, you can opt for in-house dealership loans. Conditions vary between dealerships, so it’s best to check directly. 

You’ll be able to get a loan no matter if you’re buying a new or a used car. In case you still haven’t made up your mind, this old vs. new table might help you:

Once a car model is purchased, it has to be registered before entering Qatari roads, in accordance with the law. Proof of this registration is the Istimara card, valid for one year. Owners of new cars can opt for a three-year Istimara. 

The third-party insurance is a necessary condition for vehicle registration. But if you want protection against damage to your car as well, opt for comprehensive coverage. It provides full insurance for a car.

Once the insurance is purchased, go to the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website and log in to register the car. Click on MOI Services and choose E-Services. 

Click on Traffic, then Vehicles, and choose New Vehicle Registration. 

You’ll be able to fill out your information and submit a registration request. The fee is QAR 100 for private cars. 

Alternatively, you can visit a nearby Traffic Department to register the vehicle. You’ll need:

• Registration form in Arabic

• Qatar ID

• Ownership certificate

• Driver’s license

• Car insurance

• Proof of fee payment

For used cars

For previously registered vehicles, a car ownership transfer is required before obtaining Istimara. The car seller completes this process either online or at the Traffic Department.

Online options include Metrash and the MOI website. For Metrash, the seller goes to Vehicles within the Traffic section.

Then, they should select Vehicle Ownership Transfer and fill out the information. 

The buyer will get a notification. Upon approving the transfer, they’ll receive a new Istimara within a week. 

The Vehicle Ownership Transfer option on the MOI website can be found in Traffic Services, under Vehicles. 

This method requires a scanned buyer’s ID and proof of sale. Once the Traffic Department reviews the transfer, the buyer will receive a notification.

The in-person method requires the presence of both buyer and seller at a nearby Traffic Department. They’ll need to bring their IDs, the ownership change form, and sign an agreement with department officers present. The official transfer is usually completed within three days, after which the buyer will be called to pick up their Istimara. 

Registration renewal

Istimara has to be renewed every year. For this, a vehicle has to:

• Pass a Fahes inspection

• Have vehicle insurance

• Be clear of any violations and fines

Violations can be checked via the MOI website, under Inquiries. Click on Traffic Services, then choose Traffic Violations. 

A window will open, prompting you to enter your ID and plate number.

Alternatively, the owner can go to Vehicles in Metrash. The overview of all outstanding fines will appear under each of the cars added to the app. 

Once that’s settled, you can proceed to Istimara renewal — also available both on the MOI website and Metrash.

For MOI, go to Traffic Services and click on Vehicles. You’ll find the Renew Vehicle Registration option there.

In Metrash, go to Vehicles and tap on the car you want to renew Istimara for. Choose Service and select Renew Vehicle Registration.

As with most other processes, the renewal is available in person at the nearby Traffic Department. You have to bring your existing Istimara, proof of insurance, a passed Fahes, and your ID. 

The renewal fee is QAR 100 for motorcycles and light vehicles, and QAR 150 for private passenger and private transport vehicles.

If you want to keep your car’s value, you have to regularly maintain it. Qatar’s extreme weather conditions require thorough preps, which include:

• Inspecting battery health and fluid levels

• Checking tire pressure

• Air conditioning maintenance

• Regular cleaning and car wax

Furthermore, always park in the shade and cover the car, especially during the summer. Some drivers take extra precautions, such as ceramic coating and tinting all windows.