Every Qatar resident who wants to own a car has to register it, regardless of whether it’s a used or a new vehicle. The proof of this registration is called Istimara, and it’s in the form of a card. Istimara shows that the vehicle is in good condition and has fulfilled all of the requirements to be on a Qatari road. If you’ve never gone through this process before, don’t worry — it’s pretty straightforward and can be completed online in a couple of minutes. 

Qatar law prohibits any vehicle owned by a Qatar resident from being on the road without a vehicle registration license, also known as Istimara. According to Article 7, the Istimara card contains all Qatar vehicle registration details, including chassis, engine, plate number, model, color, year, and owner’s information.  

While there are certain exceptions for armed forces, commercial vehicles with special permissions, tourist cars, and temporary residents, in general, a Qatari resident can’t drive their car anywhere before they register it. 

The Istimara application has to be submitted either by the owner or the official representative and include the ownership certificate and evidence of registration fee payment. Furthermore, the car can’t be more than fifteen years old. 

For a regular, used private vehicle, a vehicle registration is issued for one calendar year, after which it has to be renewed. However, if you purchased a brand-new car, you can opt for a three-year validity, and then you’ll need to renew it. 

The Istimara renewal grace period is thirty days. In case you fail to renew it within this period, the registration and the number plate will be confiscated.

Online Qatar vehicle registration 

1. Go to the Ministry of Interior website and log in. 

2. Click on the MOI Services tab and choose E-Services.

3. Pick Traffic Services from the catalog.

4. Tap on Vehicles.

5. Click on New Vehicle Registration. Fill out the information and pay the QAR 100 fee. 

In-person vehicle registration in Qatar

If you prefer to apply for Istimara in person, you can do that at a nearby Traffic Department. Some of Doha’s Traffic Departments include Madinat Khalifa, Mesaimeer, and Industrial Area. 

Here’s what you need to bring:

In addition, in case your stay in Qatar is sponsored, you should also bring a signed letter from your sponsor. If a company is sponsoring you, you’ll need a copy of the establishment ID.

Istimara for used cars is obtained by transferring the ownership and changing the details of the original vehicle registration. To do that, the car seller has to change the vehicle information on either the MOI website, Metrash, or at the local Traffic Department.  

Transferring car ownership on the MOI website

The process is pretty similar to getting Istimara for a new car. The car seller has to navigate to the E-Services section of the MOI website. Then, they should:

1. Go to Traffic Services. 

2. Choose Vehicles.

3. Go to Vehicle Ownership Transfer and provide the requested information. They’ll need a scanned copy of the buyer’s ID and proof of sale, and should specify the preferred document delivery method.

The traffic department will review all the information and approve the transfer. The buyer will receive a notification that their new Istimara is ready — they’ll either pick it up or receive it in QPost, depending on their selected delivery method.

Transferring car ownership using Metrash

The Metrash process also needs to be completed by the car seller.

1. Sign in to Metrash, navigate to Traffic , and tap on Vehicles.

2. Find the car in question from the list of owned cars, and choose Vehicle Ownership Transfer.

3. Enter the requested information. 

Once the request is submitted, the buyer needs to approve the transfer in their Metrash. When the Traffic Department processes the request, the buyer will receive the new registration card via their preferred delivery method. 

In-person used car registration

For an in-person transfer, both the buyer and the seller must be present at the Traffic Department. They need to bring the filled-out ownership change form, their QIDs, and sign an agreement in the presence of the traffic officers. If a company is involved in the transfer, it must produce an officially stamped letter. 

The vehicle registration fee for private vehicles is QAR 100 and must be paid upon arrival.

The transfer should be completed within three days, and a notification will be sent to the buyer and seller. The buyer can pick up the new Istimara at the Traffic Department, or it can be sent via QPost to a designated address.

If you’ve recently moved to Qatar and would like to take your car with you, you’ll have to officially import it in order to obtain Istimara. Bear in mind — you can only do this once you have obtained your residence permit. Also, the car can’t be older than five years.

Before you begin the process, get thoroughly informed about Qatar’s customs regulations or hire a reputable import service to handle the process. The government allows direct car imports, but a permit from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry must be obtained. You also need a bill of lading, a certificate of origin, a commercial invoice, a passport, a residency permit, and original vehicle registration. 

Once the car is in Qatar, it has to undergo customs and inspections before you register it. You’ll likely have to pay a customs tax, which is 5% of the vehicle’s value. You’ll also need to send it to a Fahes inspection within 14 days to confirm it’s in good condition.  

The documents for registering an imported car are the same as for any new car. You’ll need a Qatar ID, driver’s license, insurance, and proof of car ownership. Registration fee is QAR 100.

In any case, it’s recommended that you contact the Customs Department to get all the information on the processes and certificates you need to obtain before you start the procedure.