New Rules for Istimara Renewal: All You Need to Know

The latest Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Traffic rules mean a stricter attitude and fines against expired Istimaras. So, what are the new regulations, and what could happen to you if you drive with an outdated vehicle licence? Here’s all you need to know about Istimara renewal in 2025. 

As part of their efforts to increase road safety, the MOI’s General Directorate of Traffic will start implementing stricter fines for drivers with expired Istimara. 

Starting from July 27, all drivers are obliged to renew their vehicle licences within 30 days. This is to ensure that all vehicles on the road have passed technical assessments recently, which will increase adherence to traffic regulations and contribute to traffic safety.  

Technically, vehicle registration renewal ultimatum changes nothing. Article 11 of the Traffic Law No. (19) passed in 2007 has already posed a requirement for all vehicle registration licences to be renewed within thirty days of expiry. Operating vehicles with expired licences found on the road could lead to forfeiture of the license and the number plate. 

In the past, the Ministry of Interior was more lenient with the implementation of this law and the fines. But, in efforts to make the roads safer, MOI will now carry out the checks and impose fines more strictly. As a matter of fact, Lieutenant Colonel Hamad Ali Al-Muhannadi from the General Traffic Department warned that the car may even be removed from the registry if found without an up-to-date licence. Therefore, anybody without an up-to-date license should renew it no later than August 25, 2025. 

To renew Istimara, you’ll need to:

• Pass Fahes technical inspection

• Have valid vehicle insurance

• Pay all traffic fines

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hamad Ali Al-Muhannadi, vehicle inspection doesn’t take more than 15 minutes now. You can book it online via the WOQOD app (available on iOS and Android) or visit one of the stations around Qatar and wait for your turn:

The quickest way to get a renewal appointment is via the Metash app (available on iOS and Android). You should first log in to the app and find the Traffic section. Then, tap on Vehicle Services and choose your license plate. You should then click on Renew Vehicle Registration. You can have your Istimara delivered via QPost, or collect it at the Traffic Department office. You’ll then be able to pay the fee via card and wait until your Istimara is ready. 

Here’s the list of Istimara renewal fees based on the vehicle type: