Thinking of buying a used car in Qatar? A smooth sale or purchase starts with one thing —  getting the ownership details right. Here’s how to check them and transfer the vehicle smoothly and successfully.

Several options allow you to transfer car ownership in Qatar. They include and in-person visit to the MOI Traffic Department or regional transport offices, ownership transfer via the e-services portal of MOI, and a transfer of vehicle ownership via the Metrash mobile application.

We’ll tell you about the details of each of the given options so that you can choose the most convenient one. But first, let’s get down to the list of documents required in order to change the vehicle owner on istimara.

To transfer the ownership of the car you need to collect the following documents:

• Vehicle registration card: Learn more how to renew Istimara in Qatar

• Copy of Qatari IDs of the buyer and the seller

• Car insurance under new owner’s name

• Ownership transfer authorization from the mortgagee — for mortgaged vehicles only

If you are an expat, you will not need to  provide a no-objection certificate anymore for car ownership transfer. 

Aside from the documents listed above, you are required to provide a copy of the company registration card and a signed transportation approval. 

If you buy a vehicle through a car agency, make sure the seal and the signature on the agency authorization card are valid. When buying cars sold through court auctions, their ownership can be changed without returning the autos to their owners on condition that there is a letter from the competent authority or court order.

If you choose to change the motor vehicle ownership via an in-person visit to the MOI Traffic Service Center, both the seller and the buyer should be present. The car should also be taken to the location. 

You’ll be given a Vehicle Licensing Form to complete. To save time, you may fill it out on the MOI’s website and print it out to bring along with other papers. On submission of the required documents, the buyer and the seller will need to sign a contract. Next, you should pay the fees. The value may vary depending on the type of registration. Typically, they range between QAR 100 – 200.

The following step is an update of the vehicle details on ownership. This process may take up to three days. Finally, a new owner will receive a vehicle registration certificate and a car ownership transfer certificate.

Wondering how to change the ownership of your vehicle without a visit to the registering authority? Every holder of an ID card can complete this procedure online — learn how to check Qatar ID. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Go to the MOI e-services portal

2. Select “Traffic Services” → “Vehicle Ownership Transfer”

3. Fill out the buyer’s data and the car plate numbers required in the form

4. Choose the convenient document delivery option

5. Make a payment

Another convenient way to complete this procedure is through the Metrash app. If you don’t have it on your smartphone, download it from the MOI website, Google Play, or App Store. Please note that only smart QID holders can complete the procedure via this mobile application. Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Metrash account using your QID

2. From the home page, tap the "Traffic" icon

3. Select "Vehicle"

4. In the Services section, tap "Vehicle Ownership Transfer." Your vehicles under your ownership will be displayed on the screen

5. Select the vehicle plate number of the car you want to transfer

6. Enter the buyer's QID, their mobile phone number, and your car's license plate number

7. Pay for the service using your credit or debit card (QAR 200)

8 . Choose how the documents will be delivered through QPOST or by personal visit to the headquarters in Madinat Khalifa.

Upon completion, the buyer will receive an in-app message, which serves as the grounds for obtaining a new Istimara.

There are two ways to check car ownership in Qatar. The first one is via the Metrash2 app. The other one is to address the MOI website. Here’s what you should do:

1. Log in using your Smart QID

2. Go to “Traffic Services” → “Vehicle Inquiry” → “Vehicle Specification”

3. To check several cars, use the default settings and click “Next” then select checkboxes for every car you’d like to inquire about

4. To check one auto, choose “Specific Vehicle”, enter its plate number, and select the type of vehicle from the list

5. Tap on “Next” to see the “Vehicle Details” page with full information on the vehicle

This service is available for Smart QID holders only, so make sure you have it if you plan to check the ownership of a vehicle without addressing Traffic Police.