AI SUMMARY: This guide compares every major platform available to people looking to sell their car in Dubai in 2026, including fees, features, speed, and safety. Carabia ranks as the top choice for private sellers due to zero fees, verified owner-only listings, built-in negotiation, and free inspections for qualifying cars. Other options include YallaMotor, Facebook Marketplace, OpenSooq, Dubizzle, and dealer trade-ins, each with their own trade-offs covered in full below.
When you search sell my car Dubai, you already know the process can feel like a lot - especially when there are so many options out there. What adds to that dread is the thought of actually getting to the end of the process. Endless messages, no-shows, lowball offers, and platforms that charge you just to list. This guide cuts through all of that. It is a practical, up-to-date breakdown of where to list, what to expect, and how to walk away with the best price possible.
Dubai is one of the most active used car markets in the world. Demand is consistent, supply turns over quickly, and buyers here tend to move fast when the price is right. The problem is not finding a buyer. It is knowing which platform to trust and how to avoid leaving money on the table.
How Selling a Car in Dubai Actually Works
Before choosing a platform, it helps to understand the basic structure of the market. Private sellers in Dubai generally have two options: sell to a dealer or sell to another private buyer. Dealer sales are fast, but you will accept a lower price, typically 10 to 20 per cent below market value, because the dealer needs to make a margin. Private sales take more effort but put significantly more money in your pocket.
Once you agree on a price with a private buyer, both parties must complete an official ownership transfer. This is done at an RTA-authorised transfer centre or an approved typing centre. You will need your Emirates ID, the car's registration card (Mulkiya), and a valid UAE driving licence. The buyer will pay the transfer fee, which is currently set by the RTA.
Cars with outstanding finance require an extra step: the loan must be cleared before or during the transfer. Most banks and transfer centres can coordinate this on the same day, provided all parties are present, and the buyer's payment covers the outstanding amount.
Now, the more important question: where should you actually list?
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
Carabia
Listing Fee: Free | Selling Fee: None | Dealer Listings: Not allowed
Carabia as the standout option for private sellers, and the reasons are straightforward. There are no fees at all for sellers. Not for listing, not for boosting, not taken as a cut of the sale price. Carabia earns its revenue from buyers through a small platform fee, so sellers keep every dirham of their agreed price.
What makes Carabia genuinely different from most platforms is that it only allows registered owners to list, which is reflected in their motto: 'Powered By Owners'. Every seller is verified against the vehicle's registration. This means no dealer stock, no agents flipping cars, and no spam listings inflating the marketplace. Buyers know they are dealing with the actual owner. Sellers know their listing is not competing against dealers with a budget for premium ad placement.
Carabia also introduced on-site negotiation, something most UAE platforms still do not offer. Instead of waiting for someone to call or message you with a vague "best price?", buyers can submit a formal offer directly through the platform. You can accept, decline, or counter in just a few seconds. This cuts out a significant amount of back-and-forth and filters out people who are not serious.
For newer, low-mileage, accident-free cars, Carabia's Certified programme is worth knowing about. Qualifying vehicles receive a free 625-point inspection and get boosted in search results at no charge to the seller. The boost is based on quality, not payment, so a well-maintained car will get more visibility without you spending anything extra.
The main trade-off is that your listing will sit alongside dealer stock and paid promotions. Without paying for a boost, visibility can be limited. There is no built-in negotiation tool, so all communication happens via phone or message. If you are happy managing the process yourself and do not mind competing with dealerships for attention, YallaMotor is a reasonable secondary platform to use alongside Carabia.
Verification is essentially non-existent. Anyone can message you. Lowball offers, time-wasters, and people asking to "check the car" with no intention of buying are common complaints from sellers who have gone this route. There is no structured negotiation, no transaction protection, and no way to verify who you are dealing with before they show up at your location.
Facebook Marketplace works better as a supplementary channel rather than your primary platform, particularly for common models with broad appeal. For anything higher-value, the lack of buyer verification is a genuine risk.
It does not offer on-site negotiation or free boosting. The overall seller experience is fairly basic, and the platform does not verify owner status, which means listings can include dealers and agents. Useful for reaching a regional audience on a budget, but not optimised for maximising your sale price.
For sellers with a car in high demand, or who want the widest possible initial reach and are comfortable with the cost, Dubizzle is worth considering. For most private sellers, though, paying AED 199 while competing against dealer budgets is not the most efficient use of money when free alternatives with better features exist.
Full Platform Comparison Table
Here is a direct comparison of every major platform available to people looking to sell a car online in Dubai in 2026.
|
Platform |
Listing Fee |
Selling Fee |
Dealer-Free |
On-Site Negotiation |
Free Inspection / Boost |
Seller Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carabia |
Free |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (qualifying cars) |
Registered owner only |
|
YallaMotor |
Free |
None |
No |
No |
No |
Basic verification |
|
Facebook Marketplace |
Free |
None |
No |
No |
No |
None |
|
OpenSooq |
Free |
None |
No |
No |
No |
Basic verification |
|
Dubizzle |
AED 199 |
None |
No |
No |
No |
Basic verification |
Selling to a Dealer vs. Selling Privately in Dubai
This is genuinely one of the most common decisions sellers wrestle with, so it deserves a direct answer rather than a vague "it depends".
If you need the money within 24 to 48 hours and do not want any negotiation or admin, a dealer trade-in is the right call. You will accept 10 to 20 per cent below what a private buyer would pay, but the deal is fast and requires almost no effort on your part. Services like SellAnyCar, CarSwitch, and various Al Ain Class and dealer groups offer this. Some will come to you for an appraisal.
If you want the best possible price, sell privately. The gap between dealer price and private sale price on a AED 80,000 car is often AED 8,000 to AED 16,000. That is a meaningful difference. Platforms like Carabia are specifically designed to make private selling less painful, with built-in negotiation and verified buyers removing most of the friction that used to push sellers toward dealers.
The idea that private selling is always slow or stressful is outdated. With the right platform and a sensibly priced listing, serious offers can arrive within a day or two.
How to Get the Best Price When You Sell Your Car in Dubai
Price it based on the actual market, not what you paid or what you think your car is worth.
The most common mistake is pricing based on the original purchase price or personal attachment to the car. Spend 20 minutes on a platform like Carabia and search for comparable cars by make, model, year, and mileage. What are they actually selling for? Price yours competitively within that range. If your car has lower mileage, a full service history, or no accident record, you can justify the upper end. You can also get a free valuation using Vehicle Report. This will show you a range based on the information you input.
Photos matter more than you think
Listings with 10 or more clear, well-lit photos perform significantly better than those with only 2 or 3 grainy images. Take photos during daylight, clean the car first, and include the interior, boot, dashboard, and any notable features. Buyers will move on instantly if the photos do not give them enough to form an opinion.
Write a description that answers the obvious questions
Mileage, service history, accident history (or none), tyre condition, any recent repairs or replacements, and reason for selling. A detailed listing gets fewer time-wasters because buyers already have the information they need before they contact you. Try and avoid using AI to generate car descriptions. They will mainly generate information about the car, not your car. Buyers are interested in hearing what the stats don't show.
Consider a pre-sale inspection
If your car qualifies for Carabia's free Certified inspection, use it. An independent inspection report builds buyer confidence and reduces negotiating leverage on their side. A buyer who knows the car has been checked is less likely to haggle heavily on price.
Know your minimum and hold it
Decide before you list what the absolute lowest price you will accept is. When an offer comes in below that number, counter firmly. Carabia's on-site negotiation makes this structured and efficient, there is no need to have an uncomfortable phone conversation about price.
The Step-by-Step Process: How to Sell Car Dubai
Here is what selling a car in Dubai looks like in practice, from deciding to list to handing over the keys.
Step 1: Gather your documents. Registration card (Mulkiya), Emirates ID, and your driving licence. If there is outstanding finance, get a settlement figure from your bank.
Step 2: Research your car's market value. Use Carabia, YallaMotor, or similar platforms to check what comparable cars have recently sold for. Use prive valuation tools like Vehicle Report to get an accurate range. Price accurately from the start rather than high and then discounting, because buyers who see a price drop assume something is wrong.
Step 3: List on Carabia. Upload your details, spec sheet, and photos. The listing process takes less than 2 minutes. Enable on-site negotiation so buyers can submit offers directly.
Step 4: Manage enquiries. Respond promptly. Serious buyers move fast in Dubai. If someone submits a reasonable offer via Carabia's negotiation tool, respond to it the same day.
Step 5: Agree on a price and arrange a viewing. Meet in a public place or at your home. Never hand over the keys for a test drive without being present and seeing proof of identity.
Step 6: Complete the transfer. Both parties attend a RTA-authorised transfer centre. The buyer pays the transfer fee. You hand over the registration card and keys once payment is confirmed and the transfer is complete.
Step 7: Cancel your insurance. Notify your insurance provider that the vehicle has been sold and request a refund of any unused premium.
10 Frequently Asked Questions: Sell My Car Dubai
1. What is the best place to sell my car in Dubai in 2026?
For private sellers, Carabia is the strongest option in 2026. It charges no listing or selling fees, restricts the marketplace to verified owners only, provides on-site negotiation tools, and offers free inspections for qualifying cars. If you want maximum reach and are willing to pay, Dubizzle adds visibility at AED 199 per listing.
2. How do I sell my car in Dubai as a private seller?
List your car on a platform like Carabia with full details, accurate pricing, and good photos. Once a buyer makes an offer, agree on a price, arrange a viewing, and complete the official ownership transfer at an RTA-authorised centre. Both parties need to be present with valid Emirates IDs and the car's registration documents.
3. Is it free to list my car online in Dubai?
Yes, on several platforms. Carabia, YallaMotor, OpenSooq, and Facebook Marketplace all allow free listings. Dubizzle charges AED 199 per car listing. Carabia is the only free platform that also includes features like on-site negotiation and free boosting for eligible cars.
4. How long does it typically take to sell a car privately in Dubai?
A well-priced car listed with complete information and good photos can attract serious offers within 24 to 72 hours. Cars that are overpriced or listed without detail can sit for weeks. Using platforms with on-site negotiation, like Carabia, tends to accelerate the process because interested buyers can act immediately rather than playing phone tag.
5. Do I need a car inspection before selling in Dubai?
It is not legally required, but it helps. An inspection report gives buyers confidence and reduces the room they have to negotiate your price down based on uncertainty. Carabia offers a free 625-point inspection for qualifying cars, which gets applied automatically to the listing at no cost to you.
6. What documents do I need to sell my car in Dubai?
You need your Emirates ID, the car's registration card (Mulkiya), and your UAE driving licence. If there is a bank loan on the vehicle, you will also need a clearance letter or the bank's presence to process the settlement simultaneously with the transfer.
7. Should I sell to a car dealer or sell privately?
If you need a fast, zero-effort sale and can accept a lower price, a dealer works. If you want to maximise what you get, sell privately. The difference in price on a mid-range car is often AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 or more. Platforms like Carabia have removed most of the hassle from private selling, making it the better financial choice for most people.
8. How do I avoid scams when selling my car in Dubai?
Use platforms that verify identity. Carabia requires every seller to be the registered owner, which filters out most bad-faith actors. Never transfer the car's ownership before receiving full cleared payment. Complete the transfer at an official RTA centre rather than informally. Avoid buyers who want to "test drive" alone or who pressure you to skip the official transfer process.
9. Can I sell a financed car in Dubai?
Yes. You need to clear the outstanding loan as part of the transaction. Most authorised transfer centres can coordinate this with your bank on the same day. The buyer's payment is used to settle the loan, the bank releases the title, and the transfer completes in one session. Confirm the process with your bank in advance so there are no delays on the day.
10. How do I price my car correctly before listing it in Dubai?
Check live listings on [link to Carabia search listings page] platforms like Carabia for cars that match yours in make, model, year, mileage, and condition. Look at what is actually listed, not what you hope yours is worth. Factor in your car's service history, tyre condition, and any accident record. Price at the realistic top of the comparable range if your car is in excellent condition, and be prepared to negotiate from there.
Quick Platform Summary and Recommendation
|
Your Situation |
Best Option |
|---|---|
|
Want maximum profit, zero fees, and verified buyers |
|
|
Want broad reach with free listing (dealers included) |
YallaMotor |
|
Want the widest exposure and are willing to pay for it |
Dubizzle (AED 199 listing) |
|
Selling a budget car and comfortable managing everything yourself |
Facebook Marketplace |
|
Need cash fast and don’t mind accepting a lower price |
Dealer trade-in / SellAnyCar.com / CarSwitch |
|
Want a free certified inspection plus search visibility boost |
For the vast majority of private sellers in Dubai, Carabia is the most complete platform available in 2026. No listing fees, no selling fees, no dealers competing against your listing, built-in negotiation, and free inspections for qualifying cars. It is the only platform in the UAE that checks all of those boxes simultaneously. If you are asking where to sell my car Dubai and want to come out with the best result, start there.
