How to Check Car Accident History in the UAE?

Every car has a story, but sadly, not all sellers tell the whole truth about the car’s history. 

You could save thousands of dirhams and a lot of stress later if you know how to check a car’s accident history before you buy it, whether you’re looking at it late at night on Dubizzle or in a showroom in Dubai.

Thanks to government databases and online services that didn’t exist just a few years ago, it’s actually pretty easy to find out about a car’s accident history in the UAE. 

But the process is complicated because it involves many websites, different rules for each emirate, and some tips that most people don’t know about.

Here you will learn:

• How to find that important VIN number and what to look out for
• When private services like CarReport or CarFax are useful
• Physical inspection techniques that catch problems databases miss
• The real costs and how to plan your research budget correctly

What You Need Before Starting a Car Accident Check in the UAE?

You need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) before you start looking into accident history. 

The VIN is like a fingerprint for your car and has a 17-character code that tells the whole story. 

• Look at the back of the vehicle registration card: Turn that registration card (the mulkiya) over. The VIN is usually right there on the back. 
• Driver’s Side Dashboard (Through Windshield): Go to the driver’s side and look through the windshield. There is usually a small plate or sticker with numbers on the corner of the dashboard. 
• Driver’s Side Door Jamb: Look at the metal frame where the door closes when you open the driver’s door. A sticker or an engraved plate with the VIN is often on the car.
• Under the Hood: Open the hood and look inside the engine bay. The VIN could be stamped on a metal plate close to the firewall or on the engine block itself. 
• Contact the Dealership If Needed: Can’t find it yet? Call the place where you bought the car because they keep track of every VIN for cars they sell. 

VIN Red Flags to Watch For

Believe me, these warning signs can save you a lot of money and trouble.

• Seller Won’t Give VIN: This one is a deal-breaker, plain and simple. A seller who is honest should give you the VIN right away. If they say things like “I don’t have it with me” or “Why do you need that?” get out of there fast.
• VIN Looks Like It’s Been Scratched or Changed: Look closely at that sticker or plate with the VIN on it. Does it look like someone messed with it? Are there any scratches on it? Is the font on the markings on the car different from the rest of the markings?
• Vehicle Paperwork That Isn’t Always the Same: The paperwork should all say the same thing. The VIN on the registration card and the VIN on the car must be the same. Plus, the year, color, and specs of the model should all match up perfectly.

How To Check Car Accident History in the UAE for Free? 2 Ways

The UAE government actually makes it pretty easy to look up accident history online. You don’t have to run around to different government offices or wait in long lines. Just get your laptop and the VIN number we talked about earlier.

1. Moi Accident History Check in the UAE

Go and visit the MOI website, and the “Accidents Inquiry” section with a simple form is the first thing you’ll see. The Chassis Number box is the only field that really matters.

What you should do:

• In the “Chassis Number” box, type in your 17-character VIN number.
• Fill out the “I’m not a robot” verification (the little box)
• Click the brown “Submit” button.

On the right side of the page, there are links to other services like “Traffic fines Payment” and “Vehicle Services.” You can ignore these for now. Our only concern is the history of accidents.

Important Information About the Chassis Number:

• You will be headed to the Results Page
• The system looks through government databases after you click submit. 

Scenario 1: No Record (Image 2)

If the car hasn’t been in any accidents, you’ll see a page that says “No accidents happened to this vehicle” and has an Accidents Count of 0.

This is good news! But keep in mind that this only shows accidents that were officially reported. 

What this means is:

• There were no official reports of any major accidents.
• The police accident databases showed that the car was clean.
• You still need to look at the things in person (databases don’t catch everything).

Scenario 2: Accidents Discovered (Image 3)

In this scenario, you’ll see much information about each event.

Here are the details of the accident:

• Report Number: Reference number for an official police report
• Date of the report: the day the accident happened (in this case, 30/03/2008)
• Time: The exact time of the event (20:00 in this case)
• Type of Accident: What happened (REAR-END COLLISION)

The system says “Accidents Count: 2,” which means that this car was in two different accidents.

2. Evg Accident History in the UAE

The EVG portal is different from the MOI portal, and to be honest, it’s usually easier to use. You also have two choices: you can either make an account to get more information or use their Quick Search tool to do basic checks.

When you first go to the EVG Traffic Accidents Management page, you’ll see that they have made everything very clear with a simple three-step process.

• Step 1: Log in to your dashboard and click on “Accident Inquiry.”
• Step 2: Type in a number for the vehicle chassis
• Step 3: Look at the history and details of the accident.

Requirements Checklist:

Here are the requirements on the right:

• Finished signing up for EVG (only for in-depth searches)
• Login information (again, this is optional for Quick Search)
• This is the vehicle chassis number (this one is required).
• See the car accident history result.

When you type in the chassis number and hit search, the system processes your request and shows you the results in a detailed way.

How to Read the Results Table

The top part has a summary table with red headers that show:

• Report Number: A number that is unique to each accident
• Year: The year the accident happened (for example, 2008 or 2009)
• Type of Report: What kind of report was filed
• Source of the report: Which authority dealt with it (ABU DHABI)
• Date and time of the accident: 30-03-2008 12:00:00 AM
• Type of accident: What kind of collision it was (Rear End Collision)

Dubai-Specific Methods for Car Accident History

Dubai has its own beat when it comes to car records. 

1. Dubai Police Website 

When you first visit the Dubai Police website, you’ll land on their sleek homepage with various service categories displayed as icons at the bottom. 

Look for the “Traffic and Accidents” icon among the service categories. 

The page shows several service categories too:

• Inquiries and Follow-up
• Criminal Reports and Complaints
• Permits and Certificates
• Traffic and Accidents (this is what you want)
• Business and Corporate
• Community Engagement
• Emergency and Response

Click directly on “Traffic and Accidents” to move forward.

After clicking on Traffic and Accidents, you’ll see a dedicated section that explains what services are available. 

The page displays 3 main options:

• Traffic Accident Reports
• Pay Traffic Fines
• Report a Vehicle or Driver

You should click on the “Traffic Accident Reports”.

Once you select Traffic Accident Reports, the system shows you different types of reports available. 

For checking existing accident history, you’ll typically want either “Minor Traffic Accident Report” or “Unknown Accident Report,” depending on your situation.

When you select a specific report type, the system shows detailed information about fees, processing time, and requirements. 

The page also shows expandable sections for:

• Service Fees (with dropdown)
• Payment methods (with dropdown)
• Required Documents (with dropdown)
• Beneficiaries (with dropdown)
• Working hours (with dropdown)

However, notice the important message: “The service is only accessible on smartphones.” This means you can’t complete the process on a desktop computer.

So go to your Dubai police application and then click on the green “Apply” button at the bottom.

Dubai Police Helpline

Sometimes it’s better to talk to a real person than to click through websites. Dubai Police has a special helpline that works surprisingly well.

1. Dial 901 from your phone.
2. Get your VIN ready before you call. The staff are trained professionals who know exactly what they need, but having the number on hand will save you time.
3. Tell them you want to look up the accident history of a certain car. The employee will ask for your VIN and maybe some other information about why you’re checking. 

Abu Dhabi Police Website 

If your target car has Abu Dhabi plates or history, their police website offers another avenue for accident records.

Navigate to Abu Dhabi Police Website and look for their Public Services section. 

Look for “vehicle accidents inquiry”. 

Input your VIN carefully and run the search. The system will pull records from Abu Dhabi Police databases.

The results show all recorded accidents involving the vehicle within Abu Dhabi’s jurisdiction. 

Paide and Private Car Accident Check in the UAE

Government websites are great, but they don’t always have everything. That’s where private companies come in. They dig deeper and often find information that official databases don’t have. 

Car Accident Check in the UAE with CarReport 

CarReport has two different packages, and its free one might surprise you with how much information it gives you.

To use the basic CarReport service, you need to give them your car’s mileage and chassis number. 

The free report usually has basic information about the owner’s history, registration, and sometimes even insurance records. 

CarReport Premium Report for AED 99

CarReport’s premium service costs AED 99 if you want to see the whole picture. But first, you’ll need to make an account, which only takes about five minutes.

• The premium report goes into much more detail:
• A full history of ownership with dates
• A detailed valuation based on how the market is right now
• Service records from garages that are taking part
• Insurance claim history
• Documentation for exporting and importing

Car Accident Check in the UAE with CarFax

CarFax is an expert in imported cars and costs AED 119.77. This service is worth every fils if you’re looking at a car that was made in the US, Europe, or Japan.

CarFax works with databases from other countries that the UAE government can’t access. They look for damage from hurricanes in the US, problems with titles in European countries, and service records from authorized dealers all over the world.

Their reports cover:

• History of flood damage (important for cars that were brought in)
• Problems with the title because of where the car came from
• Service records from dealers in other countries
• The history of accidents in many countries
• Lemon law buybacks and recalls by the manufacturer

Visual Red Flags That Scream “Accident!”

Walk around the car slowly in good lighting. Parking garages work fine, but natural sunlight reveals more details.

• Mismatched Colors: Look for panels that don’t quite match the rest of the car. Sometimes it’s obvious, like when one door is slightly more blue than the others. Other times it’s subtle, like a hood that looks a bit darker in certain light.
• Texture Differences: Run your hand along the car’s surface. Repainted areas often feel rougher or smoother than the original paint. Orange peel texture (that slightly bumpy feel) should be consistent across all panels.
• Overspray Evidence: Check rubber seals, door handles, and trim pieces. If someone painted the car carelessly, you’ll find paint drops on parts that should be black plastic or rubber.
• Uneven Gaps: Doors, hood, and trunk should have consistent gaps all around. If the gap between the door and fender is 5mm on one side but 8mm on the other, something’s been bent and poorly repaired.
• Parts That Look Too New: One shiny new headlight on a 5-year-old car raises questions, and multiple new parts on one side suggest a significant impact.

What Won’t Show Up in Your Car History Search?

There are gaps in car history databases, so knowing about them will help you not get too confident about a “clean” report.

• Small accidents that no one talks about: Small bumps in parking lots, scratches from grocery carts, or light fender-benders often don’t get recorded. For example, someone might scratch your car in a mall parking lot, offer to pay cash to fix it, and then you both leave. 
• Private settlements keep things quiet: Sometimes people deal with accidents without using the system at all. Two drivers might swap insurance information, their companies might settle directly, and there might not be a police report.
• Accidents that happen outside of the UAE: UAE databases won’t record any damage to your car that happened on a road trip to Oman or while it was being shipped from another country. 
• Accidents that happened a long time ago: From 2010 to 2015, digital record-keeping really took off in the UAE. There may only be paper files of accidents from earlier years that were never digitized. Older cars often have histories that can’t be seen because technology didn’t keep track of everything back then.

Conclusion

Smart buyers don’t just rely on one source; they use a variety of them. For example, government databases show official accidents, private services show international history, and physical inspections show bad repairs that records might miss.

Keep in mind that no search method works perfectly. Digital searches often miss small accidents, private settlements, and events that happen outside the UAE. That’s why the best way to get a full picture is to do both online research and hands-on inspection.

Also, set aside AED 200 to AED 500 for in-depth research on expensive cars, such as government reports, private services, and professional inspections. This small amount of money will keep you safe from much bigger problems in the future. 

FAQs