🚗 How to Transfer Car Ownership in Kuwait: Step-by-Step Guide

Once a buyer and seller agree on a vehicle in Kuwait, the deal is not complete until ownership is formally transferred. Handling this step properly protects both sides and ensures the vehicle is registered to the correct owner.

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior provides vehicle ownership-transfer services through the General Department of Traffic, and an electronic vehicle-transfer service is also available through the Sahel government application.

The Ministry of Interior has introduced electronic vehicle ownership transfer through the Sahel application for eligible transactions.

Step 1: Seller starts the request

The seller opens Sahel and goes to Ministry of Interior services, then Traffic Services and Vehicle Ownership Transfer. The seller selects the vehicle and enters the new owner's Civil ID number.

Step 2: Buyer receives the request

The buyer receives a notification, reviews the ownership-transfer request and approves the required procedure.

Step 3: Complete the insurance-transfer requirement

As part of the digital process, the buyer completes the applicable vehicle-insurance transfer step and associated requirement shown through the service.

Step 4: Seller confirms payment

The seller receives the next notification and confirms the required payment/transaction information before completing the ownership-transfer stage.

Step 5: Buyer receives the new vehicle licence

After completion, the buyer can access the newly transferred electronic vehicle licence and add the updated licence to the digital wallet through the applicable government application.

The Ministry of Interior also publishes the underlying vehicle-transfer procedure. The listed requirements include transferring the insurance document from the old owner to the new owner, seller and buyer identification, the vehicle registration booklet and ensuring applicable financial penalties have been settled.

For transactions that cannot be completed through the digital process, additional attendance or documentation may therefore be required.

Do not pay and postpone the transfer

From a buyer's perspective, the safest approach is to treat payment and ownership transfer as connected parts of the same transaction.

Avoid paying the full amount and then agreeing to complete the transfer several days later unless there is a clear, legitimate reason and you fully understand the risk.

Check the vehicle before reaching the transfer stage

Ownership transfer only confirms who owns the vehicle. It does not mean the vehicle is mechanically sound.

Before completing the purchase, inspect the car, verify the registration details, check for major accident repairs and arrange a professional mechanical inspection when appropriate.

Some transactions can involve circumstances that require additional documentation or direct assistance from the General Department of Traffic. If Sahel does not allow the transaction to proceed, do not try to bypass the process. Confirm the required procedure with the Ministry of Interior.