RTA bans cash transactions for firms Mandatory online registration for commercial vehicles being introduced in phases

Dubai: Making sweeping policy changes for commercial vehicles in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started to ban all cash transactions for commercial vehicles at its customer care centres, while pushing firms to use its recently introduced e-Wallet.

The ban on cash transactions will come into effect in a phased manner, with firms owning more than 1,000 vehicles in Dubai already affected since June 1, while the same will apply to firms with more than 500 vehicles from August 1. From October firms with more than 250 vehicles will be barred from cash transactions.

“The new policies will impact corporate customers and big transport companies with a huge fleet of vehicles and gradually by the end of this year, we will apply it to all commercial vehicles,” said Ahmad Hashim Bahroozian, CEO of the RTA’s Licensing Agency.

The phase one of the “no cash” programme saw around 19 firms with a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles each affected by the policy changes, which effectively means around 39,000 transactions moved online, easing the rush at customer care centres.

From August 1, 45,000 more vehicles from 30 companies will move online and come August 100,000 more vehicles from 80 firms will shift over.

“The new polices are aimed at moving bulk transactions on to the internet and adding more convenience for regular customers by reducing the rush at customer care centres. By the end of this year no commercial vehicle transactions would be allowed by cash over the counter,” added Bahroozian.

With cash banned, firms will be left to choose between debit/credit cards or RTA’s recently launched e-Wallet as payment options and RTA insists e-Wallet is the most secure payment option commercial customers will have as it negates fraud or misuse.

“By offering the eWallet account we are trying to minimise chances of financial irregularity or any kind of fraud. With the eWallet corporate customers won’t have to carry huge amount of cash required for bulk transactions. They will just have to open an account with the RTA free of cost and transfer the required amount of funds into the eWallet, which can be used to carry out transactions online as well as over the counter,” he explained.

Although, the eWallet is neither mandatory nor the only mode of payment for RTA transactions, Bahroozian believes it is safer than the other options.

“Corporate customers will have an option of using their credit cards for transactions over the counter or through the internet, but many people believe credit cards are not safe as they can be misplaced or misused, that is why we introduced the e-wallet, which is particularly helpful for big fleet owners,” he added.

Among the major policy changes is also the mandatory online renewal of vehicle registration for commercial vehicles and corporate customers.

Online registration system has been available for motorists for the past three years, but the RTA is now making it mandatory for commercial vehicles, which means no commercial vehicle registration will be done at the RTA’s customer care centres.

“All companies and commercial vehicles owners are requested to complete the registration process online, making payment either by credit/debit card or eWallet, the registration cards will be sent to the firm’s address through the post in two to three days,” said Bahroozian.

A total of 53,800 firms with a combined fleet of 407,000 vehicles will have to process registrations online once the policies are fully implemented. Gulf News