Unpaid traffic fines and the travel ban

Traffic fines in Qatar used to wait quietly until you renewed your car registration. Not any more. Since 1 September 2024 the Ministry of Interior stops anyone with unpaid traffic violations from leaving the country by land, air or sea until they pay. Fines older than 12 months are sent to the Public Prosecution. Checking takes two minutes in Metrash, so do it before every trip, and well before you leave for good.

Before you start

• Metrash app on your phone, registered with your QID
• Your QID number, and the plate number of any car registered in your name
• A bank card that works for online payment
• If you are buying a used car: the seller's QID and the plate number, so you can check its fines first

Step by step

1. Check your fines

   In Metrash go to Traffic, then Violations, and search by your QID or plate number. On the MOI website it is under Inquiries, then Traffic Inquiries, then Traffic Violations (you need the plate, vehicle type and owner's QID). Each fine shows the date, place and amount; many show a photo.

2. Pay within 30 days to get 50% off

   Many violations are reduced by half if paid within one month of being issued. Some are excluded, for example using a mobile phone while driving, overtaking on the right and parking in a space for people with special needs. Metrash shows the amount due.

3. Object if a fine is wrong

   In Metrash use the violation objection service. Since 2019 the rule has been: object within 14 days of the fine being registered, only once per fine, and only before paying it. The reply comes by SMS within about 30 days.

4. Pay for family or friends

   Since April 2026 Metrash has an "Other vehicle violations" option: enter the plate and the driver's QID, then pay. Useful when a relative is travelling and can't pay themselves.

5. Never leave a fine older than a year

   Fines unpaid for more than 12 months go to the Public Prosecution and can no longer be settled at a discount.

6. Before any trip: check again

   Pay everything in Metrash before you go to the airport or the border. Don't count on paying at the airport. If you are driving out of Qatar, you also need a vehicle exit permit in Metrash (except for GCC trips with no violations).

7. Selling the car or leaving Qatar

   A car can't change owner while it has unpaid violations, and since July 2025 the buyer has to approve the transfer in Metrash. Clear the fines first, then sell or transfer the car, then cancel your residence.

   Read guide: Leave Qatar without loose ends →

8. Keep your registration valid

   If the Istimara isn't renewed within 30 days of expiring, the plates must be handed back to Traffic. Ignoring this can lead to prosecution and a fine of QAR 3,000 to 10,000.

   Read guide: Renew your car registration (Istimara) →

What it costs

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

• Finding out at the airport. The exit ban applies at every border, so check Metrash before you book.
• Waiting past 30 days and losing the 50% discount on fines that qualify.
• Paying a fine you wanted to dispute. Once it is paid you can't object.
• Buying a car without checking its fines. The transfer is blocked until they are paid.
• Leaving fines for over a year: they go to the prosecution.

Official sources

• Ministry of Interior e-services (MOI portal) ↗
• QNA: MOI rules on exit permits and the travel ban for violators (2024) ↗
• The Peninsula: MOI urges timely payment, 50% discount and 12-month rule (July 2026) ↗
• QNA: Metrash2 objection service for traffic violations (2019) ↗

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

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