Every year I have to go through the dreaded process of renewing my car registration and I hate it. The traffic department in Maidan Hawalli is just a chaotic, over crowded unorganized mess. It involves a lot of pushing and shoving and lots of waiting. But this year, something changed.
I had already finished my car check in the morning without any incidents so I headed to the traffic department to get my car registration printed. Right as I walked in I noticed they had setup a desk at the main entrance and an officer was standing in the doorway leading to the main hall. The officer was not letting anyone through unless they had stood in line and gotten their paperwork checked and stamped at the desks. I naturally stood in line which wasn’t long at all, just two people ahead of me and when it was my turn the guy behind the desk checked my papers and then told me I needed to get a stamp from the machine. I went got a stamp while he patiently waited, I then passed him the stamp, he stuck it on my papers, signed it and gave it back to me and told me to go inside. I walked into what usually is a large, noisy and overcrowded hall and walked up to a window and handed the guy my papers. A minute later he called my name and I went and he gave me my new car registration. I walked out dumbfounded.
I am a pro at renewing car registrations since I do it a few times a year for my cars and my parents cars and I’ve been doing it for a fairly long time now. Not once have I ever managed to get anything done there in under 30 minutes. It usually takes longer but lets use 30 minutes as a number for now. This year the process took less than 10. Not only that but I didn’t get shoved, I didn’t have people try and push in front of me and I didn’t have to sit in an over crowded room watching people getting yelled at by an overzealous police officer.
Whomever they’ve put in charge at the traffic department in Hawalli needs a medal. It was literally the quickest and simplest governmental service I think I’ve ever experienced anywhere yet alone in Kuwait. Why can’t all of Kuwait’s government processes be so organized like this?
25 replies on “Hawalli Traffic Department”
Awesome! I love when this happens and to be honest, Ahmadi Traffic Dept. (and I hear Immigration too) is ALWAYS like this – out in 5 to 10 mins max.
+1 for Ahmadi Traffic Dep. It takes around 30 minutes to finish renewal process (including insurance and car check). +1 for Ahmadi immigration as well..
Agreed about Ahmadi. The last few years have been great. My record is 18 minutes and 4 of that was waiting for the new registration to be laminated.
I gave up on this and went to the private companies that check the car and renew registrations.It’s 10KD more , but I dont have to wonder, what I should do next or if they yelled out my name.
The initial paper checking process resolves the process by 90%.
That’s really good to know !
I noticed that too but I think the lack of crowds at the car passing in Jabriya and obtaining the registration card at Maidan Hawalli is because of the outsourcing of car registration to private companies and not because of the improved efficiency.
I have to disagree, it’s definitely improved efficiency and it’s like right in your face changes not hidden behind the scenes ones.
Actually you can renew your car registration at the car inspection in Jabriya. I did it yesterday after I stamped my papers. It is a small office round the back.
Yeah i actually just found that out last night while telling my friend about the Hawalli traffic department.
No need to go in maidan hawalli for the registration card?
MOI are getting better everyday and i’m glad!
+1 (except dealing with traffic)
They’re dealing with it very well.
By deporting expats. /s
I think the government is really trying to improve services this tine. We have not had a stable government &National Assembly since the end if the Invasion 1991. Political stability is a must for progress
True that. I got my car papers renewed 3 days ago. Same feeling, literally dumbfounded. Car passi in morning 10 minutes and renewal another 10 minutes. Awesome!!
Just call one of those registration renewal companies. For 20 KD, they’ll pick up your car, do the whole thing and bring it back while you eat the burger you ordered online from 6alabat.
I’d rather do it myself and then spend KD20 at Ora for lunch.
I went on Sunday to transfer my car daftar to a new owner, and it took exact 6 minutes, I was amazed. They have a new system in order in which only those people who need to get the work done are allowed to go in the building and no one else, they also changed their work timings and have become much more efficient, I hope everything else in Kuwait follows
I’m sure I read somewhere that after the 1st 3 years’ registration renewal, the next one will be after 2 years instead of annually? Maybe that played a little bit into reducing the crowds?
Hey Mark, any idea on what are the timings, is it open the full day or do they break at noon? Thanks
they used to break at noon, not sure if that has changed
You might be able to go to Fahaheel to the rip off VIP treatment, sometimes expedited vehicle registration place. You “HAVE” to pay KD10 for them to pull your car in the inspection lane.
Totally Agree. They have become very efficient,helpful and the officer who stands out and makes things easier needs an Award!
I actually wanted to tell him 🙂
I used to use those private companies to renew my cars registration but lately i found its useless to give them 10KD for each car.
I don’t know how many of you know abt the new timing of car passing in Shuwaikh and Ahmadi muroor on Saturdays. I did my both cars there and got the new registration paper from there itself within 10 minutes.