Renew Your Qatar Driving Licence: Metrash Steps, Fees and the 30 Day Grace Period
How to renew a Qatar driving licence on Metrash, the MOI portal or in person: the reported QAR 250 fee for 5 years, how early you can renew, the 30 day window and what an expired licence can cost.
A licence that quietly expires is one of the costliest small mistakes in Qatar. This guide explains the renewal steps and the money, and separates a renewal window from permission to drive. We used a QIC guide updated on 29 January 2026, a search summary of other guides, and our earlier reading of the Traffic Law on Al Meezan. Hukoomi's page blocked our tool, so fees are marked as reported. It is general information, not legal advice.
How to renew, step by step
QIC describes three routes:
- **Metrash app.** Register with your QID, then go to Traffic, License Service, Renew driving license. Enter your QID, pay, and choose Qatar Post delivery or pick-up.
- **MOI e-services portal.** Log in with your QID and smart card, go to Traffic services, Driving license, Renew driving license, select the licence type, check the details, choose a delivery address, pay and save the receipt.
- **In person.** The Traffic Department in Madinat Khalifa, Doha. QIC lists opening hours of 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 7 pm, which may have changed, so check first. Bring your current licence.
You need a valid QID and a debit or credit card for online payment. QIC says you also need valid car insurance and does not mention an eye test, and we found no source on one, so ask the Traffic Department if you are unsure.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Reported amount |
|---|---|
| Renewal for a non-Qatari resident | QAR 250 for 5 years |
| Renewal for a Qatari | QAR 500 for 10 years |
| Qatar Post delivery (online only) | QAR 20 |
| Collecting in person | No delivery charge |
The fee is the same online and in person, and delivery usually takes no more than a week, according to QIC. For comparison, Hukoomi lists QAR 100 for a new licence, covered in how to get a driving licence in Qatar.
How early, and how late?
QIC says you can renew up to six months before expiry, and that renewing within 30 days after expiry avoids penalties under Article 36 of Law No. 19 of 2007. We could not read that article ourselves. The same guide notes that an expired licence is not valid for driving. Treat the 30 days as a window to fix the licence, not as permission to drive.
What does an expired licence cost?
QIC mentions a fine of about QAR 1,500 for driving on an expired licence. The Traffic Law text we read on Al Meezan is different: Article 95 sets 1 week to 1 year in prison or a fine of QAR 3,000 to QAR 10,000 for driving on an expired licence, and Article 94 sets 1 month to 3 years or QAR 10,000 to QAR 50,000 for driving without a licence. The law has been amended, so confirm the current figures. See penalties for driving without or with an expired licence.
What can block a renewal?
- **Unpaid fines.** Article 90 says that fines unpaid after 60 days stop the driving licence and vehicle licence being renewed, with QAR 1 a day added. See unpaid traffic fines and checking and paying fines.
- **A suspended licence.** Points can suspend a licence. See the points system.
- **A lapsed residence permit.** If your QID is expired, fix it first. See Qatar ID expired: what to do and the expiry date planner.
If your licence is lost or damaged
See replacing a lost licence, which has its own steps.
A simple renewal plan
1. Put the expiry date in your phone with a reminder six months out.
2. Check for fines on Metrash and pay them.
3. Renew online and choose collection or courier.
4. Keep the receipt until the new card arrives.
5. If the licence has already expired, do not drive until the new one is in your hand.
What we could not verify
- Hukoomi's own renewal page and the current fee.
- Whether a vision test is required.
- Article 36 of Law No. 19 of 2007 and the 30 day period, which come from a secondary guide.
Part of our guide to cars and driving in qatar
Start with the full guide: Owning and Driving a Car in Qatar: Istimara, Fahes, Fines and Licence Guide
More on: driving licence
- How to Get a Driving License in Qatar: New or Exchanged
- Convert Your Foreign Driving Licence in Qatar: Approved Countries, Documents and Fees
- Driving in Qatar as a Visitor: International Permit, GCC Licence and Temporary Licence
- Lost or Damaged Qatar Driving License: How to Replace It
- Driving Without a License or With an Expired License in Qatar: Penalties
- Qatar Traffic Violation Points System: How It Works
Frequently asked questions
How do I renew my driving licence in Qatar?
Use the Metrash app (Traffic, License Service, Renew driving license), the MOI e-services portal with your smart card, or the Traffic Department in person. You need a valid QID and, online, a payment card.
How much does it cost to renew a driving licence in Qatar?
QIC reports QAR 250 for a 5 year renewal for non-Qatari residents, with QAR 20 extra for Qatar Post delivery. Confirm the fee in Metrash before paying.
Is there a grace period for an expired driving licence in Qatar?
QIC reports a 30 day period after expiry to renew without penalty, citing Article 36 of Law No. 19 of 2007. You still should not drive on an expired licence.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
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