Transferring car ownership in Saudi Arabia is a process that involves a series of steps to ensure a smooth transition between the seller and the buyer. Nowadays, transferring car ownership in Saudi Arabia has become more convenient with the option to do it online through the Absher account. This can only be accomplished once all essential steps, including vehicle inspection and the completion of a purchase agreement, have been fulfilled. Here's a brief overview of the various steps involved in the vehicle ownership transfer process via Absher.

Prerequisites For Transferring Car Ownership

To facilitate the transfer of car ownership in Saudi Arabia, certain prerequisites must be met. These include:

1. Both buyer and seller must have an activated accounts on Absher.
2. The Iqama number and date of birth of the buyer must be provided.
3. Include the Vehicle Sequence Number (It's the ten-digit number that can be found on the front side of your vehicle registration card).
4. IBAN Number of the bank account of both buyer and the seller. 
5. The vehicle price must range from a minimum of S.R. 500 to a maximum of S.R. 1,000,000.
6. Payment of S.R. 150 government fees via SADAD is required for vehicle ownership transfer. Additionally, the buyer pays a non-refundable S.R. 230 fee through Absher, inclusive of VAT, added to the vehicle price.
7. Valid insurance policy is required for the vehicle.
8. No violations should be recorded against the buyer or the vehicle.
9. The vehicle must be in good running condition, not missing, wanted, or in custody.
10. The vehicle's registration license must be valid.
11. A valid technical inspection certificate is necessary.
12. Residents can own a maximum of two cars, categorized as "private," with each car having a maximum of 8 seats.

Car Ownership Transfer Fee in Saudi Arabia

It is SR 380, with SR 150 paid through SADAD.The buyer is responsible for the remaining SR 230 on top of the vehicle's cost.

Specific fees for transferring vehicle ownership based on driving licenses:

• Special driving license: SR 150
• Private transport license: SR 150
• Minibus driving license: SR 150
• Taxi driving license: SR 300
• Public transport license: SR 300
• Public bus driving license: SR 300
• Motorcycle license: SR 150
• Public works vehicle driving license: SR 150

Essential Documents for Vehicle Ownership Transfer in Saudi Arabia

Understanding the requirements and fees for transferring vehicle ownership is crucial. To facilitate a smooth process, ensure you have the following documents:

• Pay the specified fees.
• Provide a copy of your personal status card.
• Present your original driving license.
• Include an approved sale contract from a showroom in the same city.
• For non-Saudis, bring a copy of the residence permit along with identification certified by the sponsor.
• Include a copy of your driver’s license.
• If transferring ownership of a diplomatic driving license, a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is necessary.
• Remember to keep all documents organized in a file for easy access throughout the ownership transfer process.

Steps for Transferring Car Ownership

The transfer of car ownership is seamlessly handled by car showrooms or electronic transfer service offices once all the specified ownership transfer conditions are satisfied, as outlined earlier. These offices, being electronically linked to the Traffic Department, streamline the transportation procedures.

Upon agreement, the buyer and seller sign the contract. Subsequently, the buyer is provided with both the contract and the car ownership transfer document for printing. With the car ownership transfer paper in hand, the buyer can freely move within the Kingdom.

If the buyer opts to pay through a bank transfer, the sale amount can be transferred directly from their account to the seller's. Alternatively, if the payment is in cash via an uncertified check, the seller should withhold the vehicle until the check's validity and authenticity are verified.

How To Transfer Car Ownership Through Absher?

In Saudi Arabia, transferring car ownership through the Absher platform is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

• Log in to your Absher account. 
• Navigate to the 'Vehicles' section and select the 'Services' tab.
• Choose 'Vehicle Ownership Transfer' from the online services.
• Scroll down and select the 'Seller' option."

To move to the next step, do the following:

• Choose the specific car for ownership transfer.
• Enter the designated price for the vehicle.
• Provide the buyer’s Iqama number.
• Select 'Gregorian' as the calendar type.
• Specify the buyer's birth date.
• Enter the IBAN of the seller’s account, where the car sale proceeds will be deposited.
• Select the region where you intend to sell the vehicle.

In the following stage, you need to agree to the terms and conditions of your Absher account to proceed with the online car ownership transfer application in Saudi Arabia. 

Note: Please note that the buyer has only one hour to accept the request.

To approve or decline a car ownership transfer request made via Absher, the buyer has a one-hour window to take the following steps:

• Log in to your Absher account.
• Navigate to the 'Vehicles' section and choose the 'Services' tab.
• Opt for 'Vehicle Ownership Transfer' from the online services.
• Scroll down and select the 'Buyer' option.

After that,

• You can either accept or reject the car transfer request.
• Enter the IBAN number of the buyer’s bank account; if canceled, the amount will be refunded to this account.
• Choose the region where the vehicle will be sold.

To complete the online car ownership transfer in Saudi Arabia, you need to accept the terms and conditions.

In Absher, you will see the payment account number, which is Absher’s bank account information. Currently, no funds will be released to the seller.

There's a 72-hour deadline for the buyer to complete the payment, and if made outside of banking hours, it won't be processed. The total price already covers the SR 230 car transfer fee.

Upon approving the online car ownership transfer request via Absher in Saudi Arabia, the buyer needs to complete the payment to the specified bank account within a 72-hour timeframe.

Vehicle Handover

After the successful fund transfer, Absher will notify both the buyer and seller via SMS. Using Absher, the seller will then proceed to deliver the vehicle.

To finalize the delivery, the seller needs to enter the OTP received by the buyer through SMS into their Absher account. The OTP is shared with the seller after the vehicle handover.

Upon completion of the delivery, Absher will release the payment to the seller. This marks the completion of the online car ownership transfer process through Absher in Saudi Arabia.

Get the Istimara

After completing the car ownership transfer, follow these steps to get the new Istimara:

• Schedule an appointment with Muroor (traffic police) for this purpose طباعة رخصة سير مركبة.
• Bring your Iqama to the traffic police station.
• Collect the new Istimara.

You can also opt for home delivery by:

• Clicking on the 'Request Delivery of Postal Documents' button.
• Choosing your Saudi national address by pressing the “+” button.
• Confirming the delivery request for the provided phone number.
• Shortly, you will receive an SMS with a payment link for the delivery service, costing SR 17.25.

Transferring Car Ownership from the Bank in Saudi Arabia

If you've leased a car from the bank and want to transfer ownership, follow these steps:

• Ensure the Fahas (vehicle inspection) is valid.
• The buyer should purchase insurance in their name.
• Settle all outstanding dues with the bank.
• Submit the necessary documents for the car ownership transfer to the bank.
• Pay the transfer fee, typically around SR 525, to the bank.
• Receive the new Istimara within 2 weeks of submitting the transfer request to the same bank.