Transferring car ownership in Saudi Arabia involves a series of steps to ensure everything goes smoothly.
And guess what? Absher, the Saudi government’s online platform, makes this process a whole lot easier.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to transfer your car ownership using Absher.
The Requirements
First things first, the buyer and the seller should have bank accounts and activated accounts on Absher.
Transfer Car Ownership Via Absher (Seller)
The seller needs to take the lead by starting the ownership transfer request on Absher. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your Absher account.
- Go to the “Vehicle Services” section.
- Click on “Vehicle Ownership Transfer .”
- Select the car to transfer ownership.
- Enter the vehicle’s price.
- Enter the buyer’s Iqama number.
- Select Gregorian as the calendar type.
- Fill the ‘Buyer birth date.’
- Please enter the IBAN of the seller’s account number.
- Now select the region where you want to sell the vehicle.
Transfer Car Ownership Via Absher (Buyer)
Once the buyer receives the transfer request in their Absher account, it’s time to give it the thumbs up.
This step is like saying, “Yep, I’m ready to go!”
Now, here’s how to do it:
- First, log in to the Absher account.
- Look for “Vehicle Ownership Transfer” under “Other Services.” Click on it.
- Next, choose “Buyer” on the following page.
- Accept the car transfer request.
- Select your bank from the drop-down menu under ‘Bank Name.’
- Enter your IBAN.
- Pick your city and district in the ‘Region’ section. Then, click “Continue.”
- You’ll see the vehicle details and seller information on the next page.
- Once you’ve confirmed everything, it’s time to accept the ‘terms and conditions.’
Confirm the Payment
Once you’re ready to make the payment on Absher, they’ll show you the IBAN number (usually from SABB bank) where you need to send the money.
But you’ve got a 72-hour deadline to do it.
Make sure you make the payment during the bank’s regular hours for a smooth transaction.
The total payment goes to the government’s bank account.
They’ll take out 230 Riyals as “Absher service charges” and then send the rest to the seller’s account.
Pass the Keys
Good news! Absher doesn’t leave you hanging after the money’s been transferred.
They send an SMS to both the buyer and seller to celebrate the successful fund transfer.
Now, the seller will log in to his Absher account to hand over the keys to the buyer.
The buyer will get an OTP (One-Time Password) to share with the seller.
This OTP is crucial for hitting the ‘submit’ button and finalizing the vehicle handover. (Remember, only share the OTP when you have the car in your possession.)
While all this is happening, Absher releases the payment to the seller from the Absher account.
And that’s it! The online process to transfer car ownership in Saudi Arabia is a wrap.
You can also check our detailed guide on the cheapest car insurance in KSA.
Collect Your Istimara
Now that the car has changed hands, it’s the buyer’s turn to head to the Muroor, or the General Traffic Department, to collect the Istimara, which is the official vehicle registration card.
Istimara should be valid, if not valid it should be renewed and the cost should be covered by the seller and the buyer should purchase vehicle insurance before transferring the car.
Alternatively, if you prefer a more convenient option, you can request postal delivery of the new Istimara through the Absher App:
- Open the Absher app and find the “Request Delivery of Postal Documents” option.
- Tap the “+” button and select your Saudi national address.
- Confirm your phone number.
- Keep an eye out for an SMS containing a link to the delivery service. You’ll need to pay a delivery fee of 17.25 Riyals.
- Within a few days, your Istimara will be delivered right to the address you provided.
Final Words
If you stick to these steps to transfer your vehicle ownership through Absher and make sure all your documents are good to go, you can smoothly pass on your vehicle’s ownership and stay on the right side of the law.
Just remember to stay in the loop about any new rules and fees because they can change over time.
FAQs
- What is Tamm in Saudi Arabia?
The Tamm service in Saudi Arabia helps vehicle owners in accessing the latest information about their cars directly from official government sources.
- How much is vehicle transfer in KSA?
The cost for transferring car ownership in Saudi Arabia amounts to SR 380. Of this total, SR 150 is settled through SADAD, while the remaining SR 230 is to be included in the vehicle’s price and covered by the buyer.
- Can visitors use Absher?
The account permits both visitors and residents to avail themselves of Saudi government services.