Motorcycle license in Saudi Arabia step by step for expats and residents

If you want to ride legally, you’ll need a motorcycle license in Saudi Arabia or you risk trouble if you’re stopped. The process is pretty structured prepare your documents, do the medical exam, go through a driving school assessment and training, pass the theory and practical tests, then issue the license through official channels.

Below is a clean, updated walkthrough that avoids the confusing random fee lists you see online. I’ll clearly separate what’s official from what varies by school/clinic.

Before you start who can apply and what to prepare

Minimum age

Saudi traffic guidance lists the minimum age for issuing a motorcycle driving license as 16.

Documents you’ll commonly be asked for

Official traffic guidance for issuing a motorcycle license includes

• Completed application form
• 4 photos (4×6 cm)
• ID requirements:
  • Saudis: copy of national ID
  • Non Saudis: copy of Iqama and passport
• Guardian letter listed as required

Note: guardian letter is explicitly listed by MOI/Riyadh Traffic. If you’re an adult resident and a school asks for something different, follow the school/traffic office instructions, but this is what the official page states.

Medical exam Efada style result

For driving license services, Absher states you need a medical examination through certified medical centers.
Clinics set their own pricing, so I’m not certain about a fixed medical fee you’ll see SR 150 online, but it’s not an official fixed amount.

Is a police clearance required?

Some non official guides mention a police clearance certificate, but the official MOI/Riyadh Traffic text shown in my research for issuing a motorcycle license does not clearly list it as a requirement in the same way it lists photos/ID/guardian letter.
So I’m not certain it’s required for everyone. Treat it as may be requested rather than guaranteed.

Quick checklist save this

• Iqama + passport copy or Saudi ID
• 4 personal photos 4×6 cm
• Guardian letter as listed
• Medical exam done at a certified center
• Any traffic violations cleared can block service steps

Motorcycle license in Saudi Arabia the full process

Step 1: Book your appointment Traffic/School

In practice, you’ll need an appointment flow to start the training/testing route. The exact screen path can change, but Absher’s traffic services are where many license services are.

Step 2: Go to the driving school for an initial evaluation

Most schools do a first assessment ride to judge your level beginner vs experienced. This affects how many training sessions they schedule.

Step 3: Complete the training sessions you’re assigned

How many classes you’ll do depends on the evaluation. This is why SR 690 for 2 classes is not something I can treat as universal or official.

Tip: Ask the school for:

• your required session count
• attendance options in person vs any remote theory option, if offered
• your test schedule method SMS/app/printed schedule

Step 4: Pass the theory computer test

You’ll usually sit a basic road safety and traffic rules test. I’m not certain about 22 out of 30 as a universal passing rule it’s widely repeated, but I couldn’t verify it from an official Saudi portal in the research results I pulled.

Step 5: Pass the motorcycle practical test

Practical tests typically focus on slow control and basic maneuvering. The exact course design varies by facility.

Step 6: Issue and print your license

Absher confirms the general prerequisites that commonly block license services medical exam through certified centers, paying violations, paying fees via bank government payments.
Depending on your city/school, you may receive instructions for collection/printing through the traffic department process.

Fees and payments what’s official vs what varies

Official government fee license issuance/renewal

A widely cited and consistent figure across multiple guides is SR 200 for 10 years for a motorcycle license. One source explicitly states this.
However, I’m not certain this is still the current official amount for every case because the official MOI page snippet I accessed doesn’t show the fee table directly.
So I’ll treat SR 200/10 years as likely, but you should confirm in your bank government payments screen or the service flow.

How you pay the part that is official

Absher states fees are paid through government payments via banks, and you must also pay any traffic violations if applicable.
That matches what people do in apps like Al Rajhi, SNB, Riyad Bank, etc., under SADAD/government payments.

Costs that vary don’t trust fixed totals

These are not fixed by a single official rate:

• Driving school training packages
• Medical exam price depends on clinic
• Any optional services extra classes, retest fees, etc.

That’s why total cost SR 1,100 should be treated as a sample, not a promise.

Common problems and how to fix them

Medical result not showing up

If Absher/service flow says medical not found, it usually means the clinic hasn’t uploaded it yet or you used a non certified provider. Absher explicitly requires certified medical centers.
Fix confirm your medical was done at an approved center and ask them to update it.

You can’t proceed because of violations

Absher lists paying traffic violations as a requirement.
Fix pay violations first, then retry the service.

No appointments available

This is common in big cities. Try

• checking early morning
• trying another nearby branch/school
• being flexible with weekdays

Quick real life riding tips in KSA

• Assume drivers won’t always notice you ride defensively.
• Midday heat is no joke plan rides around safer temperatures.
• Sand patches happen especially after wind. Slow down and avoid sharp lean angles.

Conclusion

Getting a motorcycle license in Saudi Arabia is mostly a process of preparing the right documents, completing the medical exam, finishing training, and passing the tests. Start with the checklist, book your appointment, and don’t rely on fixed one price totals school and medical costs vary.