Transfer car ownership in Saudi Arabia using Absher requirements, fees, and common fixes

Quick answer
You can transfer car ownership in Saudi Arabia using Absher online when both buyer and seller have Absher accounts, the car meets the eligibility rules, and the buyer completes payment through Absher.

Transfer car ownership in Saudi Arabia using Absher step by step

Before you start: quick checklist

1. Buyer and seller both have active Absher accounts
2. Vehicle is eligible and not flagged as missing, wanted, or in custody
3. Registration is valid
4. Valid insurance is in place
5. Valid periodic technical inspection certificate is available
6. No traffic violations on the buyer or the vehicle
7. Sale price falls within Absher’s allowed range

Step 1: make sure the car is eligible and ready

Start by checking three things because they cause most failed transfers:

1. Expired inspection
2. Expired insurance
3. Violations on the buyer or on the vehicle

If you are a resident, keep the ownership limit in mind: Absher notes a resident can own two private cars, with a maximum of 8 seats per car.

Step 2: seller starts the sale in Absher

1. Log in to Absher.
2. Go to the vehicle sale or ownership transfer service under Traffic services.
3. Select the vehicle.
4. Enter the buyer details and agreed sale price.
5. Submit the request.

Step 3: buyer reviews, accepts, and pays through Absher

1. The buyer logs in to Absher and finds the pending vehicle sale request.
2. The buyer reviews the vehicle and price details, then accepts.
3. The buyer pays the required amounts through Absher, which uses an intermediate account for the transaction.

Practical tip
Do the payment only after you have double checked inspection, insurance, and violations. If anything is not valid, the transfer can fail or get stuck mid process.

Step 4: delivery and completion

After payment, you and the other party will follow the delivery and completion steps in Absher to finalize the transfer and update the registration to the buyer’s identity.

What to keep as proof

1. Confirmation messages in Absher for submission, acceptance, and completion
2. Payment confirmations from SADAD and Absher
3. A simple signed sale agreement for your records

Requirements you must meet before the transfer will go through

Account and identity requirements

Both parties need Absher accounts.

Vehicle and status requirements

1. Vehicle type must be private or private transport
2. Vehicle must not be missing, wanted, or in custody
3. Vehicle registration must be valid

Inspection and insurance requirements

1. A valid technical inspection certificate
2. A valid insurance policy

Violations requirement

There must be no violations registered against the buyer or the vehicle.

Price range requirement

Absher sets a price range of SAR 500 to SAR 1,000,000.

Fees and payments: what you will pay and when

Government fee via SADAD

Absher states government fees are paid through SADAD. You will see the exact amount in the SADAD payment flow in your bank app.

Absher service fee to finalize the sale

Absher states the fee for finalizing the sale through Absher is SAR 230 including VAT, added to the vehicle price and paid by the buyer.

Refunds if you cancel

Absher states these fees are refundable if the sale is cancelled for any reason.

Where to see the final amount before paying

1. Inside Absher when the buyer is about to confirm payment
2. Inside your bank or SADAD payment screens when paying the government fee

What you’ll see on the screen

Typical service area and wording

1. Absher login
2. Services or My Services
3. Traffic
4. Vehicle Ownership Transfer or Vehicle Sale

Common prompts and confirmations

1. Selecting the vehicle from a list
2. Entering buyer identity details and sale price
3. Buyer review and accept prompt
4. Payment confirmation
5. Delivery and completion confirmation

Troubleshooting: why Absher rejects the transfer

There are traffic violations on the buyer or the vehicle

Fix: clear the violations first, then try again.

Inspection is expired or not showing as valid

Fix: complete the periodic inspection and wait for the system to update, then retry.

Insurance is expired or not active

Fix: renew insurance and confirm it is active in the system.

Registration is expired

Fix: renew the vehicle registration license first.

Vehicle type is not supported by this service

Fix: use the appropriate official route instead of this Absher service.

Price is outside the allowed range

Fix: adjust the sale price to fit Absher’s allowed range.

Tips for a smooth handover and avoiding scams

1. Do the transfer in Absher before handing over keys.
2. Meet in a safe public place if you are meeting in person.
3. Keep your communication simple and in writing.
4. Do not accept side payments outside the Absher flow.

If you cannot use Absher: your main alternatives

If the car is not eligible for the Absher ownership transfer service, or one party cannot meet the requirements, you may need to complete the process through the General Department of Traffic routes and services instead.

Conclusion

For most private car sales, Absher is the cleanest way to transfer ownership because it ties eligibility checks, payment, and ownership update into one official flow. Double check inspection, insurance, and violations first, then follow the seller request and buyer acceptance steps to finish smoothly.
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