How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership in Saudi Arabia

Transferring vehicle ownership in Saudi Arabia has become faster, safer, and fully digital — thanks to the Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform. Whether you’re an expatriate selling your car, understanding the online transfer process ensures smooth and hassle-free ownership handover.

Here’s a step-by-step guide curated by CarSwitch to help you complete your car ownership transfer confidently and in full compliance with Saudi laws.

Read More: Step-by-Step Guide to Selling a Car in KSA with CarSwitch

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Requirements for Vehicle Ownership Transfer

Before starting the transfer on Absher, make sure the following documents and details are ready:

Requirement	Details
Vehicle Sequence Number	Found on your Istimara (vehicle registration).
Iqama Number & Date of Birth	Required for both buyer and seller.
Absher Account	Both must have active Absher accounts.
Valid Fahas (MVPI)	Mandatory for the vehicle; can be checked via Absher.
Valid Vehicle Insurance	Comprehensive or third-party insurance is required.
IBAN Numbers	Both buyer and seller must have valid Saudi bank accounts.
Vehicle Price	Must be between SAR 500 and SAR 200,000.
Car Transfer Fee	Total: SAR 380 — SAR 150 paid via SADAD and SAR 230 added to the vehicle price.
Saudi National Address	Required for both parties; must be up to date.
Ownership Limit for Expats	Expatriates can own a maximum of two vehicles.

💡 CarSwitch Tip:
Before starting, ensure your Istimara and insurance are valid — CarSwitch’s car inspection and listing services can help you verify all these details effortlessly before listing your car for sale.

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Step-by-Step Process: How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership via Absher

Step 1: Pay the Ownership Transfer Fee

1. Log in to your online banking or visit an ATM.
2. Navigate to:
   Payments → Government Payments → Motor Vehicle → Transfer Owner.
3. Enter the following details:
   • Seller’s Iqama Number
   • Vehicle Sequence Number
   • Buyer’s Iqama Number
4. Pay SAR 150 via SADAD to activate the transfer request.

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Step 2: Seller Creates the Ownership Transfer Request

1. Log in to your Absher account.
2. Go to:
   Vehicles → Vehicle Ownership Transfer → Seller.
3. Fill in required details:
   • Vehicle Price
   • Buyer’s Iqama Number and Date of Birth
   • Seller’s IBAN
   • Region of Sale
4. Agree to the terms and conditions, then submit the request.

🔹 Note:
Once submitted, the buyer must approve or reject the request within 2 hours to proceed.

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Step 3: Buyer Accepts the Transfer Request

1. Buyer logs in to their Absher account.
2. Navigate to:
   Services → Vehicle Ownership Transfer.
3. Review and accept the request.
4. Enter buyer’s IBAN (for refund in case of cancellation).
5. Confirm region and vehicle price, then agree to the terms.

💰 The Absher system will display the official bank account details (Dhamen) for payment.
The buyer has 72 hours to make the payment (within banking hours).

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Step 4: Buyer Makes the Payment

1. Add a new beneficiary in your online banking app:
   • First Name: Account
   • Last Name: Dhamen
2. Transfer the vehicle amount as displayed on Absher.
3. Wait for SMS confirmation from Absher once payment is processed successfully.

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Step 5: Vehicle Delivery & Verification

1. Seller logs back into Absher → Vehicles → Vehicle Ownership Transfer → View Request.
2. Select “Proceed to Vehicle Delivery”.
3. Buyer receives a verification code via SMS.
4. Seller enters the code in Absher to confirm final handover.

⚠️ Important:
Only enter the code after the buyer has received the vehicle and keys. Once confirmed, payment is automatically released to the seller’s bank account within a few hours.

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Step 6: Collecting the New Istimara (Vehicle Registration Card)

After transfer completion, the buyer can choose one of two methods:

• Option 1: Request home delivery via Saudi Post (Wasel service).
• Option 2: Collect in person from the nearest Traffic Department (Muroor) after booking an appointment through Absher.

Required documents:

• Buyer’s Iqama
• SMS confirmation from Absher
• Any supporting proof of transaction, if requested

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How CarSwitch Simplifies Ownership Transfers

At CarSwitch, every used car listing comes with guided support for ownership transfer. Here’s how we help sellers and buyers:

• ✅ Step-by-step assistance with Absher vehicle transfers
• ✅ Pre-sale car inspection to confirm all required documents
• ✅ Secure payment management through verified buyers
• ✅ Transparent car valuation to ensure fair pricing

If you’re selling a car in Saudi Arabia, CarSwitch handles everything — from listing to legal transfer — ensuring your experience is safe, compliant, and completely stress-free.

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Quick Recap: Vehicle Transfer Steps

Step	Process	Platform
1️⃣	Pay SAR 150 via SADAD	Online Banking / ATM
2️⃣	Seller creates transfer request	Absher Account
3️⃣	Buyer accepts and confirms	Absher Account
4️⃣	Buyer makes payment to Dhamen	Online Banking
5️⃣	Vehicle delivery and verification	Absher System
6️⃣	Collect new Istimara	Saudi Post or Muroor

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Final Thoughts

Transferring your car ownership in Saudi Arabia is now a fully online and streamlined process. Through Absher, expatriates can manage everything — from payment to delivery — without lengthy visits to traffic departments.

And when you sell through CarSwitch, all these steps become even easier — with professional support, verified buyers, and end-to-end transfer assistance.