Saudi Arabia Import Regulations

General Import Rules

• • Age Limit: Passenger vehicles must be 5 years old or less from the year of manufacture. Machinery must be 10 years old or less.
• • Left-Hand Drive Only: Only left-hand drive vehicles can be imported into Saudi Arabia.
• • Destination Port: Dammam is the primary port for vehicle imports.
• • Shipping Logistics: Shipments via container take approximately 34–46 days with a bi-monthly schedule.
• • Restriction: Vehicles that have been used as taxis or police vehicles are strictly prohibited.

Vehicle Condition & Standards

• • Vehicles must conform to Saudi safety and emissions standards, including steering and body integrity.
• • No modifications to the steering system are allowed.
• • Vehicles with damages due to accidents (fire, collision, rollover, or drowning) will be refused entry.

Duties & Taxes

• • Customs Duty: 5% for motor cars and 12% for trucks.
• • Valuation: Customs value is based on manufacturer price lists with depreciation applied (up to 60%).
• • Freight/Insurance: Costs for shipping and insurance are added to the assessed vehicle value for duty calculation.

Valuation Tiers (Depreciation)

• • First 6 months: No depreciation.
• • Last 6 months of same year: 2% deduction per month.
• • Years 2 to 5: 1% deduction per month.
• • Maximum: Total deduction capped at 60% after 5 years from model start.

Required Documentation

• • Title of the Vehicle.
• • SASO Certificate (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization).
• • Legal Purchase Invoice and Certificate of Origin.
• • Proof of Insurance and Customs Fee Declaration.
• • Landing Authorization and Copy of License/Iqama.