Shipping a Car to Saudi Arabia

Shipping Your Car to Saudi Arabia? Car Shipping from the USA to Saudi Arabia starts at a cost of $1,095 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 20-35 days, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about shipping your car to Saudi Arabia in our 2024 guide.

Shipping a Car to Saudi Arabia: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Vehicle Import Approval

Shipping a Car to Saudi Arabia: Costs & Time Frame

Shipping a Car to Saudi Arabia: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Saudi Arabia

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Saudi Arabia

Other Saudi Arabia/US Shipping Options

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your vehicle overseas to Saudi Arabia.

As you engage in the process of shipping a car to Saudi Arabia, some of the most important questions to consider include:

• Whether you plan to permanently keep the car in Saudi Arabia or if it’s just a temporary move
• The condition of the shipped vehicle; Saudi Arabia has a five-year vehicle age restriction for the import of passenger cars and other light vehicles
• Whether you’re importing a new or used vehicle

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for shipping to Saudi Arabia. Your actual tax rate is also based on these details.

When shipping cars, you should never assume your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. Importing classic or used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for importing newer vehicles into Saudi Arabia.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Saudi Arabia, fill out ourfree quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval

Upon the arrival of your car shipment, the vehicle must be declared in Saudi Arabia Customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

• • Original Title for the car (with no Liens on the Title)
  • Notarized Bill of Sale/Sales Contract
  • Copy of your passport if you are not a US citizen
  • EIN letter from the IRS if you are a US citizen
  • Power of Attorney form (if required)
  • A Certificate of Conformity

Things to Consider

• All vehicles shipped to Saudi Arabia must comply with all the legal and technical requirements stipulated by the Saudi Arabian government.
• Importing small vehicles over 5 years old and high and heavy units over 10 years old into Saudi Arabia is restricted. However, classic vehicles that are over 30 years old may be imported as vintage cars.
• Importing accident-damaged vehicles and salvage titles into Saudi Arabia is also restricted.
• Any car imported into Saudi Arabia must not have been previously used as a police vehicle or taxi.
• All vehicles imported into Saudi Arabia must be left-hand drive and must have been manufactured this way.
• An individual may only import one vehicle per year into Saudi Arabia without possessing a commercial permit.
• Once your car has met the standards set out by the government, you can obtain a government-issued certificate permitting you to bring your vehicle to Saudi Arabia.
• Once your car has been shipped into Saudi Arabia, you will be required to pay a registration fee in order to register the vehicle. This registration will be valid for three years. Vehicle insurance is mandatory for a car shipped into Saudi Arabia.

Taxes & Duties for Car Shipping to Saudi Arabia

Prior to shipping your vehicle overseas to Saudi Arabia from the USA, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Saudi Arabian requirements.

If you are shipping a vehicle to Saudi Arabia from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties, with the standard customs duty rate levied by the Saudi Arabian government being 5% for motor cars and 12% for trucks.

The customs tax rate is calculated based on the value of the motor vehicle, plus the cost of freight and insurance. Any vehicle under 6 months old is considered to be new, and therefore no deduction is taken. Any vehicle which is between 6 and 12 months old is granted a monthly deduction rate of 2%. While vehicles between 2 and 5 years old are granted a monthly deduction rate of 1%.

The amount of taxes and import duties payable when shipping a car to Saudi Arabia from the US will vary and depends on the details of your shipment.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Saudi Arabia, fill out our free quick quote form.

Car Shipping from USA to Saudi Arabia can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo shipping) – Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This international car shipping option tends to be more cost-effective as, other than the shipping charge, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service, as the vessels depart on a weekly basis.

Shared container service – This method for car shipping to Saudi Arabia requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container. While there are more fees involved to ship a car from the USA to Saudi Arabia with shared container service than with the RoRo shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load before shipping to Saudi Arabia.

Full container load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when shipping cars with dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Once your vehicle reaches its destination in Saudi Arabia, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the shipping process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our RoRo shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when shipping to Saudi Arabia, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

Other services -Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Destination Ports – Saudi Arabia
Here are the entry ports in Saudi Arabia that we can ship a car to.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car shipping to Saudi Arabia, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which we can ship cars from the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah, and more.

Before shipping to Saudi Arabia, the undercarriage of your car must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement before car shipping to Saudi Arabia. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient prior to car transport.

After customs clearance, you will need to get authorization to use your shipped vehicle in Saudi Arabia:

• Upon receiving your copy of Bayan (Bill of Entry), you will be able to obtain a SASO (Saudi Arabia Standard Organization) certificate, which is a
• Certificate of Conformity to declare that the vehicle has met Saudi Arabia’s quality and safety standards.
• The SASO certificate allows the vehicle to clear Saudi Arabia customs and you to obtain a Green Card.
• Before your vehicle can be driven in Saudi Arabia, it must be inspected by MVPI (Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection) to ensure vehicle safety.
  You can then secure your car registration and Traffic Police certificate. You must remember to arrange the appropriate vehicle insurance.

You will require the following documentation when registering your car in Saudi Arabia:

• Copy of Bayan
• Green Card
• MVPI Certificate
• Car Insurance
• Copy of Passport
• Copy of Saudi Residence Permit
• Copy of Saudi Driver’s License

Importing a Car from the US to Saudi Arabia
Importing a Car from Saudi Arabia to the US
Car Shipping from USA to Saudi Arabia
Car Shipping from Saudi Arabia to USA
Cargo Shipping from the US to Saudi Arabia
Cargo Shipping from Saudi Arabia to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to Saudi Arabia
Moving Household Goods from Saudi Arabia to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

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