How to get a driving license & insurance in Saudi Arabia
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New to Saudi Arabia? If you want to get your Saudi driving license, the good news is that you can get started quickly. Even better, some international licenses can be converted straight to a Saudi driving license without having to take driving classes or any tests!
We’ve put together a little guide to help you get a driving license & find the best car insurance in Saudi for you.
How to get a license without a driving test
Some foreign licenses are accepted in Saudi Arabia, so you can convert yours to a Saudi driving license without needing to take a test. But, first you’ll need to…
1. Check your license eligibility
These countries’ driving licenses can be exchanged in Saudi Arabia 👇
Gulf countries, the EU, UK, Japan, China, South Korea, USA, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and New Zealand.
2. Get your driving license translated
If your home country’s driving license isn’t in Arabic, you’ll need to provide a certified translation. Saudi Muroor won’t accept any self-translations!
Step 3: do the medical check-up
Before getting your Saudi driving license, you’ll also need to pass a basic medical check-up. Make sure to take the test at a medical center linked to Muroor’s system — you can find a list of those centers on Absher.
Step 4: apply for driving license through Absher
Converting Foreign driving licence into Saudi One
1️⃣ Log in to Absher – Select [Individuals], sign in, and enter the OTP sent to your mobile.
2️⃣ Book an Appointment – go to [Appointments] > [Traffic] > [Book an Appointment] and select [Replacement of Driving Licenses].
3️⃣ Choose Location – choose your region from the dropdown list, then select a driving school with a [Department for Replace Driving Licenses].
4️⃣ Fill Details – Enter the required information, upload the PDFs, accept the terms, and proceed.
5️⃣ Select Date & Time – Pick an available slot, confirm your appointment, and print your appointment ticket.
6️⃣ Pay the Fee – It’s 200 SAR for 5 years and 400SAR for 10 years. You can do this from your bank app.
Step 5: Attend your appointment
Bring your:
- original and photocopy of your Iqama
- original driving licence
- certified driving license translation
- appointment ticket.
- payment proof (receipt)
And you’ll be able to collect your Saudi license on the same day.
If you can’t convert your license, the rest of this blog is here to help.
To get a new driving licence, you will need to be over 18, pass medical exam, and pass your driving theory and practical test.
Step 1: Apply for a new driving license online
You can apply for a new Saudi driving license on Absher, but many say its hard to get an appointment. Our tip is to check the website every Thursday afternoon between 2-4 PM — that’s when they open up new appointments!
Step 2: Learn & practice well
Once you have an appointment, show up at the driving school and get assessed on your driving experience. Depending on your assessment, they will assign a number of classes for you. These classes will cover practical driving skills and prepare you for your theory and practical test.
Step 4: Take the tests
The first exam you will take is the theory exam. If you pass it, the final step is to pass the practical exam.
Step 5: Pay the fees & get your license
After you pass, all that’s left to do is to submit the required documents and pay the fees to issue your Saudi driving license.
Get car insurance
After you get your driver’s license, we can tell you it’s easy to buy and register a car in Saudi Arabia. The real challenge for new drivers is finding cheap car insurance!
The easiest way to get the best car insurance deal is to use a price comparison website. A price comparison website helps you instantly collect and compare multiple insurance offers. Another smart move is to build up your no-claims discount. Insurance companies in Saudi reward safe drivers with discounts, so the longer you go without claims, the cheaper your insurance gets next year!
