Guides
Regulations and how-to guides for buying and owning a car in Saudi Arabia.
Owning an EV in Saudi Arabia: rules, charging and costs Electric vehicles
Electric cars follow the same rules as petrol cars in Saudi Arabia: 5% customs duty and 15% VAT on imports, the same istimara registration, and the same periodic inspection (with extra checks on the battery and electrics). As of mid-2026 there are no purchase subsidies or tax exemptions for EVs — claims of "0% VAT for EVs" are incorrect.
Charging is where EVs win. Home charging on the residential electricity tariff (SAR 0.18/kWh for typical consumption) is the cheapest way to run any car in the Kingdom. Public fast charging on the national EVIQ network is no longer free: since December 2025 it costs SAR 0.65–0.99 per kWh depending on charger speed, which is still far cheaper per kilometer than petrol for most cars.
EVIQ (founded by PIF and Aramco) is expanding toward 5,000+ fast chargers across 1,000 locations by 2030, with stations concentrated in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province and growing along intercity highways. Buyers outside the big cities should still plan routes around charger coverage.