Transferring car ownership via Absher (Mubaya'a): steps and fees
Used-car ownership transfers are done fully online through Absher's Vehicle Sale (Mubaya'a) service. The seller initiates the sale, the buyer pays the car price into the service's secure escrow account — never directly to the seller — and the money is released only once the transfer completes, protecting both sides. The government transfer fee is SAR 150 for private cars.
Important for sellers: the car stays registered in your name until the transfer legally completes, and any fines or accidents before that remain tied to you. Do not hand over the car before the transfer is finalized in Absher.
Steps
- Prepare the prerequisites: a valid periodic inspection, no mortgage or impound on the car, and all fines paid on both the vehicle and the buyer.
- The seller starts the sale in Absher: My Services > Vehicles > Sell Vehicle, entering the buyer's details and the agreed price.
- The buyer approves the request from their own Absher account and insures the car in their own name.
- The buyer pays the price into the service's secure escrow account (never directly to the seller).
- The buyer pays the SAR 150 transfer fee through SADAD and the sale completes electronically.
- Once the transfer completes, the money is released to the seller and a new istimara is issued in the buyer's name — only then hand over the car.
Fees & costs
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership-transfer fee (private car) | SAR 150 | Paid through SADAD |
| Absher Mubaya'a service fee | About SAR 230 | Incl. VAT as commonly reported — confirm the exact amount inside the service |
| Periodic inspection (if expired) | SAR 115 | A valid inspection is required for the transfer |
Common questions
How much does a car ownership transfer cost in Saudi Arabia?
The government fee is SAR 150 for private cars, plus the Absher service fee (about SAR 230 including VAT as commonly reported), plus a new periodic inspection (SAR 115) if the current one has expired.
Should I pay the seller directly?
No — in the Absher Mubaya'a the buyer pays into a secure escrow account, and the money is released to the seller only after the transfer completes. That is what protects both sides from fraud.
Who is liable for the car before the transfer completes?
The car stays registered in the seller's name until the transfer legally completes, so anything before that remains tied to the seller — which is why the car should only be handed over after completion, and the transfer cannot go through with unpaid fines anyway.
Guidance only — the official authority is the final reference.