By Abdelrahman Ghaniem El Ali | December 23, 2024 | Customs Clearance, Customs Clearance for Imported Cars |
Customs clearance for cars plays a pivotal role in the Saudi economy by increasing revenue through customs duties and taxes. It also regulates the market and protects consumers by ensuring that these vehicles comply with the terms and conditions in place in Saudi Arabia, which protect both the buyer and the user. However, let's first familiarize ourselves with some of the requirements, steps, and rules for obtaining a customs clearance letter for imported cars.
Importing cars is subject to a set of laws and conditions set by the General Authority of Zakat, Tax and Customs in Saudi Arabia, the most prominent of which are:
The import of small vehicles, buses, and light transport vehicles (3.5 tons and less) is permitted, provided that their model is not more than 5 years old, and is calculated in descending order, excluding the current year.
The vehicle must be in good condition and free from major damage.
Conduct a technical inspection of the car to ensure that it complies with Saudi specifications, such as the steering wheel being on the left side.
Ensure the vehicle meets the energy efficiency certification and issues an inquiry notice through the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization website.
Classic cars over 30 years old are permitted to be imported provided they have a classic car classification certificate.
To obtain a customs exemption letter for an imported car, you must first ensure that all the required documents and papers are available, which are:
1. A certificate of origin for the vehicle, authenticated by the country from which the vehicle is being exported.
2. A certified car purchase invoice that includes all purchase details, such as the car’s information, engine capacity, price, and all details of imported car spare parts.
3. Energy Efficiency Certificate
4. The identity of the importer, whether a person or a company.
5. Ensure that the imported car model is no more than 5 years old, and the calculation is done in descending order, excluding the current year.
6. In the case of a resident, he must submit his passport, residence permit, and a document proving his ownership of the imported car. The resident also has the right to import one private car every 3 years, and he does not have the right to sell it until three years after the date of import.
7. In the case of commercial import, the company’s commercial register must be submitted in addition to all the documents we mentioned.
8. Pay the required tax fees to ensure obtaining the customs exemption letter.
There are some cars that are prohibited from import due to their non-compliance with the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
1. Cars imported as police cars or taxis
2. It is prohibited to import vehicles whose chassis number has been tampered with.
3. Importing transport vehicles for residents is prohibited.
4. Armored vehicles are not allowed to be imported.
5. It is not permitted to import cars that have been involved in a fire or flood.
6. Importing stolen cars is prohibited.
Customs duties are 5% of the value of the imported vehicle, in addition to 15% value-added tax.
At Abdul Rahman Al Ali Customs Clearance, we provide customs clearance services for all types of vehicles. We have a customs broker in Duba who will clear the goods as quickly as possible. We guarantee that you will receive a customs exemption letter after verifying all required documents and following up with the customer throughout the customs clearance process, addressing any challenges that may arise.
Duba North - Tabuk - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Main Street, Duba, , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 49311
+966504867964
+966552300365
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