The validity of Istimara (vehicle registration) is three years in Saudi Arabia. After that period, you need to renew istimara. MOI Absher offers an online service for istimara renewal. To start the service, you will need an Absher account. In this post, I am going to show how easily you can renew vehicle registration online in Saudi Arabia.
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Istimara Renewal Requirements in Saudi Arabia
Before you start the service of vehicle registration, you need to fulfil the following criteria.
Register in Absher KSA.
Registering in Absher is the first requirement to start the renewal process. If you don’t have an account then you can register a moi Absher account easily. You can access the renewal service only if you have the account.
Pay the Renewal Fee For Istimara ( Vehicle Registration).
Absher doesn’t start the service unless you have deposited the renewal fee. The istimara renewal charges are 300 Saudi Riyals for private vehicles in 2020. Before the cost was 150 riyals. For the Taxi, trucks and the minibuses, the renewal charges are 600 Saudi Riyals.
You can deposit it using your online bank account, ATM or through Sadad account. The validity of vehicle registration is 3 years.
Pay All Traffic Violations
If you have unpaid traffic violations, then pay them fist. You can check all traffic violations in your Absher account. To pay all violations at once, you can use the bank account. You can also pay grama (traffic violations) using Tahweel al Rajhi or Quick Pay account.
Validity of Istimara
Absher will update your istimara, only if it is going to expire within 180 days (6 months). The expiry date is available on your istimara card. However, there is possibility that expiry date is not available on the it. In that case, check it in your Absher account.
Perform the MVPI Fahas
Fahas is another requirement to renew istimara. If you don’t have a valid fahas, then go to any fahas center and make a new one. Nowadays, muroor checks fahas and if you don’t have it, muroor can charge you a fine of 150 riyals. So keep it updated. Furthermore, you cannot renew vehicle registration without fahas.
To avoid a fine and a security check at checkpoints ( Nukta Tafsheesh), don’t remove the sticker from your vehicle front screen. Traffic police take a picture and send a penalty message on your mobile.
In the hard days of Corona Pandemic, moroor was renewing vehicle registration without conducting fahas. But now it is obligatory to pass the test. The fee is 73 Riyals Plus 15% VAT. You can visit any MVPI centre throughout the kingdom.
Get The Vehicle Insurance
Your vehicle must have valid insurance at the time of renewal of the istimara. You can buy insurance online. Several insurance companies are offering online vehicle insurance in Saudi Arabia. You may give a try to Walaa insurance as we found it cheaper than other companies for Hyundai and Kia.
Also, Please note that there is no need to fill istimara renewal form because now you can renew it online using Absher services.
Procedure to Renew Istimara Online in Saudi Arabia
After fulfilling the above requirements, you can start the process to renew istimara. Using Absher app for the procedure is easy and time-saving. However, You can also use the Absher website. There is no difference in the procedure. Let’s start the process.
- Log in to Absher app
- In the Dashboard, tap on ‘Vehicle Information.’
- A new Window with your vehicles name will open. Tap on the vehicle name. An expat can buy upto 2 vehicles on his/her name. So if you have 2 cars, then choose the one you wish to renew registration.
- Now you will see all the details of the vehicle. The first tab shows vehicle details and istimara expiry date. Scroll down until you see the tab, ‘RENEW VEHICLE REGISTRATION. Tap on it
- The renewal service will start. Recheck the vehicle details and tap on ‘Confirm Vehicle Registration.’
- The next window will show you a message of successful renewal. You can also print the details.
Congratulations.! you have successfully renewed your vehicle registration ( Istimara). You will also receive a confirmation message on your mobile from MOI.
How to Collect Istimara In Saudi Arabia
The new Istimara card doesn’t contain an expiry date. So if you have a new istimara, then you don’t need to visit any Istimara collection center. But in case, you have an old card then collect the new one from traffic police (Muroor) office. Below you can find the addresses of the ictimara collection centers.
Link: Procedure to collect istimara or driving license through Wasel Service
Istimara Collection Center Jeddah
If you live in Jeddah, you can collect istimara card from the traffic police center. It is on Sahafa street, Rehab district. They will print istimara at the spot and hand it over to you in half an hour. I am providing its location for your convenience.
Istimara Renewal Office in Jeddah Location: Google Maps Location
Istimara Collection Center in Jeddah Timings: 7 AM to 2 PM and 10 AM to 3 PM in Ramadan.
Vehicle Registration Card Collection Center Riyadh
To collect renewed istimara in Riyadh, Visit traffic police office situated on Ali Al Farazi Road, Al Munsiyah District. It is in front of Riyadh Elm University Munsiyah Campus. I am providing its location for your convenience.
Location of Istimara Collection Center Riyadh: Google Maps Locations
Istimara Renewal Office in Riyadh Timings: 7 AM to 2 PM and 10 AM to 3 PM in Ramadan.
Istimara Collection Office In Makkah
For Makkah residents, the collection center for istimara is located in Naseem District on Fatima Al Zahra Road, After crossing the Al Rajhi Masjid. I am providing the Location as well.
Makkah Muroor Office Location: For Google map location, Click Here.
The timings are 7 AM to 2 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if Istimara is Lost?
In case you lost the istimara ( vehicle registration card), you can get a new one by following the process, given below.
- Pay a fee of 110 Riyals for re-issue of the vehicle registration card.
2. Go to Istimara Issuance Center (Traffic Police office).
3. Ask them to issue a new istimara because you lost the previous one. Besides, inform them that you have paid the istimara issuance fee.
4. Within 10 to 15 minutes, they will issue you the new Istimara.
I need Istimara application form
As per the new system, you don’t need istimara application form. Because you can renew it online. We have provided the process for renewal of istimara above.
Can I check istimara expiry date?
On old istimara, the expiry date is available. But if you have a new istimara, there is no validity date on it. So to check the expiry date of vehicle registration in KSA,
- Login to Absher account through app or web portal.
- After successful login, click on Dashboard
- In Vehicles Section, Click on More Details
- The next window will show you the expiry date of istimara.
What is the penalty on Expired Istimara
100 riyal is the penalty on expired istimara. To avoid it, renew the istimara on time. However, there is a grace period of 30 days after the expiry. So make sure that you renew it before the grace period ends. Otherwise, the penalty is a must. Nowadays as the coronavirus spread, the penalty is waived. But don’t take risk and renew it as soon as possible.
How to find vehicle sequence number on Istimara
The sequence number is required to pay vehicle fees through sadad. The sequence number (الرقم التسلسلي) is available on your istimara card. Mostly, It is a nine-digit number. Also, It is the last information available on your istimara.
Can I transfer Istimara?
Yes, you can transfer istimara. The transfer fee is 150 riyals. You can pay the fee through your bank account or ATM.
I am driving without Istimara.
If muroor catches you while driving without istimara, he can issue a mukhalfa ( traffic violation penalty) between 500 Riyals to 900 riyals.
Expired Istimara Renewal
Check Istimara Renewal in Absher.
After the successful process of istimara renewal, you can verify it in your Absher account.
Log in to your account. Click on Dashboard, then click on vehicle information. There you can check the expiry date of vehicle registration in KSA.
You will also receive a confirmation message on the mobile number associated with your Absher account. You may archive it for future use.