Contrary to popular belief, Saudi Arabia is home to a dynamic and modern transportation system, characterized by a well-developed network of expressways, highways, and arterial roads that seamlessly connect major towns and cities. From the serene coastal lines of the Red Sea to the bustling metropolises of Riyadh and Jeddah, the country’s roads highly facilitate the movement of people and goods across the vast Arabian Peninsula.
Reports suggest that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia features a road network that encompasses 200,000 kilometers, showcasing multiple lanes and high-speed limits, ultimately forming the backbone of the transport system. And in recent years, sufficient developments have been made to boost the country’s economic growth and urbanization and to make the road system more efficient and less congested. So, if you are looking to take advantage of all the aforementioned facilities, then renewing your driving license should be your utmost duty, which you can do by following our all-inclusive guide.
What are the Steps to Follow For Renewal
According to the government of Saudi Arabia, the process of driving license renewal for individuals can be completed online and electronically. The process requires the applicant to first pay the requisite amount of money for the duration of the renewal and also perform the necessary medical examination at one of the accredited medical examination centers. Once the aforementioned processes are completed, the renewed driving license will be sent physically to the applicant’s national address.
Before you begin the renewal process, keep in mind that the maximum time for which you can renew your driving license is up to ten years. And if you have any traffic violations under your name, then the same must be paid first before you can proceed to pay for your driver’s license renewal. Also, the remaining period of validity of your current driving license should be less than 180 days. With all the essential information out of the way, let us focus on the steps you need to take to renew your driving license without fail.
- Start your journey by heading over to the official website of the Saudi Arabian government for driving license renewal here.
- Click on ‘Start Service’ to begin your renewal process and then select ‘Individuals’ as your preferred category.
- In the next step, you need to sign in to your ABSHER account using your username or user ID, and password. If you do not have an account, then you always register a new one.
- Once logged in, click on ‘My Services > Traffic Police’ and from there select ‘Driving License Renewal’.
- After that, proceed to fill out your necessary details, such as selecting the type of driving license and choosing the license renewal period (either two, five, or ten years).
- In the subsequent step, choose to pay any traffic fine that may have been accumulated in your account.
- Once done, pay the requisite fee for the driving license renewal. The cost will depend on the number of years of renewal you choose.
- After successfully making your payment, you can choose to collect your renewed driving license either through the traffic police or request it via the official postal service (delivered to your home).
Please note that the medical examination process can be completed through the accredited medical centers listed here. For any additional assistance, you can get in touch via phone at 920020405 or via email at info@moi.gov.sa.
Everything You Need To Know
The country of Saudi Arabia offers different types of driving licenses based on the requirements of the end user. From offering regular driving licenses for private vehicles to providing special permits for individuals who are planning to drive heavy machinery or motorcycles.
It should also be known that the eligibility requirements will vary based on the type of driving license that is being selected. For instance, private driving licenses have a minimum age restriction of 18 years, while public driving licenses have a minimum age restriction of 21 years.
The common driving license offered in Saudi Arabia is the private driving license, where individuals are allowed to drive their own vehicles within the kingdom. Such a license can be obtained simply by taking a written test and then passing a practical driving exam. Then you have a general driving license for those who wish to drive commercial vehicles, such as buses or taxis. In this case, a specialized driving test must be carried out by the applicant, and the applicant’s occupation must require a general driving license to be eligible for such a license.
After that, there are heavy-duty driving licenses and motorcycle driving licenses. Motorcycle cycle licenses are strictly for those who want to drive two-wheeler vehicles, and heavy driving licenses are for those applicants who plan on driving heavy trucks, forklifts, or larger vehicles on public roads. However, the occupation of the applicant must necessitate a heavy driving license to be eligible for the application.
Lastly, Saudi Arabia offers temporary driving licenses and diplomatic driving licenses. Diplomatic driving licenses are only available to diplomats from foreign nations as well as members of their households who are residing permanently in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, temporary driving licenses are for those who just want to learn to drive, and even 17-year-old applicants are eligible to apply for them. And the process remains similar to a regular driving license.
