The digital transformation of car sales: Bay' al-Markabat on Absher
In previous years, buying or selling a used vehicle in Saudi Arabia required visiting physical vehicle showrooms (Ma'arid) in industrial districts, paying hefty broker commissions (often SAR 500 to SAR 1,500), and waiting days for manual paperwork to clear at Muroor offices.
Today, the Ministry of Interior and General Directorate of Traffic have streamlined the entire transaction through the Absher Individuals portal under the **Vehicles Sales Service** (خدمة مبايعة المركبات).
Key benefits of the digital system include:
1. Instant Ownership Transfer: The moment both parties confirm delivery on Absher, the vehicle's electronic title (Istimara) transfers immediately to the buyer's digital wallet in Tawakkalna and Absher.
2. Fraud Prevention: The escrow system guarantees that the seller receives full payment and the buyer receives a clean, unencumbered vehicle without the risk of bounced checks or counterfeit cash.
3. Zero Showroom Commission: Buyers and sellers save hundreds of riyals by dealing directly through the official digital platform.
Mandatory checklist: what must be valid before initiating the sale
Absher enforces automatic electronic system checks before allowing a vehicle sale request to proceed. Both parties must satisfy these statutory requirements:
1. Valid Periodic Inspection (Fahas MVPI): The vehicle must have an active technical inspection record linked electronically to the Traffic database via the Salamah platform.
2. Active Buyer Vehicle Insurance: The buyer must purchase a valid third-party or comprehensive motor insurance policy for the vehicle under their own National ID / Iqama, verified through Najm.
3. Current Vehicle Registration (Istimara): The car's registration must not be expired. If expired, the seller must renew it via Absher and pay any late fees before initiating the sale.
4. Clean Traffic Fine Record: The vehicle itself must have zero unpaid traffic violations. Additionally, the buyer must have zero outstanding traffic violations on their personal record.
5. Valuation Threshold: The agreed vehicle sale price must fall between SAR 500 and SAR 1,000,000.
6. Expat Ownership Limit: Foreign residents (Iqama holders) are legally restricted to owning a maximum of two private vehicles; Absher will block the transfer if the buyer already holds two registered vehicles.
Official government fees, Absher charges, and the secure escrow account
Financial security is built into the Absher vehicle transfer mechanism:
1. Government Transfer Fee (SAR 150): Paid by the buyer or seller through SADAD (under Ministry of Interior > Traffic Services > Transfer of Vehicle Ownership) using online banking.
2. Absher Platform Service Fee (SAR 230): Includes 15% VAT and covers electronic processing and escrow banking management. The buyer pays this directly into the escrow account together with the vehicle price.
3. The Secure Escrow Account (Dhaman): The buyer transfers the total vehicle price plus the SAR 230 fee into a designated virtual IBAN account provided by Absher. The money remains securely held in escrow and is NOT disbursed to the seller until both parties finalize physical handover on the app. If the transaction expires (within 1 hour of non-acceptance or 5 days of non-handover), the full funds return automatically to the buyer's bank account.
Step-by-step: what the seller must do on Absher Individuals
The selling party initiates the transaction by creating the electronic sale contract:
- 1
Sign in to Absher Individuals
Log into absher.sa with your Iqama/National ID credentials and complete two-factor authentication via SMS OTP.
- 2
Navigate to Vehicles Sales Service
Open 'My Services' > 'Services' > select 'Vehicles' > click 'Vehicles Sales Service' (خدمة مبايعة المركبات).
- 3
Select the vehicle to sell
Choose the vehicle from your registered fleet. The system displays vehicle details, plate number, and verifies active MVPI and Istimara validity.
- 4
Enter buyer credentials and agreed price
Input the buyer's National ID or Iqama number and their Date of Birth (Hijri or Gregorian). Enter the exact agreed sale price in Saudi Riyals.
- 5
Provide your bank IBAN for deposit
Input your personal Saudi bank IBAN matching your legal name where the vehicle sale funds will be transferred upon completion.
- 6
Review terms and submit the sale request
Accept the legal declaration and submit. Absher generates an application reference number and alerts the buyer via SMS to review the request within 1 hour.
Step-by-step: what the buyer must do to complete payment & handover
The buyer receives an electronic notification and must complete these sequential actions:
- 1
Access Absher and review pending request
Log in to Absher Individuals > 'Vehicles' > 'Vehicles Sales Service' > select 'Buy Vehicle' to view the seller's active proposal.
- 2
Accept the terms and confirm buyer insurance
Review vehicle details, agreed price, and seller identity. Ensure you have active insurance purchased under your name for the vehicle's custom/chassis number.
- 3
Transfer funds to the Absher escrow IBAN
Absher displays a unique virtual bank account (SADAD account or escrow IBAN). Transfer the agreed vehicle price plus the SAR 230 platform fee from your bank account.
- 4
Confirm vehicle inspection and physical delivery
Meet the seller, inspect the vehicle in person, receive physical car keys, and click 'Confirm Vehicle Delivery' on the Absher mobile app or portal.
- 5
Instant title deed generation and delivery
The system transfers the vehicle title immediately. The seller's bank account receives the sale funds, and the buyer's new electronic Istimara appears in Absher and Tawakkalna.
Physical Istimara printing and Saudi Post (SPL) home delivery
While the electronic Istimara on Tawakkalna is legally sufficient for driving across Saudi Arabia and passing checkpoints, buyers who prefer a physical plastic card can obtain it effortlessly:
1. SPL Postal Delivery: On Absher, select 'Request Document Delivery by Post' to have Saudi Post (SPL) deliver the new registration card directly to your registered National Address within 3 to 5 business days for a nominal fee (approx. SAR 35).
2. Self-Service Kiosks: Print the physical card instantly from Muroor self-service print kiosks located in major traffic departments and shopping centers.
3. Retaining Number Plates: The existing vehicle registration plates remain with the car. If the buyer wishes to transfer personalized or private plates to another vehicle, that must be requested separately via Muroor before completing the sale.