Article 12 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 12 من نظام المرور · الباب الثاني: تسجيل المركبات ورخص السير
The article bans keeping a vehicle license with third parties, and bans pledging it or taking it in pledge.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر حجز رخصة سير المركبة لدى الغير، أو رهنها، أو ارتهانها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 12 explained in plain English
This article prevents the vehicle license from being used as a means of security or pressure, and bans three acts:
- Keeping the vehicle license with third parties: that is, holding it with a person or body other than the owner of the vehicle.
- Pledging it: that is, giving it as security for a debt or obligation.
- Taking it in pledge: that is, accepting it from the other party as a pledge held by him.
By mentioning pledging and taking in pledge together, the ban is directed at both parties: the one who gives the license as security and the one who accepts and keeps it. A creditor, seller or workshop owner, for example, may not make it a condition to keep the vehicle license until a sum is paid.
This rule complements Article 11, which requires the vehicle license to be in the vehicle while it travels and provides that a security officer may ask to see it but may not retain it. If the Law does not permit even a security officer to retain the license, it certainly does not permit individuals or bodies to hold it. It is also linked to Article 13, which provides that vehicle licenses and plates are issued after the prescribed fees are paid under the conditions of the Regulations, so the license is an official document issued for the vehicle.
The article does not state the penalty for violating this ban or how to recover a retained license. Anyone whose vehicle license has been held by another, or demanded as security, may consult a lawyer who specializes in traffic or civil matters.
Practical example
Nasser had his car repaired at a workshop in Khobar and did not have the full amount with him, so the workshop owner asked to keep the vehicle license until payment. Under this article keeping a vehicle license with third parties or taking it in pledge is banned, so the istimara cannot serve as security for the sum.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Traffic Law
May a workshop or creditor keep the istimara until payment?
No. The article bans keeping a vehicle license with third parties, or pledging it, or taking it in pledge.
Does the ban cover someone who accepts the istimara as a pledge?
Yes. The article bans taking in pledge, which is accepting the license as a pledge, in addition to banning pledging.
May a security officer retain the vehicle license?
No. Article 11 provides that a security officer may ask to see it and may not retain it.
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أ - يكون لكل مركبة رقم خاص تحمله مسجل لدى الإدارة المختصة، وفق ما تحدده اللائحة . ب - يكون رقم رخصة السير هو رقم لوحة المركبة نفسه، وإذا أجري أي تغيير في رقم ال
- Article 4
The article requires every vehicle, except a motorcycle, a trailer and a semi-trailer, to carry two visible, legible plates at the front and rear, and it may not travel without them.
يجب أن تحمل كل مركبة - فيما عدا الدراجة الآلية و المقطورة ونصف المقطورة - لوحتين ظاهرتين مقروءتين، توضحان رقم تسجيلهما، تكون إحداهما في مقدمة المركبة ، والأخرى
- Article 5Amended (1445 AH)
The article regulates the plates of motorcycles, trailers and semi-trailers, and refers to the Regulations which provisions of the Law apply to trailers in a way that suits their nature.
أ- يجب أن تحمل كل دراجة آلية لوحة واحدة، واضحة، ومقروءة، تثبت على مؤخرتها، ولا يجوز السير دونها. ب- يجب أن تحمل كل مقطورة أو نصف مقطورة رقم لوحة المركبة القاطرة
- Article 6
The article bars any vehicle from carrying plates other than those issued by the competent department (the Traffic Department).
لا يجوز لأي مركبة حمل لوحات غير التي تصدر من الإدارة المختصة.
- Article 9
The article allows vehicle ownership to be transferred after the prescribed fees are paid, keeps the registered owner responsible for the vehicle's fees and obligations with a right of recourse against the new owner, and refers the procedures to the Regulations.
يجوز نقل ملكية المركبات بعد سداد الرسوم المقررة، وتستمر مسئولية المالك المسجلة ملكيته للمركبة عن جميع الرسوم وكل ما يترتب على المركبة من التزامات، ويمكنه العودة
- Article 10
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يجوز تعديل مجال استعمال المركبة بناء على طلب مالكها أو من يفوضه، بعد تعديل تسجيلها. وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات وشروط ذلك.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.