Article 13 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 13 من نظام المرور · الباب الثاني: تسجيل المركبات ورخص السير
The article provides that vehicle licenses and plates are issued after the prescribed fees are paid, and that fees are collected when vehicles owned by diplomatic missions are sold, with the conditions left to the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - تصرف رخص السير ولوحات المركبات بعد دفع الرسوم المقررة. وتحدد اللائحة شروط ذلك.
ب - في حالة بيع المركبات العائدة ملكيتها إلى البعثات الدبلوماسية، تستوفى الرسوم المقررة، وتحدد اللائحة شروط ذلك.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article deals with the financial side of issuing vehicle documents, and has two paragraphs:
- Issuing vehicle licenses and plates: a vehicle license and a vehicle's plates are issued only after the prescribed fees are paid, and the Implementing Regulations set the conditions for this.
- Sale of diplomatic missions' vehicles: if vehicles owned by diplomatic missions are sold, the prescribed fees are collected, and the Regulations set the conditions for this.
The significance of the second paragraph is that when a vehicle owned by a diplomatic mission passes by sale, the prescribed fees are collected on it; the text does not state the amount of these fees, who bears them, or the details of the procedure, but leaves the conditions to the Regulations.
The article itself does not state the amounts of the fees; it refers to "the prescribed fees" without figures. It is linked to Article 14, which sets the validity of vehicle licenses of all types at three years under the conditions of the Regulations, and provides that vehicle licenses are renewed after the prescribed fees are paid. It is also linked to Article 12, which bans keeping a vehicle license with third parties or pledging it or taking it in pledge, confirming that it is an official document issued for the vehicle after its requirements are met.
Anyone with a question about issuing a vehicle license or plates, or about buying a vehicle that was owned by a diplomatic mission, may refer to the Regulations or consult a lawyer who specializes in traffic matters.
Practical example
Tariq bought in Riyadh a car that had been owned by a diplomatic mission. Under this article the prescribed fees are collected on the sale of this vehicle, and the Regulations set the conditions for this; and the vehicle license and plates are issued only after the prescribed fees are paid.
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 13 of the Saudi Traffic Law
When are the istimara and car plates issued?
Vehicle licenses and plates are issued after the prescribed fees are paid, and the Regulations set the conditions for this.
Are fees paid when buying a car that belonged to an embassy?
Yes. The article provides that the prescribed fees are collected when vehicles owned by diplomatic missions are sold, under the conditions of the Regulations.
How long is a vehicle license valid?
Under Article 14, the validity of vehicle licenses of all types is three years, and they are renewed after the prescribed fees are paid.
More articles on Vehicle Registration and Operating License
- Article 3
The article requires every vehicle to have its own number registered with the competent department, and makes the vehicle license number the same as the plate number, amended together with it.
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
The article allows the field of use of a vehicle to be amended at the request of its owner or his delegate, after its registration is amended, and refers the procedures and conditions to the Regulations.
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.