Article 25 of the Saudi Traffic Law

This article bars certain modifications to a vehicle unless prior authorization is obtained from the competent body. The modification is not banned absolutely, but it needs authorization before it is made, not after. The modifications covered by the text are of five kinds:

1. A modification that changes the vehicle's color.
2. A modification that changes its features.
3. A modification that changes its basic equipment.
4. A modification that leads to an increase in its load.
5. A modification that leads to an increase in its prescribed dimensions.

It follows from the text that what counts is the effect of the modification: if the modification changes any of these things or leads to it, the authorization must be obtained in advance. The text does not name the competent body that grants authorization, nor the procedures, nor the penalty for a violation.

This article complements Article 24, which subjects all vehicles to the specifications and standards approved by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization; an unauthorized modification may take the vehicle outside what it was approved on. It is also linked to Article 26, which subjects all vehicles of all types to a periodic technical inspection to confirm their fitness for use, and refers its special conditions to the Regulations.

So anyone who wants to paint his car a different color, change its external shape, or modify his truck's bed to increase its load should obtain the authorization first. Anyone who has faced a violation because of a modification they made may consult a lawyer who specializes in traffic matters.