Article 34 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 34 من نظام المرور · الباب الرابع: رخص القيادة
The article bars the holder of a license to drive military vehicles from driving civilian vehicles until he obtains a driving license from the competent department.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لحامل رخصة قيادة المركبات العسكرية قيادة المركبات المدنية إلا بعد الحصول على رخصة قيادة من الإدارة المختصة .
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 34 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of someone who holds a license to drive military vehicles, and provides that this license is not enough to drive civilian vehicles. If its holder wants to drive a civilian vehicle, he must first obtain a driving license from the competent department (the Traffic Department).
The text makes clear that:
- A military license does not take the place of a civilian license for driving civilian vehicles.
- The body that issues the required license is the competent department.
- The ban stands until the license is obtained; driving before that is not permitted.
The article does not say whether the holder of a military license is exempt from some of the requirements for obtaining a civilian license or is subject to all of them; the text is limited to requiring a license from the competent department.
This article applies a more general rule in Article 33, namely that the driver must carry a valid driving license when driving a vehicle, and a security officer may ask to see it without retaining it. It is also linked to Article 35, which divides driving licenses into four types: a private driving license, a public driving license, a public works vehicle driving license and a motorcycle driving license, and refers the setting of their categories and specifications to the Regulations; the license the holder of a military license needs will be among these types, depending on the vehicle he wants to drive.
Anyone with a question about obtaining a civilian license after military service may refer to the competent department or consult a lawyer who specializes in traffic matters.
Practical example
Bandar works for a military body and holds a license to drive its vehicles, and he wanted to drive his private car in Tabuk. Under this article he may not drive the civilian car until he obtains a driving license from the Traffic Department.
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 34 of the Saudi Traffic Law
Is a military driving license enough to drive a civilian car?
No. The article bars the holder of a license to drive military vehicles from driving civilian vehicles until he obtains a driving license from the competent department.
Who issues the civilian driving license to the holder of a military license?
The competent department, which is the Traffic Department, as the text states.
What are the types of driving licenses?
Under Article 35: a private license, a public license, a public works vehicle license and a motorcycle license.
More articles on Driving License
- Article 32
The article bans anyone from driving any vehicle before obtaining the necessary driving license in accordance with the Traffic Law and its Regulations.
يحظر على أي شخص قيادة أي مركبة قبل الحصول على رخصة القيادة اللازمة وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام ولائحته.
- Article 33
The article requires the driver to carry a valid driving license when driving a vehicle, lets a security officer ask to see it, and bars him from retaining it.
يجب على السائق أن يحمل رخصة قيادة سارية المفعول عند قيادته للمركبة، ولرجل الأمن حق طلب إبرازها للاطلاع عليها، وليس له حجزها.
- Article 35
The article divides driving licenses into four types: private, public, public works vehicles and motorcycles, and refers the setting of their categories and specifications to the Regulations.
تنقسم رخص القيادة إلى: 1 - رخصة قيادة خاصة . 2 - رخصة قيادة عامة . 3 - رخصة قيادة مركبات أشغال عامة . 4 - رخصة قيادة دراجة آلية . وتحدد اللائحة فئات هذه الرخص و
- Article 37
The article exempts the holder of a foreign or international driving license, recognized by the competent department in the Kingdom and valid, from the driving test condition in paragraph (7) of Article 36.
يعفى من شرط الاختبار الوارد في الفقرة (7) من المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، من يحمل رخصة قيادة أجنبية أو دولية معترف بها من الإدارة المختصة في المملك
- Article 39
The article allows, as an exception to paragraph (1) of Article 36 and under controls set by the Regulations, a temporary license of no more than one year for those who have reached age 17.
استثناء من الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، يجوز - وفق ضوابط تحددها اللائحة - منح ترخيص مؤقت لا تزيد مدته على سنة لمن أتم سن السابعة عشرة
- Article 40
The article provides that the conditions for obtaining a driving license by members of diplomatic and consular missions and regional and international bodies accredited in the Kingdom are prepared by agreement between the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs.
تعد بالاتفاق بين وزير الداخلية ووزير الخارجية الشروط اللازمة للحصول على رخصة القيادة لأعضاء البعثات الدبلوماسية، والقنصلية، والهيئات الإقليمية، والدولية ، المعت
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.