Article 78 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 78 من نظام المرور · الباب السابع: ضبط المخالفات وتحديد الجزاءات
The article requires notifying the competent department of the sale or destruction of a vehicle outside the Kingdom to cancel its registration and hand in the registration and plates, otherwise a fine of up to SAR 10,000 applies.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يجب إبلاغ الإدارة المختصة عن بيع المركبة أو تلفها خارج المملكة، لإلغاء تسجيلها، مع تسليم رخصة السير واللوحات، ويعاقب من يخالف ذلك بغرامة مالية لا تزيد على (عشرة آلاف) ريال
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 78 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of a vehicle that is sold or destroyed outside the Kingdom. In this case it is required to:
- Notify the competent department of the sale or destruction.
- The notification is for the purpose of canceling the vehicle's registration.
- And handing in the registration and the plates.
Anyone who violates this is punished with a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000. The article does not set a minimum for the fine or a specific deadline for notification, and it does not expressly state who bears the duty to notify.
The current text is as amended by Royal Decree No. (M/70) dated 6/11/1437 AH.
Among the related articles, Article 77 punishes the owner of a vehicle, the person responsible for driving it, or its possessor if he allows a person who does not hold a driving license to drive it with a fine not exceeding SAR 900, and he is jointly liable with that person for financial responsibility if a traffic accident results, according to the assessment of the competent court. Article 79 regulates the sale of vehicles impounded because of violations that require impounding by public auction if their owner or his authorized person does not come to collect them within 90 days; the fines or fees owed on them are paid from the price, and the remainder is deposited with the General Authority for the Care of Minors' Funds and the like as a trust for the owner.
Anyone who sold his vehicle outside the Kingdom and faces a problem in canceling its registration can consult a lawyer specializing in traffic cases.
Practical example
Omar traveled in his car to a neighboring country and sold it there. Under the article, the competent department must be notified of the sale to cancel the car's registration, and the registration and plates must be handed in, otherwise the violator is exposed to a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000.
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 78 of the Saudi Traffic Law
What should I do if I sell my car outside Saudi Arabia?
The competent department must be notified of the sale to cancel the vehicle's registration, and the registration and plates must be handed in.
What is the fine for not reporting the sale of a car outside the Kingdom?
A fine not exceeding SAR 10,000.
Does the rule cover a car destroyed outside the Kingdom?
Yes. The article requires notification of the sale or destruction of the vehicle outside the Kingdom.
Amendment history
Amendment
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم : (م/70) وتاريخ : 6/ 11/ 1437هـ ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
" يجب إبلاغ الإدارة المختصة عن بيع المركبة أو تلفها خارج المملكة، لإلغاء تسجيلها، مع تسليم رخصة السير واللوحات، ويعاقب من يخالف ذلك بغرامة مالية لا تزيد على (عشرة آلاف) ريال ".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجب إبلاغ الإدارة المختصة عن بيع المركبة أو تلفها خارج المملكة ؛ لإلغاء تسجيلها، مع تسليم رخصة السيرواللوحات.
ويعاقب من يخالف ذلك بغرامة مالية لا تزيد على خمسة آلاف ريال.
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.