Saudi driving license renewal is one of the simplest services on Absher, yet it trips people up every day: a medical result that never appears, an old traffic fine nobody remembered, or an iqama that expired a week earlier. The rules have also moved on. The fixed late-renewal fine that most websites still quote was abolished in January 2025, and the renewal window is now much wider than it used to be. This guide covers the current fees, the requirements, the exact steps on Absher, delivery of the new card and the situations that are specific to expats, based on what the General Directorate of Traffic (Muroor) and the official gazette have published up to October 2026.
Quick answers
- The fee is SAR 40 per year of validity. On Absher you choose 2, 5 or 10 years, so SAR 80, 200 or 400.
- You need a medical check at an accredited clinic that is linked electronically to the traffic system.
- All unpaid traffic violations must be paid first, and residents need a valid iqama.
- You can renew once fewer than 365 days remain on your license, and you can still renew online after it has expired.
- Driving with an expired license is a violation fined SAR 300 to 500.
How much does it cost to renew a Saudi driving license?
| Validity | Government fee |
|---|---|
| 2 years | SAR 80 |
| 5 years | SAR 200 |
| 10 years | SAR 400 |
The fee is SAR 40 per year for both private and public licenses, according to Muroor’s fee table. A replacement for a lost or damaged license is SAR 100. The medical check is paid separately to the clinic. Its price is not fixed by the government; clinics typically charge somewhere around SAR 100 to 300.
What happened to the late-renewal fine?
For years, renewing late meant a fine of SAR 100 for each year of delay, capped at SAR 300, after a 60-day grace period. That rule came from Article 71 of the Traffic Law, which was repealed by Royal Decree M/140, published in the Umm Al-Qura gazette on 17 January 2025. Many guides still quote the old fine. What still applies is the penalty for actually driving with an expired license, covered below. Because the implementing regulations were being amended at the same time, always check the total that Absher shows before you pay.
Requirements before you renew
- A medical check at an accredited, electronically linked clinic or hospital. The result is sent to the traffic system automatically; you do not need a paper report.
- No unpaid traffic violations. Muroor requires them to be settled before renewal.
- A valid iqama for residents. Muroor confirmed this again in October 2026.
- A registered national address if you want the new card delivered.
- An Absher Individuals account in the license holder’s own name. Renewal cannot be done from a sponsor’s or employer’s account.
The medical check
The medical check links to the traffic system through the Ministry of Health’s Seha platform. Older guides call this Efada. It is not the same as Wasfaty, which is the e-prescription system. The exam usually covers general fitness and an eye test, so bring your glasses or contact lenses. Use a clinic that confirms it is linked for driving license screening, and if the result has not appeared in Absher after about a day, ask the clinic to send it again.
How to renew your driving license on Absher, step by step
- Check that your license has fewer than 365 days left, or has already expired.
- Pay any outstanding traffic violations through Absher or your bank’s SADAD payments, and wait for them to clear.
- Complete the medical check at a linked clinic and wait for the result to show in Absher.
- Pay the renewal fee for the number of years you want, through Absher’s payment options or your bank’s government payments under Traffic, using your ID or iqama number.
- Log in to Absher Individuals through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath).
- Go to My Services, then Services, then Traffic, then Renew Driving License.
- Choose the license type and the validity period, confirm your national address for delivery and submit.
- Keep the SMS confirmation. Your digital license in the app updates once the renewal is approved.
Delivery and the digital license
The renewed card is delivered by Saudi Post through the Wasel service to the national address you choose, so you do not need to visit a traffic office. While you wait, the digital driving license is available in the Absher Individuals and Tawakkalna apps. Muroor has said the digital version can be shown to traffic and security officers. Keep the physical card for car rental companies and for driving abroad, where a digital copy may not be accepted.
When can you renew?
Muroor says you can renew once fewer than 365 days remain on the license. The older figure of 180 days, still found on many websites, dates from 2020. If your license has already expired, you can still renew online after paying the fees and any fines and passing the medical check, even if it expired years ago. Until you renew, though, you should not drive.
Penalties for driving without a valid license
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Driving with an expired driving license | SAR 300 to 500 |
| Not carrying your driving license or vehicle registration | SAR 150 to 300 |
| Driving with an expired vehicle registration (istimara) | SAR 150 to 300 |
| Driving with a license that does not match the vehicle type | SAR 1,000 to 2,000 |
Do not confuse the driving license with the vehicle registration. The registration (istimara) belongs to the car and has its own renewal process, which we explain in our guide to periodic vehicle inspection and istimara renewal.
Situations specific to expats
Your iqama must be valid
Absher will not renew a resident’s driving license while the iqama is expired. Renew the iqama first, then the license. We found no official rule that limits the license validity to the iqama expiry date, so choose from the periods Absher offers you.
Light transport and other license types
Online renewal is reliable for private licenses. In August 2026 Muroor directed a driver with a light transport license, whose online renewal failed, to the nearest driving license office. If your license is not a private one, be ready to visit a licensing office.
You left Saudi Arabia and came back with a new iqama number
In October 2026 a new Absher service was reported for residents who return with a new resident ID number. It renews or reissues the previous Saudi private license without going back to driving school. The service fee is SAR 57.5 including VAT, plus the government fees, and it requires a valid medical check. Processing takes three to seven working days before delivery.
Renewing from outside the Kingdom
Muroor has explained that citizens abroad can do the medical check through the Saudi attaché office and authorise someone in the Kingdom to complete the renewal at the traffic department. We found no equivalent official route for residents, so in practice residents renew after returning, as long as the iqama is valid.
Family members
Each license holder renews from their own Absher account. A spouse or adult child with their own license should log in to their own account rather than the family head’s.
Driving on a foreign license
The Traffic Law allows a recognised foreign or international license to be used for one year from entry, or until it expires, whichever comes first. Converting a foreign license to a Saudi one is a separate process done through a driving school, not through Renew Driving License.
Common Absher errors and how to fix them
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The renewal option is not shown | More than 365 days left, or a non-private license type | Wait until fewer than 365 days remain, or visit a licensing office |
| The request is rejected for violations | Unpaid fines on your ID | Pay all violations, wait for them to clear and try again |
| The medical check is not found | Clinic not linked, upload delay or an old result | Ask the clinic to resend the result, or redo the check at a linked clinic |
| Iqama not valid | Residency has expired | Renew the iqama first, then the license |
| No delivery option | No national address registered | Register your national address with Saudi Post, then retry |
| Everything is done but it still fails | A system or license-type limitation | Visit the nearest driving license office with the error message |
How Moaqeb can help
We check your record before you start: outstanding violations, iqama validity, whether the medical result has reached Absher and whether your national address is registered. We then guide you through each step on Absher remotely and work out what to do if the request is rejected. Logging in with Nafath and paying the fees stay with you, and we never ask for your password or verification code. See how we help with Saudi government e-services, browse our online services or check how we quote a service.
Official sources
We checked this guide in October 2026. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm the details on Absher before paying:
- Absher, Traffic services: Renew Driving License
- Umm Al-Qura: Royal Decree M/140 amending the Traffic Law (Arabic)
- Arab News: digital driving license launched in Absher and Tawakkalna
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saudi driving license renewal fee?
SAR 40 per year of validity. On Absher you choose 2, 5 or 10 years, which costs SAR 80, 200 or 400. The medical check is paid separately to the clinic.
Is there a fine for renewing an expired driving license?
The fixed late-renewal fine of SAR 100 per year was abolished when Article 71 of the Traffic Law was repealed in January 2025. You still pay the normal fees and any outstanding violations, so check the total Absher shows before paying.
What is the fine for driving with an expired license?
Driving with an expired driving license is fined SAR 300 to 500 under the Traffic Law violations schedule.
How early can I renew my driving license?
You can renew once fewer than 365 days remain on your license.
Can I renew my driving license with unpaid traffic fines?
No. All outstanding traffic violations must be paid before Absher will renew the license.
Can I renew my driving license if my iqama has expired?
No. Residents need a valid iqama to renew. Renew the iqama first, then the driving license.
Is the digital driving license in Absher valid?
Yes. Muroor has said the digital license in the Absher Individuals app can be shown to traffic and security officers. Keep the physical card for car rental and driving abroad.
