Saudi Arabia car import cost 2026: the 4 line items that set your final price

5% customs duty, 15% VAT, SABER certificate fees, and freight — the official 2026 numbers for importing a car from Korea to Saudi Arabia.

Importing a car from Korea to Saudi Arabia runs through four main cost items: the Encar car price, freight and insurance to port, the SABER certificate fee, then customs duty and VAT on arrival. Here is a breakdown of the officially published 2026 figures.

1) Car price and freight

The car price appears on Encar in Korean won and is converted to USD in our quote. Sea freight from Korea to Jeddah or Dammam typically takes 28–35 days, plus loading and paperwork time in Korea beforehand. Freight cost itself varies by vehicle type and carrier, so ask for a specific figure in your quote.

2) 5% customs duty, discounted for age

ZATCA (Saudi Arabia's tax and customs authority) applies a base 5% customs duty on the vehicle's value, but the dutiable value is first discounted by 10% per year of the car's age, up to a maximum 50% discount. If no trusted official agent documents are available, the customs duty imposed is doubled.

3) 15% VAT

VAT is charged at 15% on the vehicle value plus customs duty. If the car does not meet Saudi energy-efficiency standards, an additional penalty of SAR 20,000 to 50% of the vehicle's value applies.

4) SABER certificate fee

No car clears Saudi customs without a certificate of conformity issued through the SABER platform (saber.sa). The certificate fee is roughly SAR 402.50 (about USD 108) including VAT, plus the inspection body's own charge.

Item	Rate or amount	Applied to
Customs duty	5% (age-discounted up to 50%)	Vehicle value
VAT	15%	Vehicle value + customs duty
SABER certificate	~SAR 402.50	Per vehicle
Energy-efficiency penalty (if applicable)	SAR 20,000 to 50% of value	Non-compliant vehicles

These figures are based on published ZATCA and SABER regulations and may change — always confirm with your customs broker before committing. We send a quote itemizing car price, freight, and commission; local customs are paid separately on arrival.

Browse our current listings, or contact us on WhatsApp for a quote covering every line item to Jeddah or Dammam port.