Saudi Arabia is a big country, and the car is often a long way from any port. That is usually the first worry: how does it get from Riyadh or the Eastern Province to a ship, and then to the UK? We arrange that part, and the rest of the journey is a route we run regularly from the Gulf.
This guide covers what is particular to Saudi Arabia. If you want the wider picture of shipping from the region, our guide to shipping a car from Dubai goes into the Gulf route in more depth.
- Port
- Jeddah
- Guide shipping price
- From £2,150
- Transit time
- Usually 4 to 8 weeks
- Import tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty
Collection from anywhere in the Kingdom
We collect across six Saudi provinces: Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Province, Al Madinah, Aseer and Al Qassim. You do not need to drive the car to a port yourself.
Our logistics agents pick the car up and take it to the port for loading. If the car is valuable, say so on the quote form and we will price enclosed transport for that leg.
Shipping from Jeddah
Our route from Saudi Arabia runs from Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea coast. It is owned and managed by the Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani, and handles container traffic through its South Container Terminal and the Red Sea Gateway Terminal. There is more on the port itself on our Jeddah port page.
From the Gulf, cars usually travel in a shared container, a dedicated container or by RoRo. Transit is usually 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the sailing. A shared container is the most common choice because the cost is split with other customers' cars. Our guide to container, RoRo or air explains how the three compare.
The Saudi paperwork
The car has to be cleared to leave Saudi Arabia before it sails. The exact export steps depend on the car and where you are in the Kingdom, so we confirm them with you when we quote rather than guess at them here.
What we need from you for the UK side is short, and the same list we ask for from most of the world.
Your Saudi Arabia paperwork
0 of 4 done
Our full guide to documents to ship a car to the UK explains what each one is for.
Left-hand drive, built for the Gulf
Saudi cars are left-hand drive and built to GCC specification, so they need a few changes before they meet UK rules. The common ones are:
- Speedometer conversion to mph
- Headlight changes for driving on the left
- A rear fog light on older cars
Which test follows depends on the car's age. A car under 10 years old takes an IVA test. One between 10 and 40 years old takes an MOT, usually with similar changes made first. A car over 40 years old does not need an MOT and can be delivered to your UK address before it is registered.
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with the DVSA visiting weekly. Once the car arrives at our site, it stays with us until it is registered. Our guides to speedometer and headlight conversions and left-hand drive cars in the UK cover the detail.
From Saudi Arabia to your drive
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Before it sails
Collection and export
Our agents collect the car from your province, deal with the export side and get it loaded at the port.
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4 to 8 weeks
At sea
The car travels to the UK, usually in a shared container.
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On arrival
Customs
As HMRC CDS authorised agents, we make the customs entry ourselves.
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At our site
Changes and testing
Our team makes the changes the car needs, then tests it on our own IVA or MOT lane.
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Within 10 working days
Registration
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car and fit your UK plates.
Import tax from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is outside the EU, so a car bought there pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty. Both are worked out on the price of the car plus the transport to get it here, with VAT charged on top of the duty. If your invoice is more than 3 months old, a recent valuation is used instead.
A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK after more than 12 months abroad, and have owned the car for more than 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in tax and duty free. A car that was UK-registered before may also come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C. Our worked tax examples show what these rates mean in pounds.
Apply for Transfer of Residence before the car ships. HMRC needs to approve it, and you give the reference to customs when the car lands. It is far easier sorted in Riyadh than chased from a UK port.
What it costs
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from the UAE and the wider Middle East starts from around £2,150. That is shipping only. It excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work the car needs. Your quote prices your actual car, collection point and route.
For a wider look at the figures, see our shipping costs page or the Saudi Arabia country page.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to ship a car from Saudi Arabia to the UK?
Transit is usually 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the sailing. After that the car clears customs, then is changed, tested and registered at our site.
Can you collect my car from Riyadh?
Yes. We collect across six provinces: Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Province, Al Madinah, Aseer and Al Qassim, and take the car to the port.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Saudi Arabia to the UK?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from the UAE and the wider Middle East starts from around £2,150. That excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work.
Will a Saudi car need changes for UK roads?
Usually a speedometer conversion to mph, headlight changes and, on older cars, a rear fog light. Cars under 10 years old then take an IVA test, older cars an MOT.
Do I pay import tax on a car from Saudi Arabia?
Usually 20% VAT and 10% duty on the price plus transport. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can make it tax free if you are moving here.
Send us the car's details on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from your province to your drive.
