Recently, I had to replace my car number plates again. It happened that my family and I had driven across Saudi Arabia to Mecca to do Umrah. On the way, we met several terrible sandstorms.
In a few hours, the blasting sands whipped the front of the vehicle, stripping off the car body paint and the black lettering on the front number plate. The winds had left the back plate untouched. (See photo above)
So, I had to replace the number plates. Thankfully, the whole process was simple!
So, How Do You Replace Old, Broken Car Number Plates in Saudi Arabia?
Here are the four important steps. (Click on the link to jump to section and the arrow to jump back)
- Go Online- Pay the Bank Fee
- In Abshir – Order The Replacement Car Number Plates
- Exchange the Old and New Plates at SMSA or the Saudi Post Office
- Mount the New Plate (s) on the Car
- Related Questions
In this article, I break down the four steps for you, adding observations, tips and tricks to help you do it faster, cheaper and pain-free.
So, here we go!
Step 1. Go Online – Pay The Bank Fee
After logging into your bank, go to:
>Government Payments
> Motor Vehicle
> Reissue Vehicle Plate (two plates)
Then, enter:
- Iqama Number
- Vehicle Sequence Number
- Reason for Issue
- Choose Plates with or without a Logo
- Pay
TIP 1 – For Reason for Issue, if you choose ‘damaged’ or ‘lost’, you should report the damage officially to the traffic police in Abshir.
Replacing a normal number plate (s) without a logo costs SR100. Car number plates cost SR800 with a ‘fancy’ logo.
To learn the easy way to get a replacement Saudi driving licence click A Pain Free Way To Renew Your Saudi Driving Licence
Step 2. In Abshir – Order The Replacement Car Number Plates
After logging into (one-time passcode) your Abshir, PC or laptop only and not a smartphone, go to:
> Vehicles
> Vehicles Management
> Vehicle Plates Replacement
> New Request
> Choose Lost, Damaged, Other
> Choose One or Two Plates
> Choose Plate Size
> Confirm You Read Plate Instruction Manual
> Choose SMSA or Saudi Post Delivery
> Pay by Credit Card (SR95 plus VAT)
In Abshir, choose a SMSA or Saudi Post to deliver the replacement plates to one of their nearest offices. The delivery price is the same for both – SR95 plus VAT.
TIP 2 – You can opt for a single or two new replacement number plates, but the price is the same – SR100 without a logo and SR800 with a logo.
Step 3. Exchange the Old and New Plates at SMSA or the Saudi Post Office
Wait for about three to five days, after which SMSA or Saudi Post will SMS you with an order number and the three-digit code (i.e. 024).
You should go to the courier office with the old (damaged) number plates in hand, show them the SMSm message with the order number and the three-digit code, give them some personal details and exchange the old plates for the new ones.
The courier will send the old plates back to the traffic police.
TIP 3 – Take a screwdriver with you to SMSA or Saudi Post. On arrival, you can unscrew the screws and remove the old plates.
Step 4. Mount the New Plate (s) On The Car
Finally, go home with the new replacement plates or to a workshop. You should drill screw holes in both plates to match the placement of the existing holes to mount them.
Then, measure the correct height position and the distance from the top of the plate to the planned holes.
For example, I measured 2 cm from the top of the plate to two holes I wished to drill in the back of the plates.
Later, I stuck the marked masking tape on the back of the plate. At home, I placed the number plates face down, punched on the dots I marked on the masking tape and then drilled holes using a drill bit the approx size of the screw widths.
Finally, the new screw holes in the replacement plates matched perfectly with the old ones that previously held the old number plates.
TIP 4 – To mount the plates yourself, place a strip of masking tape across the screw holes that are in the car body, front and back, and mark their positions on the tape with a black marker pen or felt. Then, transfer the marked strip of tape, position and centre it on the back of plates before drilling screw holes.
Related Questions
1. Can I collect my replacement number plates from the issuing traffic office? No, SMSA or Saudi Post will deliver them to a local office, and you go there to collect them.
2. What is the total cost of replacing damaged or lost number plates in Saudi Arabia? The cheapest is SR209 without a logo and an additional cost to mount the plates. The most expensive option is SR909 (with a logo).
3. Can I replace only one damaged car number plate? Yes, but the cost for replacing one plate is the same as replacing two plates.
4. How long does it take to replace car number plates in Saudi Arabia? The process usually takes about 3 to 5 business days for the plates to be ready for pickup at SMSA or Saudi Post.
5. Do I need to report damaged or lost plates to the traffic police? Yes, if you choose ‘damaged’ or ‘lost’ as the reason for replacement, it is advisable to report it to the traffic police in Abshir. However, first read the Plate Instruction Manual first in Abshir for more details.
6. Can I customize the design of my replacement car number plates? You can choose plates with a logo for an extra fee of SR700.
7. What happens to the old number plates after replacement? The old plates are sent back to the traffic police by the courier for official record updates.
8. What should I do when I receive an SMS for plate collection? Go to the SMSA office or Saudi Post with your Abshir order details (SMS message) to collect your replacement plates.
9. Is there a penalty for driving with damaged or missing number plates? Yes, driving with unreadable or missing plates may result in fines or penalties as per Saudi traffic laws.
10. Can I hire a professional to mount the new plates? Yes, workshops can help mount the plates if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.
Are there any alternative methods to request replacement plates apart from Abshir?
Currently, Abshir is the primary platform for processing replacement requests, but SMSA or Saudi Post handles delivery.