Driving in Saudi Arabia, as in any other place, depends on the possession of a valid driving license. Driving using an expired license means instant trouble with heavy fines and legal proceedings. There is actually a fine of SR 300-500 for driving under an expired license in Saudi Arabia.
Today, we’ll take you through different ways to conduct a “driving license expiry check” in Saudi Arabia so you stay within the law.
Checking the Physical Saudi Driving License Card
The simplest method to determine when your Saudi driving license will expire is simply by looking at the card itself. It displays all your license information, including the expiry date, right on the front.
Verifying the Physical Saudi Driving License Card
The expiration date of your Saudi driving license is inscribed in the Gregorian calendar, so do not worry about converting it from Hijri mode. Simply inspect the date embossed on the card and confirm that it remains valid. In case it nears expiration or has already passed, you must renew it in order to remain legally eligible to drive in Saudi Arabia.
Verifying the Expiry Date via Public Query Driving License
Nowadays, it’s really easy to verify the validity of your Saudi driving license using digital resources. Even without an Absher account, you can easily verify your license expiration date online in a few steps. Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to the “Public Query Driving License” page on the official Saudi government website.
- Input your Iqama number in the provided box.
- Select the Gregorian calendar option.
- Enter your date of birth exactly as it appears on your Iqama.
- Fill in the image code shown on the screen to verify you’re not a robot.
- Click the “+” sign to proceed.
Once done, the system will show your driving license details, including the expiry date and other important info.
How to Check Saudi Driving License Expiry Without an Absher Account?
This is an easy and speedy method to verify your driving license expiry without an Absher account.
On the other hand, if you are already registered at Absher, you have more options to go throught the process.
How to Check the Expiry Date Using Your Absher Account?
Absher is an all-in-one online platform provided by the Saudi government that offers many services, including checking your driving license status. If you’re signed up with Absher, checking your license’s expiry date is super straightforward. Here’s how:
- Go to the Absher website and log in to your account.
- Navigate to the “My Services” section and select the “Inquiries” option from the list.
- From the list, select the “Traffic” section.
- Then click on “Driving License Information.”
- You will view all your driving license information on the screen now.
- Here, you can also observe your license’s expiry date.
This is how you can check your license’s validity while sitting at home.
Verifying Your Driving License through the Tawakkalna App
The Tawakkalna Services app is another useful utility that allows you to check your driving license information, such as the issue and expiration dates. The app is designed by joint collaboration of Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and Saudi Data. This app provides you a range of government-related digital services. Below are steps to verify your license information:
- Install the Tawakkalna Services app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
- Login to your Absher username and password.
- Press on the “Digital Document” button in the menu of the application.
- Then, choose “Family Members.”
Your digital driving license will be visible, indicating the issue date and expiry date as well.
Steps to Follow If Your License Is Expired
Even with our best intentions, we can sometimes forget the expiry date of our driving license. So, it causes trouble but it’s not a big deal now. You can easily renew your Saudi driving license in a short period of time.
- Go to the nearest traffic police station or use the online facilities offered by the Saudi government.
- Provide the essential documents, including expired driving license, Iqama, and other required ones.
- Pay the renewal fee through the prescribed channels and renewed license would be issued to you after verification.
Keep in mind that driving with an expired license is against the law and can lead to significant fines. It’s thus important to renew your license as soon as you notice it has expired.