The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a significant player in the automotive market of the Middle East, has been a major destination for imports of second-hand cars mostly from China. To better serve Chinese exporters and Saudi Arabian importers in the light of dynamic Saudi Arabian market, knowledge about regulatory and market specifics is paramount. This article will explore the requirements for bringing used cars from China into Saudi Arabia including import policies, taxation as well as documentation requirements.

Overview of Saudi Arabia’s Automotive Market

The Saudi automotive market can be described as robust in terms of sales and with a huge appetite for imported vehicles. The following is an in-depth look at the sales and import figures which help us understand how things are currently happening:

Sale Data: There has been a notable growth in the Saudi Arabian automotive market regarding sales. In 2023 for example, this sector recorded total car sales of 651,000 units indicating an increase by 9.5%. The first half of the year saw even more impressive growth, with sales volume at 371,000 units, marking a substantial increase of 22.9% over the same period in the previous year.

Import Data: China has been having a significant market share in Saudi, with Chinese-branded vehicles increasingly popular among consumers. In 2022, Chinese brand vehicles sold over 200,000 units in Saudi Arabia, accounting for approximately one-third of the total volume of new car imports.

Market Share: ChangAn, MG and Geely were able to penetrate into amongst top ten new car sales ranking for example.

Yearly Import Volume: Used cars imports by Saudi Arabia average between 25,000 and 30,000 units per annum mainly from the US, Germany and Japan.

Popular Models: Models such as Toyota Alphard, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado, Toyota Mark II, Honda Odyssey and Nissan Skyline are particularly common within the used car market segment.

Port of Importation: Dammam, Jubail and Jeddah are some of the entry points for any imported used cars, with quite a large number being transited through Dubai on Saudi Arabia’s zero-tariff policy between UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Import Policies for Used Cars from China

To guarantee quality assurance and safety, Saudi Arabia has put in place certain regulations concerning imported second-hand vehicles:

•       Any passenger car beyond five years old and a heavy truck older than ten years are forbidden from entering the country.

•       It is not allowed to bring in any vehicle involved in a major accident before or previously used as police car, emergency car or taxi.

•       Imported vehicles must not have undergone modifications to the steering system.

Taxation and Pricing for Used Car Imports

The used car pricing structure in Saudi Arabia is based on age and worth of the automobile.

•       For used passenger cars, there is a 5% trade levy and 12% on used trucks.

•       In addition, 15% value added tax (VAT) applied on entire worth including shipping and insurance.

•       The customs value is adjusted for depreciation and model year through monthly deductions applied based on model listed price by manufacture.

Documentation Requirements for Used Car Imports

These are required documents in imports to ensure adherence to regulations:

•       A valid SASO certificate.

•       Invoice.

•       Certificate of origin.

•       Insurance certificate.

•       Customs duties and fees.

•       Unloading authorization.

•       Import license copy.

Market Dynamics and Future Prospects

With emphasis on quality and affordability, China’s second-hand car market shows prospects in Saudi Arabia. This may indicate changing consumer preferences towards electric vehicles and initiatives aimed at modernizing domestic fleets by authorities of government at large.

Summary: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Saudi Arabian regulatory framework for importing used cars from China. By understanding these policies, exporters from China can easily access the automotive market in Saudi Arabia by adhering taxation structure and preparing necessary documents.

Please note that used car import tax rates and policies may change over time or be adjusted according to the latest regulations from the government. Therefore, it is advisable to confirm the most current tax information with relevant tax and customs authorities before importing.