Late Renewal Fines for Driving License — Your Complete Guide
Delaying the renewal of your driving license is something many people take lightly, but it costs you additional fines and unnecessary complications. In this article, we explain how much the late fine is, the renewal conditions, and how to renew it through Absher without visiting the traffic department.
What is the validity period of a driving license?
The validity of a driving license in Saudi Arabia depends on your age:
- For those under 60 years old: The license is valid for 10 years
- For those 60 years and older: The license is valid for 5 years
Once the license expires, you have a grace period of 60 days from the expiration date to renew it without a fine.
What is the fine for late renewal of a driving license?
Anyone who drives with an expired license is subject to a fine. Here are the details:
- Driving with an expired license: A fine ranging from 150 SAR to 300 SAR (applied when stopped at a checkpoint)
- Late renewal fine: The system requires paying a late fine when renewing the license if more than 60 days have passed since its expiration. In some cases, additional fees are charged for each year of delay.
Important note: If your license has been expired for a long time, you must visit the traffic department directly because renewal through Absher will not work — the system prevents electronic renewal if the license has been expired for more than one year in some cases.
Conditions for Renewing a Driving License
To renew your driving license, you must meet the following conditions:
- Pay any traffic violations registered against you
- Have a valid medical examination
- Pay renewal fees (40 SAR per year — meaning 400 SAR for 10 years)
- Pay any late fines if applicable
- Have no judicial rulings or security issues against you
How to Renew Your Driving License via Absher
The easiest and fastest method — entirely electronic:
- Go to Absher Individuals (absher.sa)
- Select “My Services” → “Traffic”
- Choose “Renew Driving License”
- Verify your medical examination (if expired, you will see an option to book an appointment)
- Pay the fees and any fines (if applicable)
- Receive your new license via Saudi Post (Wasel) or from a post office
Alert: The entire renewal process is electronic and does not require visiting the traffic department, unless your license has been expired for more than one year or you have an issue with your medical examination.
How to Avoid Late Fines
- Enable reminders: Absher sends you a notification 30 days before the license expires — make sure notifications are enabled
- Renew early: Renewal is allowed up to 180 days (6 months) before the license expires
- Valid medical examination: Ensure your medical examination is still valid at the time of renewal
- Pay violations first: Before considering renewal, pay all registered violations against you
FAQs
Can I renew my driver’s license if I have unpaid violations?
Yes, but you must pay the violations first — the system does not allow renewal if there are unpaid violations.
What are the renewal fees for a 10-year driver’s license?
The renewal fee is 40 SAR per year, meaning 400 SAR for a 10-year license. If your license is for 5 years, you pay 200 SAR.
What is the difference between renewing a driver’s license and a vehicle registration form?
Renewing the license pertains to the driver themselves, while the vehicle registration form (periodic inspection) pertains to the vehicle. Each has different fees and deadlines.
What should I do if my license expired two years ago?
You must visit the traffic department in person. Renewal via Absher does not work if more than one year has passed since the license expired. You will also incur late fees + fines based on the traffic department’s assessment.
Does the late fee prevent me from renewing?
No, but you must pay it to complete the renewal process. The fine will be added to the final bill.
How can I check how much time is left on my license?
Go to Absher → “My Profile” → “Vehicles and Licenses” to view your driver’s license expiry date and start date.
Do late fees increase the longer the delay?
Yes, in some cases additional fees are imposed for each year of delay. Therefore, do not delay renewal — the longer you wait, the higher the fine.
Summary
Do not underestimate late fees. Renewing a driver’s license is easy and quick via Absher and takes no more than 10 minutes. Most importantly — renew before your license expires, and always keep your medical examination valid. This way, you avoid any future fines or complications.
If you have any additional questions, write them in the comments 👇
