Can I get a car inspected in the US if I live in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Book online, send the listing and the car's US location, and an independent inspector goes to the car. The report is online within 24–48 hours of the visit and readable from Riyadh, Jeddah or anywhere else.

What is the Saudi five-year rule for imported cars?

ZATCA limits used light-vehicle imports by individuals to models no more than five years old, counted without the current year, with an allowance for antiques over thirty years that are not driven on the road. Check the car's model year against the official text with your customs broker before you buy; an inspection cannot change an over-age car's status.

Does a US inspection replace the SASO / SABER certificate?

No. The conformity certificate is a customs requirement issued through SASO-approved bodies after you have bought the car. The Vehicle Inspectors report is a condition inspection for you, done before you commit money.

Will the inspector confirm the car is GCC spec?

The inspector photographs the compliance labels, VIN plates and cluster units so your conformity body can judge the spec. The inspector does not certify spec or import eligibility.

Can you inspect a Copart or IAA car I want to export to Saudi Arabia?

Yes, subject to the yard's access rules and the sale date. Many auction lots do not run, so the inspection is visual and photographic with no road test; we tell you that before you pay. See the Copart and IAA page for how auction inspections work.

Who files the US export paperwork?

A party with a US tax or DUNS number: in practice your US exporter, freight forwarder or licensed customs broker. The filing is due at least 72 hours before the car sails and the title must be presented to US Customs at the port.

For buyers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and across the Kingdom

Inspect a US Car Before Importing It to Saudi Arabia. Know the condition before the model-year math.

Buying a car in the United States to import to Saudi Arabia? Vehicle Inspectors sends an independent inspector to the car in the US so you know its real condition before you pay the seller or book shipping to Dammam or Jeddah.

You receive a photo-documented report in 24–48 hours, in English, from $249, with the structural, mechanical, cooling and VIN observations a KSA import buyer needs. Luxury and exotic cars are quoted from $449.

The report is a condition inspection for you. It is not a SASO conformity certificate and does not decide whether the car meets the Saudi age rule; those are set by ZATCA and SASO.

Tell us about the car Book online now See a sample report

Since 2012Inspectors in all 50 statesInspector independent of the sellerPriced in US dollars

Why inspect before you import a car to Saudi Arabia?

Saudi buyers face two filters most other markets do not: a model-year limit on used imports and a conformity certificate issued through SASO-approved bodies before the car clears customs. The model-year limit you can check from the listing before spending anything; the conformity certificate comes after you have bought and shipped the car. A condition inspection in the US sits between the two, and it is the only step in the chain where the inspector works for you rather than for the seller, the exporter or the authority.

The second reason is the same everywhere: most US cars sold for export are bought from photos, many from damage auctions, and the repair quality decides what you actually own.

What does the inspector check on a car bound for Saudi Arabia?

The full Vehicle Inspectors inspection: body, paint and underbody, frame and prior repair, engine and transmission, driveline, steering, suspension, brakes, exhaust, tires, glass, lights, interior, OBD-II scan and a road test where the car is legal and safe to drive. Ask for it at booking and the inspector also photographs, where visible, the VIN plates, the compliance label, the instrument cluster units and any title the seller shows, because your SASO conformity body and customs broker will ask about them.

Cooling and A/C get the same attention as for UAE buyers: Riyadh summers are no kinder to a US-spec radiator than Dubai's.

Is a US pre-purchase inspection the same as the SASO / SABER certificate?

No. The Saudi conformity certificate for used vehicles is issued through SASO-approved inspection bodies under the SABER platform and is a customs-clearance requirement. A Vehicle Inspectors report is a buyer-side condition inspection done before you buy. Check the model year first, then inspect; if the car is a bad buy, you never reach the conformity step.

The Saudi model-year rule, in plain English

ZATCA's published rule for individuals limits used light-vehicle imports to models no more than five years old, counted without the current year, with a separate allowance for antique vehicles over thirty years old that are not for road use. The exact counting method and the fee for cars outside the limit are in the official text linked below. Before you bid on a car, check its model year against that rule with your customs broker; an inspection cannot make an over-age car importable.

Payment, title and the US export filing

Have the car inspected before any deposit. Ask for the title in the seller's name, a lien release if it was financed, and a bill of sale with the VIN. Pay through a bank wire you initiate to an account you have independently verified; Vehicle Inspectors never holds the purchase money. Your exporter files the US export information and presents the title to US Customs at least 72 hours before the car sails.

Saudi import rules every buyer should know (and verify)

Each row names its source and whether it is an official text or secondary. Confirm with ZATCA (customs), SASO (conformity) and your customs broker before you buy.

Import and export rules with source and verification status, last reviewed 2026-10-30
Topic	Rule as we read it	Status	Source
Model-year limit	Used light vehicles (up to 3.5 t) may be imported by individuals if the model is no more than five years old, not counting the current year. Antique vehicles over thirty years old are allowed but not for road use. A fee applies for cars outside the criteria in some cases.	Secondary source · verify	ZATCA: Import of vehicles for individuals
Conformity certificate	Used vehicles need a conformity certificate issued through SASO-approved bodies on the SABER platform before customs clearance. This is separate from, and after, a pre-purchase inspection.	Secondary source · verify	Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
Export filing (AES / EEI)	Every used self-propelled vehicle leaving the US needs Electronic Export Information filed in the Automated Export System at least 72 hours before export, regardless of value or destination. The usual $2,500 low-value exemption does not apply to used vehicles.	Official text	U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting Used Vehicles (15 CFR 30.2)
Title at the port	The original title (or a certified copy) plus two copies, and the vehicle itself, must be presented to CBP at the port of export at least 72 hours before a vessel departure. A car with a lien needs a letter from the lienholder.	Official text	19 CFR 192.2: Requirements for exportation of used self-propelled vehicles
Who files	The filing party must have a US EIN or DUNS number. A buyer outside the US normally works through a US-based exporter, freight forwarder or licensed customs broker who files on their behalf. CBP lists penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for a missing or false filing.	Official text	U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting Used Vehicles flyer

Last reviewed 2026-10-30. Rules change; always confirm with the authority named in the row and with your customs or clearing agent before you buy. Vehicle Inspectors inspects condition and does not certify import eligibility, specification or registrability.

Pricing for Saudi Arabia buyers

The same flat US pricing as any buyer, in US dollars: Bronze $249, Silver $349, Gold $449; exotics quoted from $449, classics from $449; a $199 scam check before any deposit.

Vehicle Inspectors pricing in US dollars
Product	Price (USD)	Best for
Bronze	$249	Vehicles under $15K
Silver	$349	Vehicles $15K–$50K
Gold	$449	$50K+, luxury, long-distance sight-unseen
EV	$349	Battery-electric vehicles
Exotic	from $449	Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and similar
Classic	from $449	Collector cars, quoted per car
Scam check	$199	Before any deposit

Priced in US dollars. Your card is saved at booking, a hold is placed when an inspector schedules the job, and the charge is taken when the inspection is completed. If you cancel after an inspector has scheduled your inspection, a $149 cancellation fee is charged to your card on file. No fee if you cancel before an inspector schedules, if your inspector cancels, or if we can't find you an inspector. The scam check is charged once the inspector has started traveling to the car, whatever is found there. Full refund if no inspector accepts within 72 hours. VI Live ($79) adds a live video call with the inspector during the visit.

How it works from Saudi Arabia

Send the listing and where the car sits
Paste the dealer listing, auction lot link or seller details, plus the US city or yard. Tell us your country and the deadline you are working against (an auction close, a seller holding the car, a sailing).
An independent inspector goes to the car
A vetted inspector in our network travels to the vehicle in the US. They do not work for the seller, the auction or a broker, and their pay does not depend on whether the car sells.
Photo report in 24–48 hours, in English, online
Every finding documented with photos, OBD-II data where the car can be powered, a plain-English go / caution / stop summary, and the VIN and odometer observations an export buyer needs. Readable on your phone in any time zone.
You decide before you wire money or book a ship
Negotiate, walk away, or move forward. The report is dated and belongs to you, so it also documents condition before the car is handed to a transporter or loaded at the port.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a car inspected in the US if I live in Saudi Arabia?: Yes. Book online, send the listing and the car's US location, and an independent inspector goes to the car. The report is online within 24–48 hours of the visit and readable from Riyadh, Jeddah or anywhere else.
What is the Saudi five-year rule for imported cars?: ZATCA limits used light-vehicle imports by individuals to models no more than five years old, counted without the current year, with an allowance for antiques over thirty years that are not driven on the road. Check the car's model year against the official text with your customs broker before you buy; an inspection cannot change an over-age car's status.
Does a US inspection replace the SASO / SABER certificate?: No. The conformity certificate is a customs requirement issued through SASO-approved bodies after you have bought the car. The Vehicle Inspectors report is a condition inspection for you, done before you commit money.
Will the inspector confirm the car is GCC spec?: The inspector photographs the compliance labels, VIN plates and cluster units so your conformity body can judge the spec. The inspector does not certify spec or import eligibility.
How much does it cost for a Saudi buyer?: Bronze $249, Silver $349, Gold $449; exotics from $449, classics from $449; a $199 scam check confirms the car exists and matches its VIN. Priced in US dollars. Your card is saved at booking, a hold is placed when an inspector schedules the job, and the charge is taken when the inspection is completed. If you cancel after an inspector has scheduled your inspection, a $149 cancellation fee is charged to your card on file. No fee if you cancel before an inspector schedules, if your inspector cancels, or if we can't find you an inspector. The scam check is charged once the inspector has started traveling to the car, whatever is found there.
Can you inspect a Copart or IAA car I want to export to Saudi Arabia?: Yes, subject to the yard's access rules and the sale date. Many auction lots do not run, so the inspection is visual and photographic with no road test; we tell you that before you pay. See the Copart and IAA page for how auction inspections work.
Who files the US export paperwork?: A party with a US tax or DUNS number: in practice your US exporter, freight forwarder or licensed customs broker. The filing is due at least 72 hours before the car sails and the title must be presented to US Customs at the port.

Tell us about the car.

Where it is, who is selling it and your deadline. A dispatcher confirms coverage and access, quotes anything that is quote-based, and replies by email within one business day. Nothing is charged at this step.

Your name

Email (we reply here)

Phone with country code

We reply by email; the phone number is for the inspector or dispatch if a call is needed.

Your country

Your city

Vehicle (year, make, model)

Listing or auction lot link (optional)

Where the car is in the US

Who is selling it

Where you are in the purchase

Deadline, if any

Anything else

We use these details only to answer this inquiry. Nothing is charged for this inquiry.

Different country or vehicle? See all export-buyer pages →