The process of bringing a vehicle into Saudi Arabia may be difficult if you are not aware of the requirements of SASO Certification for automotive imports. A clear understanding of it will help you in avoiding any hurdles that may come your way during the importing process.
This process follows a clear, step-by-step structure, and all importers must complete each stage before bringing their vehicle into the Kingdom.
The article presents full details of procedures and steps that should be followed to go through the entire automotive SASO certification process.
What is an SASO Certificate for Automotive Imports?
In Saudi Arabia, customs clearance is only granted for vehicles and automotive parts that comply with SASO standards. This applies not just to complete vehicles, but also to key components like tyres, lights, brakes, and batteries.
Starting from 2025, all imported products must undergo conformity procedures via the SABER system, and customs would not release automotive shipments without a conformity certificate issued in the SABER system (PCoC & SCoC).
SASO certificates serve as proof that a product is safe, meets the Kingdom’s quality requirements, and is properly labelled.
There are two types of certificates used to document automotive compliance:
• Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) – issued for each product or model
• Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) – issued for each shipment entering Saudi Arabia
Both certificates are issued through the SABER online platform, the official Saudi system required for customs clearance.
Why Automotive Importers Need SASO Certification
The SASO certification ensures that only safe products are sold in the market. It is especially significant in the automotive industry since any defect in components such as tyres, brakes, or lights may directly impact road safety.
For the importer, there are many advantages in having the correct SASO certification:
- It minimizes customs delays and the chances of rejecting shipments
- Prevents incurring additional costs for storing or re-exporting
- Creates trust with both authorities and consumers by showing compliance
How to Get an SASO Certificate for Automotive Imports – Step-by-Step Process
It’s easy to get a SASO certification if you know the step-by-step procedure that needs to be followed.
These simple 6-step procedures will give you exact information on how it should be done without any guesswork.
Step 1: Classify the Automotive Product
The initial and most crucial step to begin with is to classify what you’re importing. whether it’s a vehicle, spare part, or accessory.
What classification means
Classification helps to determine
- The proper HS (Harmonised System) classification code for customs clearance worldwide.
- Whether it is regulated by SASO in the SALEEM Program to ensure its safety and quality for the markets of Saudi Arabia.
How Classification Works for Automobile Products
For Vehicles:
Each vehicle has particular HS codes depending on their type, such as passenger cars, trucks, buses etc.
All these vehicles fall under the SASO Technical Regulations for Motor Vehicles. Hence, each and every vehicle has to qualify in the entire certification process offered by SABER before it is imported and/or sold.
For Spare Parts:
Automotive spare parts fall into two main categories :
- Classified Parts:
Classified parts are those that correspond to critical or performance-related parts that demand certification.
It includes:
- Tyres
- Handbrakes & Brake Pads
- Lights (headlights, rear lights)
- Batteries
- Safety glass
- Seat Belts
- Unclassified Parts:
These parts are usually less critical,and hence full certification is not usually required. Instead of a full product certificate, a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is used, but this still has to be created and registered through the SABER system, not just kept as an internal manufacturer statement.
Examples include:
- Decorative trims or covers
- Door handles
- Mirrors( if not electronic)
If your product appears under the SASO automotive regulation list, then it needs to go through the official SABER conformity process for regulated products.
Step 2: Test the Automotive Product
The next step after classification would be testing, to confirm that the product is in compliance with Saudi technical and safety standards.
How Testing Works
The testing is done in SASO-accredited laboratories. These can be inside Saudi Arabia or outside-in this case, foreign labs recognized by SASO.
What the lab tests:
All products are tested to the standards set by either SASO or GCC.
For Example;
- For tyres: Load capacity, temperature resistance, rolling resistance, and labelling.
- For batteries: Electrical performance and safety.
- For lighting: Intensity, color temperature, and visibility standards.
After testing, the lab issues an official Test Report or Compliance Report showing the results. If it meets the required standard, it moves to certification or else the importer must correct issues and repeat testing.
Step 3: Register the Automotive Product with SABER
Once testing has been completed, the importer (or his/her authorised representative) is required to register the product on the SABER platform.
SABER is an online platform managed by SASO for all the conformity and certification procedures for entering products into the kingdom.
Registration procedures:
- Register for a SABER account if you do not already have one.
- Add the item details with the corresponding HS Code.
- Select the applicable SASO Technical Regulation.
It should be stated whether it is a classified or an unclassified item. All vehicles and spare parts must be registered in the SABER; this is the only way to obtain conformity certificates.
Step 4: Obtain the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
After registration, the next step is certification at the product level. For Regulated & Classified products (including vehicles):
Choose a SASO-accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) within SABER. Provide all technical and test documents, including;
- Laboratory test reports
- Product Drawings/Specifications
- User manuals if applicable
- Labelling and packaging information
The CAB reviews the documents and checks for compliance. Once accepted, the CAB grants the Product Certificate of Conformity, PCoC, in SABER.
About the PCoC:
It proves that the product concerned – its type/model- meets the requirements of the SASO regulations.It typically is valid for a year, after which it needs to be renewed.
Without a valid PCoC, regulated products (cars are among them) cannot be imported or listed outward for shipment.
For unclassified spare parts the importers in place of a PCoC often can issue a Declaration of Conformity, DoC. Even unclassified parts require registration of the DoC in SABER
Step 5: Get the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
No matter what you are shipping, whether it is vehicles or spare parts, you must have a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) beforehand for the cargo to enter the kingdom.
For this you have to follow some processes in SABER. First, the importer has to prepare a shipment entry within SABER. And then he/she can add invoice details, product quantity, manufacturer details.
Link each item from the shipment to:
- Its valid PCoCs, or
- Its Declaration of Conformity (for unclassified portions).
Then Submit the shipment for review by the CAB. The CAB examines whether a shipment matches the certified models or products.
In practice, it is important that the SCoC request be made and approved prior to the merchandise entering the Saudi port, through key shipping documents such as the bill of lading and commercial invoice, since otherwise there may be delays or non-compliance
If this information is accurate, the CAB then distributes the SCoC in SABER. Otherwise, the products will not be cleared by customs at the port.
Step 6: Customs Clearance in Saudi Arabia
When the shipment arrives, The Saudi Customs Authority verifies the documentation of the shipment.
They check that:
- The SCoC is valid on the shipment.
- Each product listed matches its PCoC/DoC.
If all the details are true, then the Customs service will allow the goods to proceed to market entry.
For every automotive importer, getting the shipment to the kingdom without any delays or additional storage fees is of the utmost importance. That’s where you need a clear idea of how SASO for vehicle imports works in the kingdom and what steps should be taken so that the process is free from any worries.
The SASO process for automotive import may seem very difficult at first, but if you follow just these 6 steps, it can be much easier and confusion-free.
نصيف عمر هو المؤسس والرئيس التنفيذي لشركة AutoSmart Technology، وهي منصة SaaS تعمل على رقمنة عمليات التدقيق لمصنعي المعدات الأصلية والموزعين وشبكات الوكلاء. بفضل خبرته السابقة في شركة تويوتا (عبد اللطيف جميل) وخبرته في مجال تكنولوجيا المعلومات والإدارة الصناعية، يكتب عن عمليات التدقيق والانضباط التشغيلي وتطوير منتجات SaaS للعملاء من الشركات في مختلف الأسواق.
