The taxi and rental car age extension in Saudi Arabia gives operators six more months with their older vehicles. The Transport General Authority (TGA) announced on 6 November 2026 that taxis and private rental cars whose permitted operating life ends at the end of 2026 can stay in service until 30 June 2027.
For the many expats who drive taxis or work at rental branches, this means the cars due to be pulled off the road in January can keep earning for another half year.
What the taxi and rental car age extension changes
The decision moves the deadline for one group of vehicles from the end of 2026 to the end of June 2027. It is an extension of up to six months, not a permanent change to the age rules.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced by | Transport General Authority, 6 November 2026 |
| Vehicles covered | Taxis and private rental cars whose operating life ends at the end of 2026 |
| Extension | Up to 6 months |
| New end date | 30 June 2027 |
| Conditions | Safety requirements and service quality must still be met |
The authority said the move is meant to use existing fleets more efficiently and ease the cost of replacing vehicles early. ARY News quoted the TGA as saying safety limits, technical inspection requirements and quality standards would still be enforced during the extra period.
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Who is affected
The extension helps taxi companies, rental firms and the drivers who work for them. In practice, many of the people behind the wheel and at the rental counters in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam are expats.
- Taxi drivers whose assigned car was due to be retired at year end keep the same vehicle for longer.
- Rental companies can delay buying replacement cars until mid 2027.
- Customers renting a car may see more vehicles from older model years on the lot.
Vehicles whose operating life runs out on a different date are not mentioned in the announcement. The TGA statement also does not restate the maximum age for each activity, so check the limit for your own car rather than assuming.
What expats should do now
If you drive or manage one of these vehicles, the extra six months only helps if the car stays compliant. Many expats in Saudi Arabia find that a lapsed inspection causes more trouble than the age rule itself.
- Ask your company which cars are covered. The extension applies to vehicles reaching the end of their life at the end of 2026, not to every older car.
- Keep the periodic inspection valid. The TGA says inspection requirements still apply during the extension.
- Plan the replacement now. 30 June 2027 is a hard date, and rental and taxi firms will all be buying at the same time.
- Renting a car? Check the vehicle’s condition and model year at pickup, and photograph any damage before you drive off.
What has not changed
The age limits themselves stay in place. This decision only buys time for vehicles already at the limit, and the TGA has not said whether a further extension will follow.
Driver permits, app registration and the rest of the taxi and rental regulations are unchanged. Official updates are posted on the Transport General Authority website, and vehicle inspection status can be checked through Absher.
Papers taxi drivers should keep valid during the extension
An older car that stays on the road until 30 June 2027 is only useful if the driver and the vehicle stay licensed. Under the Transport General Authority’s rules, a taxi driver needs a valid professional driver card, and the vehicle needs a valid operating card. Driving with a missing, expired or cancelled card is a violation, and for non-Saudi drivers repeated cases can lead to deportation.
- Driver card: check its expiry date and renew it before it lapses.
- Vehicle operating card: ask your company to confirm that the card for your car covers the extended period.
- Periodic inspection: book the test early. Our guide to the Fahas appointment shows how to book online and check validity.
- Insurance and registration: make sure the istimara and insurance are both in force for the whole period you drive the car.
Never take passengers in a private car or a car whose permits have lapsed. Our report on unlicensed passenger transport shows how expats have been fined and deported for this.
Your rights as a taxi passenger
If you ride in one of the older taxis during the extension, the normal passenger rules still apply.
- The meter must run. Taxi drivers must operate the fare meter. If the driver does not, the passenger is entitled to a free trip on reaching the destination.
- Card payment. You can complain if the taxi has no electronic payment device.
- Where to complain. Complaints about taxis go to the TGA unified number 19929. Note the taxi number, the time and the route before you call.
Checks to make when you rent a car
Based on real expat experience in KSA, most rental disputes start at pickup, not at return. With more older cars staying in rental fleets until mid 2027, a few minutes of checks are worth it.
- Read the model year and mileage on the contract and compare them with the car.
- Walk around the car and photograph scratches, dents and tyre condition, including the spare.
- Check that the air conditioning works before you leave the branch, especially in summer.
- Confirm what the insurance covers and what you would pay after an accident. Our guide to car insurance in KSA explains the common cover types.
- Keep the rental contract on your phone until the deposit is returned in full.
Frequently asked questions
Until when can older taxis and rental cars operate?
Vehicles whose permitted operating life ends at the end of 2026 can run until 30 June 2027, an extension of up to six months.
Does the extension cover every old car?
No. It covers taxis and private rental cars whose operating life ends at the end of 2026. Vehicles with a different end date are not mentioned.
Do inspection rules still apply?
Yes. The TGA says safety, technical inspection and quality requirements continue during the extension.
How do I complain about a taxi in Saudi Arabia?
Call the Transport General Authority on 19929, for example if the driver refuses to run the meter or the taxi has no card payment device.
To plan household and running costs while you wait for a replacement car, browse our free calculators on the tools page. Taxi drivers may also want to read the new driverless taxi rules in Saudi Arabia, which take effect on 6 January 2027.