MVPI (Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection) also known as Fahas is a process to get a certificate of eligibility for your vehicle to be able to drive on the road to ensure your safety as well safety of other road users. There is a well defined and a thorough process in Saudi Arabia for getting Fahas certificate for a vehicle. In this post, you will get step by step guide on how to get your car Fahas certificate in Saudi Arabia.
Step 1: Check Expiry of your Current Fahas
Fahas is required on annual basis for a vehicle and you must ensure that you get a new Fahas sticker for your car every year. You can check expiry date of your car’s Fahas either by looking into the Fahas certificate or by simply checking the sticker on your car’s windshield. You will see the month torn out from the sticker showing when your current Fahas will become invalid.
If your current Fahas has expired or is about to expire soon, proceed to the subsequent steps of this post explaining what actions are needed.
Step 2: Prepare for a visit to MVPI Location nearby
For motor vehicle inspection to get Fahas done for your car, you can visit any MVPI center that best suits you. These centers are opened daily except on Fridays. Currently these centers are opened from 7AM till 4PM on normal working days and from 7AM to around 2PM on Saturdays. It is advised to visit their in early hours to avoid any long queues and also to have ample time to get any fixing done just in case your car doesn’t get passed in first attempt.
You will need to pay 73 SAR fees for the first attempt on the Fahas counter while going inside the inspection area. Please make sure that you carry your Istimara and Iqama with you as the counter staff will check your istimara as well.
It is recommended based on my personal experience to get your car serviced completely before you go for Fahas so that it is clean from exterior, underneath, under the hood and it gives a better first impression to the staff responsible for the inspection.
Some people suggest to visit any mechanic before going for Fahas for identification and fixing of any issues which might cause a failure in getting Fahas. However, I won’t recommend that as it will be an unnecessary additional expense and waste of time. As an example, let’s suppose you go to a mechanic for the preliminary inspection. He will for sure charge you some fees even if your car has no issues. He will charge you additional for any mechanical work required. However, if you go straight to the Fahas inspection, either you will get your Fahas sticker in first attempt without any additional mechanic related costs or in worst case scenario, you will get to know the exact issues and will get a guaranteed fixation from the mechanic.
Step 3: Get your Car Inspected for Fahas
Reach to a Fahas center of your choice which best suits your location. You will find multiple queues of vehicles on the entrance. Join any queue and wait for reaching the counter. Once you reach the counter, you will be asked to furnish your istimara (and maybe Iqama as well) along with the fees. The staff will hand over you the paper and receipt. Now move your car to the inspection facility where the inspection staff will take the papers from you and you will be asked to go out of the car.
The inspection staff will first do a brief physical examination of your car followed by inspection of the basic features including wipers, horn, indicators, lights etc. Next they will inspect your car’s balancing and tyres. At last, your car will be checked from beneath thoroughly for any major defects/issues.
If all the inspection checks are passed, you will get the sticker from the next counter and you are done with Fahas. However, if your car has any issues identified by the inspection team, you will get a paper instead. Take the paper to the officer and he will explain you the defects winch must be corrected.
For the scenario of a failed inspection, after getting the details of the defects, just go out of the inspection office and you will find a number of agents from various workshops nearby who will catch you and offer their services for the fixing. Be very careful and smart to deal with them and bargain the rate properly as they normally demand higher than actual. If you know what is required and if you have a fair idea of the possible expense, you will be in a better position to quote your expected amount.
Most of these mechanics will fix your car issues with a guarantee of getting Fahas sticker. It is advised to commit with them that you will pay the price only after getting the sticker.
When you are done with the fixing required, go back to the inspection office. After paying the fees (24 SAR for second attempt), you will leave your car with the inspection staff. This time they will only re-inspect your car for the defects raised earlier to check if the issues have been fixed properly.
Once inspected and everything is fine, you will get the sticker and your car will be eligible for road driving for the next one year.
You can check Fahas Status Online as well to know the validity of your car Fahas.