Al Mellah International Shipping (0580402747) ships cars from Riyadh to Tunisia in two stages: an enclosed carrier or hydraulic flatbed from your home in Riyadh to Jeddah Islamic Port, then by sea through the Suez Canal to Rades port or Sfax, by RoRo or in a container, to Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, Nabeul, Monastir and Bizerte in 3 to 5 weeks. Because the car’s cost depends on the shipping method and the exemption regime that applies to you, we give you a specific quote after reviewing your case.
There’s no practical road route from Riyadh to Tunisia, so the car travels by sea. But before the sea there’s a long road trip to Jeddah, then a choice between RoRo and a container, then a customs file at Rades that differs completely depending on whether you’re a Tunisian returning for good or importing an ordinary car. This guide orders the decision: is your car worth shipping at all? Then how is it shipped?
🧾 First: is your car worth shipping to Tunisia?
The cost of bringing a car into Tunisia differs radically by your situation, so we start there rather than with the shipping price:
| Your situation | Usual treatment | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisian returning for good (FCR regime) | A customs privilege on one car, with conditions | Residence period abroad, car age, and not having used it before |
| Tunisian abroad on a visit | Temporary entry on foreign plates for a set period | The car must leave again before the period ends |
| Ordinary import | Full customs duties and taxes | Can exceed the car’s own value |
If you don’t qualify for the privilege, selling the car in Riyadh and buying another in Tunisia is usually better value than shipping it and paying full duties.
🚢 RoRo or container?
| Method | How it works | Advantages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo | The car is driven onto a vessel built for vehicles | Usually the best value for one car | An empty car when a sailing is available |
| 20 ft container | The car alone in a sealed container | Full protection from salt and handling | New and luxury cars |
| 40 ft container with furniture | Car secured at the front, furniture behind | One cost for home and car | A returnee with everything they own |
| 40 ft for two cars | Two cars on racks or in line | Shared cost | Brothers or partners |
Sailings from Jeddah to Rades change, and a container may pass through a Mediterranean transhipment port, so we set the method once we know your date and the car’s value.
💵 How is the price of shipping a car to Tunisia calculated?
| Element | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Road transport | Enclosed carrier or flatbed from Riyadh to Jeddah port (≈ 950 km) |
| Export procedures | Export plates, Fasah authorisation and clearance in Jeddah |
| Sea freight | RoRo or container depending on the method |
| Clearance in Tunisia | According to your customs regime; Tunisian duties are separate |
| Delivery | From the port to your city if requested |
We give you a specific price once we know the car type and value, the method and your date, because sailing rates to Rades change.
How to get the lowest total cost
🛣️ Stage one: from Riyadh to Jeddah
The car covers about 950 km to Jeddah before it sails, so we move it on an enclosed carrier or hydraulic flatbed, covered and secured with wheel straps, and photograph it and record its odometer before loading and on arrival at the port.
| Stage | Approx. duration |
|---|---|
| Export plates at Riyadh traffic | One to two days |
| Transport to Jeddah port | Two to three days |
| Fasah and vessel booking | 3–7 days |
| Sailing to Rades | About 10–14 days |
| Clearance at Rades and delivery | Days, depending on the file |
🔑 Preparing the car in Riyadh
⚓ Arrival ports and delivery in Tunisia
| Your region | Arrival port | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Tunis, Ariana and Ben Arous | Rades | Within a day |
| Bizerte and Nabeul | Rades | A day |
| Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia | Rades or Sousse | A day |
| Sfax and Gabes | Sfax | A day |
| The south and Djerba | Sfax, then by road | One to two days |
🇹🇳 Licensing in Tunisia
| Step | What you need |
|---|---|
| Customs declaration | After clearance at the port under your regime |
| Technical inspection | At the Technical Agency for Land Transport |
| Tunisian insurance | From a licensed insurer |
| Grey card and plates | With your Tunisian ID and customs documents |
🛡️ Marine insurance for the car
A sea voyage with handling and transhipment deserves marine insurance covering the car from loading in Riyadh to delivery in Tunisia, on the value you declare. Proving any damage relies on the loading photos and the delivery report, which is why we don’t seal the container before documenting the car.
🛋️ Car and furniture in one container
For a returnee, we place the car at the front of a 40 ft container secured with straps and chocks, separated by a timber partition from the numbered furniture behind, so it reaches Rades under a single customs file. Furniture and exemption details are in the guide to shipping from Riyadh to Tunisia.
🔋 Hybrid and electric cars
Tell us the battery type, as sea freight needs a declaration for it; charge it to 30–50%, and put the charger and cables with your belongings. Check its customs treatment in Tunisia under your regime.
📄 Documents
| Document | Returning for good | Ordinary import |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or owner’s authorisation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export plates and export certificate | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tunisian passport | ✔ | ✔ |
| Proof of residence abroad from the consulate | ✔ | — |
| Fasah authorisation and bill of lading | ✔ | ✔ |
| Purchase invoice | If available | ✔ |
🚫 Prohibitions
🏁 Delivery and tracking
We send you the container or sailing number, with notices at sailing, transhipment and arrival, then deliver the car at the port or to your door in your city, and compare its condition with the loading photos. We store it in Riyadh or near the port if needed.
⚠️ Common mistakes
⚖️ How to choose a car shipping company from Riyadh to Tunisia
🔁 From Tunisia to Riyadh
We also ship cars from Tunisia to Riyadh, taking into account the Kingdom’s used-car import rules, SABER platform requirements and 15% VAT.
❓ FAQ: car shipping from Riyadh to Tunisia
❓ How much does it cost to ship a car from Riyadh to Tunisia?
By quote depending on the method (RoRo or container) and date, including transport to Jeddah; Tunisian duties are separate.
❓ How long does car shipping to Tunisia take?
3 to 5 weeks door to door.
❓ Is there a road route?
No practical road route; shipping is by sea from Jeddah.
❓ RoRo or container?
RoRo is usually better value for one car; a container gives more protection or suits shipping with furniture.
❓ Are returning Tunisians exempt from duties?
There’s a privilege regime with conditions including car age and residence period; check with the consulate.
❓ Which port for Sfax?
Sfax port when a sailing is available, or Rades then by road.
Send the car type, year, your city in Tunisia and your situation (returning or visiting), and we’ll send you a quote.
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