“How much for a car?” is the first message we get on WhatsApp most mornings, and it's a harder question than it sounds. The number on a website is rarely the number on your card statement. VAT gets added, a deposit gets held, insurance comes in levels, and a car that costs SAR 90 for one day can cost barely more than half that per day if you keep it for a month.
So here is the whole picture for Riyadh in 2026: what cars actually rent for, what gets added at the counter, and how to cut the total without picking a worse car. We use our own current prices because they're the ones we can vouch for, and we tell you where the rest of the market sits.
- Per day:about SAR 80–150 before VAT for an economy car or sedan. Ours start at SAR 80 (SAR 92 with VAT).
- Per week: from SAR 450 before VAT, which works out at about SAR 64 a day.
- Per month: from SAR 1,599 before VAT, about SAR 53 a day, usually with delivery and maintenance included.
- On top: 15 percent VAT, optional full insurance, a refundable deposit, fuel, and any traffic fines.
Current prices: daily, weekly and monthly
These are the live rates for our Riyadh fleet as of November 2026. The first figure is the advertised price, the second is what you pay once 15 percent VAT is added.
| Car | Per day | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG 3Hatchback | SAR 80SAR 92 with VAT | SAR 499SAR 573.85 with VAT | SAR 1,699SAR 1,953.85 with VAT |
| Geely EmgrandSedan | SAR 90SAR 103.50 with VAT | SAR 450SAR 517.50 with VAT | SAR 1,599SAR 1,838.85 with VAT |
| Toyota YarisSedan | SAR 120SAR 138 with VAT | SAR 650SAR 747.50 with VAT | SAR 1,750SAR 2,012.50 with VAT |
| Emzoom GS3SUV | SAR 120SAR 138 with VAT | SAR 750SAR 862.50 with VAT | SAR 1,999SAR 2,298.85 with VAT |
| Hyundai AccentSedan | SAR 125SAR 143.75 with VAT | SAR 850SAR 977.50 with VAT | SAR 2,100SAR 2,415 with VAT |
Two things stand out. First, the cheapest car per day isn't the cheapest per week. The MG 3 has the lowest daily rate, but the Emgrand, a bigger sedan, is cheaper on weekly and monthly rentals. Always compare at the length you actually need. Second, the drop with longer rentals is steep. Look at the Emgrand:
- Daily: SAR 90 a day
- Weekly: SAR 450, about SAR 64 a day
- Monthly: SAR 1,599, about SAR 53 a day, or 41 percent less per day than renting it daily
That's how the “car rental for SAR 50 a day in Riyadh” offers work. The number is real, but it's a monthly rate divided by thirty. You won't find a decent car for SAR 50 on a single-day rental, from us or anyone else. Check our special offers too, because promotional rates on particular models come and go.
How that compares with the rest of Riyadh
Riyadh is a competitive market, with the large national chains, the international brands at King Khalid Airport, app-based rentals and dozens of local companies. Published rates move constantly, so treat these ranges as a guide rather than a quote:
- Economy and compact carsfrom the big chains typically start at around SAR 95–120 a day before VAT, and go well above that at busy times.
- Mid-size sedans such as a Camry or Sonata usually sit between SAR 150 and SAR 250 a day.
- SUVs start at around SAR 150 a day for a compact model and go up quickly for seven-seaters.
- Comparison sites often show averages of SAR 200 or more a day for Riyadh, because they include airport counters and larger cars.
When you compare, check three things in every quote: whether VAT is included, how many kilometres you get, and how big the deposit is. A rate that looks SAR 10 cheaper can easily cost more once those are counted.
What gets added to the price
This is where most of the surprises come from. Here is everything that can be added to a Riyadh rental, roughly what it costs, and how to keep it down.
| Extra | Typical cost | How to keep it down |
|---|---|---|
| 15% VAT | Added to the rental and every extra | Can’t avoid it, but compare quotes on the same basis |
| Full insurance cover | About SAR 25–40 a day, SAR 300–400 a month | Optional; worth it for long city rentals |
| Refundable deposit | Usually a card hold of a few hundred to a few thousand riyals | Returned after the car is checked in |
| Additional driver | Often around SAR 25 a day at the big chains | Ask; some monthly packages include one |
| Fuel | SAR 2.18/L (91) or SAR 2.33/L (95) | Return the tank at the level you got it |
| Extra kilometres | A per-km charge above the allowance | Check the allowance before a long road trip |
| Traffic fines | The fine itself, sometimes plus an admin fee | Drive to the Saher limits |
| Late return | Often charged as an extra day after a short grace period | Agree the return time in writing |
VAT: the easiest 15 percent to miss
Saudi VAT is 15 percent, and it applies to the rental and to every extra. Many companies, us included, advertise prices before VAT, which is why a SAR 1,599 monthly rental is SAR 1,838.85at the checkout. That isn't a hidden fee. It's the law. Just make sure you compare two quotes on the same basis.
Insurance: included, but with an excess
Every legal rental in Saudi Arabia comes with insurance. What changes between companies is the excess, the amount you pay if the car is damaged and the accident is your fault. Full cover reduces it. With us it costs SAR 25 a day (SAR 300 a month) on most cars and SAR 40 a day (SAR 400 a month) on the Emzoom SUV. For a month of city driving it's usually worth it: one scraped bumper in a mall car park can cost more than the cover.
The deposit: a hold, not a charge
Most companies place a refundable deposit on your card to cover traffic fines and damage that show up after the car is returned. It isn't spent. It is released once the car is checked in and any fines have come through. The amount depends on the car and the length of the rental, and some monthly packages don't need one at all. We confirm the exact figure for your car before you book, so it's never a surprise at the handover. Our requirements guide explains which cards are accepted and why.
Fuel
Petrol is still cheap by world standards. Aramco's current prices are SAR 2.18 a litre for Gasoline 91 and SAR 2.33 for Gasoline 95, and they are reviewed every month. The economy cars in our fleet run happily on 91. A typical sedan uses around 6 to 8 litres per 100 km, so a month of commuting (say 1,500 km) costs roughly SAR 200 to SAR 260 in fuel. The rule that matters: return the car with the same fuel level you collected it with, or you'll pay a refuelling charge on top of the fuel.
Saher fines and tolls
Riyadh has no road tolls, but it does have a lot of Saher cameras. Fines are registered to the car's plate and passed on to whoever was renting it at the time, normally deducted from the deposit. Some companies add an admin charge per fine. Speeding fines start at a few hundred riyals and climb with the speed, so a careless week can easily cost more than the rental itself.
Mileage
Rentals come with a kilometre allowance, and you pay per kilometre above it. For city use you'll rarely notice. For a road trip to Dammam, AlUla or Abha you might. Check the allowance on the car's page or ask before you go, and read our road trips from Riyadh guide for the distances.
A real example: one month in a sedan
Say you've just arrived for a new job and need a Geely Emgrand for your first month while your paperwork settles. Here's the full bill:
- Monthly rental: SAR 1,599
- Full insurance cover: SAR 300
- VAT at 15 percent on both: SAR 284.85
- Total paid to us: SAR 2,183.85, about SAR 73 a day with full cover
- Fuel for around 1,500 km: roughly SAR 200–260, paid at the pump
- Deposit, if one applies: held on your card and returned
The same car rented day by day for thirty days would be SAR 2,700 before VAT and before insurance. That's why almost everyone who needs a car for more than a couple of weeks ends up on a monthly rental. We went through the maths in more detail in why monthly is cheaper than daily.
Seven ways to pay less for the same car
- Book for the length you really need. Nine days at a weekly-plus-daily rate is often more than a fortnight would be. Ask for the price both ways.
- Go monthly past two weeks. On most cars a month costs less than three weeks of daily rentals.
- Compare by car, not by class. As the table shows, a bigger car can be the cheaper one at weekly and monthly lengths.
- Skip the airport counter. Airport desks tend to charge more for walk-up rentals. Booking ahead and having the car brought to King Khalid Airport or your home is usually cheaper, and delivery is free on monthly rentals.
- Avoid peak dates if you can. Riyadh Season events, Eid holidays and big conferences push up prices and empty the fleets. Book early for those weeks.
- Return it full and on time. Refuelling charges and late-return days are the two most common avoidable extras.
- Photograph the car at pickup. Thirty seconds of video around the car protects your deposit better than anything else.
What a price should include
A fair Riyadh rental price should come with basic insurance, routine maintenance, a reasonable kilometre allowance and roadside help. On our monthly rentals it also includes delivery and collection anywhere in Riyadh and a replacement car within 24 hours if yours breaks down. If a quote is far below everyone else's, ask what's missing from that list. If you haven't rented in Saudi Arabia before, our expat guide covers licences, the Tajeer contract and what happens after an accident.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a car in Riyadh per day?
An economy car or small sedan in Riyadh usually costs between about SAR 80 and SAR 150 a day before VAT, depending on the company, the car and the season. At LetsDrive, daily rates currently start at SAR 80 for an MG 3, which is SAR 92 with 15 percent VAT.
What is the cheapest way to rent a car in Riyadh?
Rent for longer. The per-day price falls sharply when you book a week or a month instead of single days. A Geely Emgrand costs SAR 90 a day on a daily rental, about SAR 64 a day on a weekly rental and about SAR 53 a day on a monthly rental, all before VAT.
Are car rental prices in Saudi Arabia shown with VAT?
Not always. Many companies, including us, show prices before the 15 percent VAT, so a SAR 1,599 monthly rate is SAR 1,838.85 once VAT is added. Always ask whether a quote includes VAT before you compare two companies.
Can I rent a car in Riyadh without a deposit?
Some companies offer no-deposit rentals on certain cars or monthly packages, but most place a refundable hold on a card to cover traffic fines and damage. The deposit is not a charge: it is released after the car is returned and checked. We confirm the exact deposit for your car and dates before you book.
Is car insurance included in the rental price in Saudi Arabia?
Basic insurance is included in every legal rental in Saudi Arabia, but it comes with an excess you pay if the car is damaged. Full cover lowers or removes that excess for an extra daily fee. At LetsDrive full cover costs SAR 25 to SAR 40 a day, or SAR 300 to SAR 400 a month, depending on the car.
How much is petrol in Saudi Arabia for a rental car?
Aramco’s current list prices are SAR 2.18 a litre for Gasoline 91 and SAR 2.33 for Gasoline 95, reviewed every month. A typical sedan uses about 6 to 8 litres per 100 km, so 1,000 km of city driving costs roughly SAR 130 to SAR 175 in fuel.
Who pays traffic fines on a rental car in Saudi Arabia?
You do. Saher camera fines and other violations are registered against the car, and the rental company passes them to the renter, usually by deducting them from the deposit. Some companies also add an admin fee per fine, so ask about it before you sign.
Is a monthly car rental in Riyadh worth it?
If you need a car for more than about two weeks, usually yes. On most cars a monthly rental costs less than three weeks of daily rentals, and with LetsDrive it includes delivery in Riyadh, maintenance and a replacement car if yours breaks down.
LetsDrive prices are our live rates on November 3, 2026 and exclude 15 percent VAT unless stated. Prices change with promotions and availability, so the booking page always shows the current rate. Fuel prices are Aramco's published list and are reviewed monthly. Market ranges for other companies are indicative only.
Based in Al-Yarmook, Riyadh since 2018. 200+ cars across economy, sedan, SUV and luxury classes. 10,000+ rentals fulfilled, 4.9 stars on 262 Google reviews. WhatsApp +966 11 518 9118.
From SAR 80 a day or SAR 1,599 a month. Delivery anywhere in Riyadh.