Paying Traffic Fines with Najm and Absher

If you drive in Saudi Arabia, sooner or later you may receive a traffic violation, and knowing exactly where and how to pay it saves time and money. A common point of confusion is the role of Najm versus Absher. In this Saudi Living guide, we clear that up and walk you through paying your fine the right way, how to claim the early-payment reduction, and how to avoid people who try to charge you for something that should be done directly through official channels.

Najm vs. Absher: Which One Do You Actually Need?

This is the single most important thing to understand before you start. Najm handles traffic-accident services — reporting accidents, processing claims, and related accident matters. Najm does not process traffic-fine payments.

To view and pay your traffic violations as an individual, the main official channel is Absher. So if your goal is to settle a fine, head to Absher, not Najm.

How to Pay a Traffic Fine Through Absher

Absher lets you check your outstanding violations and move straight to payment. The typical flow is:

• Log in to your Absher Individuals account.
• Open My Services.
• Go to the Traffic section.
• Choose Traffic Violations Inquiry.
• Review the violation details carefully, including the amount and the deadline shown.
• Select the payment option to proceed.

Payment itself is completed through SADAD — usually via your Saudi bank's app, online banking, an ATM, or another supported banking channel.

Paying via SADAD and Your Bank

SADAD is the system that actually moves your money to the relevant authority. When paying inside your bank application, you'll typically select the traffic-violations biller and enter the reference shown for your fine.

• The commonly used SADAD biller code for traffic violations is 090.
• Always confirm the biller name and the exact amount your bank displays before you authorise the payment.
• If the amount on your bank screen doesn't match what you expected, pause and recheck in Absher first.

The Early-Payment Reduction

The standard reduction for paying early is 25%, but it is subject to the specific violation and the statutory payment period. The key is timing: the applicable deadline is displayed directly in Absher next to your violation.

To make the most of it:

• Check Absher soon after you suspect or receive a violation.
• Note the deadline shown and aim to pay within it to keep the reduced amount.
• Remember there is no single fixed price for fines — amounts depend entirely on the specific violation and are shown in the official channel.

Note that the temporary 50% reduction for accumulated violations applied only between April 18 and October 18, 2024, and is not a current offer.

Need More Time? Extending the Payment Deadline

If you can't settle within the displayed period, Absher offers a service to extend the payment deadline for eligible violations. The available extension and your new deadline are shown electronically, so you'll know exactly where you stand before confirming.

Other Official Channels

Depending on the person and the specific violation, official inquiry and payment options may include:

• Absher — the main individual channel for viewing and paying.
• The National Violations Platform (Efaa).
• Saudi bank SADAD services.

Eligibility varies by individual, by violation, and by platform, so always rely on what the official channel displays for your case.

Protect Yourself From Scams

Because paying fines is routine, it's also a target for scams. Keep these points in mind:

• There is no separate Najm traffic-fine fee. Do not pay any person or third party who claims to collect a Najm charge for a traffic fine.
• Settle fines only through Absher or your bank's official SADAD channel.
• Never share your login details, OTP codes, or card information with anyone "helping" you pay.

When in doubt, verify the biller, the amount, and the deadline directly in Absher before paying anything. If a figure or deadline isn't clear, confirm it on the relevant official Saudi government portal rather than acting on a message from an unknown source.

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