Rent a car in Kazakhstan

Citizens of the EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea travel visa-free for up to 30 days, with no registration required. The passport must be valid at least six months beyond entry. Stays of 31–90 days need migration registration via egov.kz, usually arranged automatically by your hotel. A short list of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian nationalities still needs a visa.

You do not need an International Driving Permit if your licence is written in the Latin alphabet; this includes most licences issued in the UK, EU, EEA and Switzerland. If it uses another script, such as Greek, Cyrillic, Georgian, Armenian, Arabic or Chinese characters, bring an IDP issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Most suppliers require at least one year of driving experience, while premium cars and 4×4s may require three years and a minimum age of 23–25.

Yes. Most local suppliers in Kazakhstan accept debit cards, cash or bank transfers for the deposit. International brands at the airports usually require a credit card in the main driver's name and place a hold of $500–1,500. Use the ‘no credit card required’ filter on TakeCars to find suitable local suppliers.

Yes at most local suppliers. The standard pattern is a 15–20% online prepayment via TakeCars, with the balance and deposit settled in cash at pick-up. Tenge, US dollars and euros are widely accepted at the desk. Outside Almaty and Astana cash is still the easiest way to pay for fuel and parking, so always carry $100–200 in small denominations.

The legal driving age is 18, but most suppliers set the minimum rental age at 21 and require at least one year of driving experience. Premium cars and 4×4s usually require a minimum age of 25. Some operators, such as V-Prokat, require drivers to be at least 23 and to have held a licence for three years. Drivers under 25 may also pay a young-driver fee of $5–15 per day.

The limit is 0.0‰ for every driver, with no exceptions. Penalties may include a fine of around $770, a seven-year driving ban and, in serious cases, arrest. Random roadside testing is common, particularly on weekend evenings. If you have been drinking, use a taxi service such as Yandex Go or inDrive. A typical city journey costs around $2–5.

The usual limit is 60 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h outside towns and 110–140 km/h on motorways, depending on the road category. The tolerance before a ticket is issued is only 10 km/h. Speed cameras are common in Almaty and Astana, and fines are sent to the rental supplier, which may add an administration fee. Crossing a solid white line can result in a driving suspension of up to one year.

Yes. Winter tyres are compulsory throughout Kazakhstan from 1 November to 1 April, including in southern cities such as Almaty. Studded tyres are permitted. Rental companies normally change their fleets to winter tyres at the start of the season, so you do not need to request them separately. The fine for using summer tyres in winter is around $38. Temperatures in Astana and northern Kazakhstan can fall below −30°C.

Travel to Kyrgyzstan is usually allowed with written permission and an extension to the insurance, for an additional fee of around $50–100. Taking a rental car to Uzbekistan is more complicated, and not every supplier permits it. Travel to China is almost always prohibited. Request cross-border permission when booking and obtain written confirmation before collecting the car.

Fuel is among the cheapest in Central Asia. AI-92 petrol costs around 205 tenge per litre, about $0.45; AI-95 around 230 tenge, about $0.51; and diesel around 295 tenge, about $0.65. Major brands include KazMunayGas, Helios, Qazaq Oil and Sinooil. Fuel stations on the Astana–Almaty motorway may be 100–150 km apart, so begin each long section with a full tank.

Kazakhstan introduced a new number-plate design on 5 January 2026 alongside the existing format. Most rental fleets still use the previous style, and the change does not affect renters. When collecting the car, make sure the registration number on the vehicle matches the number shown in the rental agreement.

Basic policies in Kazakhstan generally exclude tyres, wheels, glass, interior trim and audio equipment. Cover also becomes invalid if the driver has consumed alcohol, repeatedly exceeds the speed limit, drives off-road or outside the permitted area, or allows an undeclared driver to use the car. Super CDW or Full Cover usually removes the excess and covers some, but not necessarily all, of these exclusions.

Call 112 (single emergency number) or 102 (police directly). Don't move the car until the inspector arrives, unless you're blocking traffic. Photograph everything — vehicles, damage, surroundings. Get a police report; without it the insurance won't pay. Notify the supplier within 24 hours. In remote areas the signal is patchy, so download offline maps and save the supplier's emergency number before you set off.

The car must carry a high-visibility vest, warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and either a spare wheel or tyre-repair kit. Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November to 1 April. For long routes across Kazakhstan, also take water, food, a power bank, offline maps and warm clothing. Some sections of the Astana–Almaty road have no services or mobile signal for 100–200 km.

Almaty Airport (ALA) has the largest rental fleet and is the best starting point for the mountains and Silk Road routes. Astana Airport (NQZ) is the second-largest hub and is convenient for Borovoye and northern Kazakhstan. Shymkent (CIT) and Aktobe (AKX) have far fewer rental options. Collection outside normal business hours usually costs an additional $13 and should be arranged in advance.