Destinations / Kazakhstan
Driving in Kazakhstan as a visitor
Usually yes. Kazakhstan expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Kazakhstan expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 140 km/h on signed motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in KZT. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Alcohol | Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%). |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights on outside cities. |
| Local practice | Long, remote highways between cities. |
On the road in Kazakhstan
At the pump
Stations sell petrol by octane (AI-92, AI-95, AI-98) and diesel, are typically attendant- or prepay-served, and are common in cities but sparse in the steppe, so top up before remote stretches; cash is safest as some rural stations decline cards.
After a crash
Call 102 for police or the unified emergency number 112, do not move the vehicles, and wait for the traffic police (whose report is required for insurance and the rental firm) before clearing the road.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · internationaltravelpermits.com · kaztag.kz · rhinocarhire.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Kazakhstan?
Usually yes. Kazakhstan expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Kazakhstan accept?
Kazakhstan recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Kazakhstan ask for one?
Almaty and Astana desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.