Destinations / Kyrgyzstan
Driving in Kyrgyzstan as a visitor
Usually yes. Kyrgyzstan 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 Kyrgyzstan expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h highways |
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 KGS. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Alcohol | Zero-tolerance alcohol policy. |
|---|---|
| Roads | High mountain passes with rough surfaces. |
| Documents | Carry passport, IDP and home licence. |
On the road in Kyrgyzstan
At the pump
Petrol is sold as AI-92, AI-95 and AI-98 plus diesel (dizel); stations are attended self-service is rare and many rural/mountain areas have few pumps, so refuel in towns and carry cash as card acceptance is unreliable (roughly 60-70 som per litre).
After a crash
Call 102 for police (or the unified 112 emergency line); for any crash with injuries or significant damage you must not move the vehicles and must wait for traffic police to document the scene, while minor no-injury collisions can be settled by exchanging details and a written report.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · rentcar.nomads-life.com · silkwaytrips.com · worldnomads.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Kyrgyzstan?
Usually yes. Kyrgyzstan 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 Kyrgyzstan accept?
Kyrgyzstan recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Kyrgyzstan ask for one?
Bishkek desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences; 4x4 advised for passes.
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.