Destinations / Kyrgyzstan
Driving in Kyrgyzstan as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Kyrgyzstan drives on the right and uses Cyrillic; an IDP is advised with your licence for its scenic but demanding mountain roads.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Kyrgyzstan expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| 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 | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| 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?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Kyrgyzstan drives on the right and uses Cyrillic; an IDP is advised with your licence for its scenic but demanding mountain roads.
Which translation format is used for Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Kyrgyzstan ask for a translation?
Bishkek desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences; 4x4 advised for passes.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Kyrgyzstan?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Asia
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.