Car Rental in Tashkent (2026) - Driving Guide & Best Rates
Car rental in Tashkent: compare rental companies, daily costs, driving rules, parking tips, and road conditions for self-drive travel in Uzbekistan.
Driving Requirements
Foreign visitors may drive on their home license for up to 6 months from date of entry. An International Driving Permit (IDP) or notarized Russian/Uzbek translation is required if the license is not in Cyrillic or Latin script.
Uzbek traffic law sets the minimum driving age at 18. Rental companies typically require drivers to be 21-25 years old, with some allowing 18-20 year olds for an additional young-driver surcharge.
Third-party liability insurance is required by law for all vehicles. Rental companies typically offer additional collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection as optional extras.
Major credit cards are universally required for security deposits, which vary by company and vehicle class. Debit cards are rarely accepted for the deposit itself.
Vehicles drive on the right side of the road. Right turns on red are generally prohibited unless specifically signed. Priority is given to vehicles on the main road. Roundabouts follow the yield-to-left rule.
Helpful Tips
Rental agencies are available at Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport and in the city center, airport pickup is generally more convenient for arrivals, though city-center agencies may offer a broader selection of local operators. Verify current availability directly with providers.
Before driving off, thoroughly photograph all existing scratches, dents, and interior wear, and confirm the damage report is signed, this is standard practice globally and important when renting from less-formalized local agencies.
Download Yandex Maps and 2GIS before your trip, as these are the dominant navigation apps in Uzbekistan and provide far more accurate local coverage than Google Maps for Tashkent streets and points of interest.
Note that compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are extremely common in Uzbekistan's rental fleet, confirm your vehicle's fuel type before departure, locate CNG stations on your route if applicable, and clarify the refueling policy with the agency.
Return the vehicle with the agreed fuel level and allow extra time for the return inspection, document the handover with photos and obtain a written confirmation of the vehicle's condition to avoid post-rental disputes.
Driving Warnings
Road surfaces in Tashkent vary significantly by district, outer neighborhoods and side streets typically have poorly maintained asphalt with potholes and uneven surfaces, so reduce speed and increase following distance away from main boulevards.
Traffic police (known locally as GAI or DPS) operate frequent document checkpoints throughout the city. Always carry your passport, valid driving licence, vehicle registration, and insurance documents, foreign drivers without complete paperwork may face delays or fines.
Local driving norms differ noticeably from Western standards: lane markings are routinely ignored, turn signals are rarely used before lane changes, and pedestrians frequently cross outside designated crossings, defensive driving and constant situational awareness are essential.
Tashkent winters bring occasional ice and snow, and many local vehicles run on worn tyres. Morning black ice is a genuine hazard from November through February, and braking distances on untreated roads can be substantially longer than drivers accustomed to Western-maintained infrastructure would expect.