Renting a car in central Asia as an inexperienced driver

Renting a car in central Asia as an inexperienced driver - Back view of man reflecting in mirror while driving along street in city on urban background in soft daylight

I just got my driving licence last month, and am looking forward to exploring parts of the world that have seemed hard to access without a car. On the top of my list is central Asia, in particular Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. Unfortunately all car rental agencies I found online required a minimum of 1 year of driving licence ownership, often even 2. Is there any agency in this region, doesn’t need to be a big or reputable name, that will trust me with a car without having to wait for 11 months?

Thanks in advance!



Best Answer

The rule about having had a driving license for a given amount of time is not there to inconvenience new drivers.
It is there because new drivers are more likely to get into accidents. The risk of accidents goes up when there is a different car, a different environment, different rules of the road, different driving practices and different kind of roads.

Going to Central Asia you will run into most or all of those risk factors.
So the chances of a reputable rental company renting to you will be low. If they do they will charge a very huge premium to cover the much higher insurance fee.

And it is not only the length of having had your driving license. There is also often a rule for a minimum age. Often 21 but 25 is not unheard of.

Some people will rent to everybody, but those people are either renting out cars which are not worth the money you pay for them or people who are real crooks (as in dangerous to do business with) or really desperate people who may rent out their own car in the hope they get enough money to pay the rent or even food (often having poor quality cars due to not having the money.)
If you decide to go with the kind of rental 'company' that rent out cars to people who do not have at least one year driving experience make sure you have a travel insurance that do come to your rescue when your car breaks down.
Even more important when you go off the beaten track.

I do warn you against using the 'does not matter how long you have had your license, does not matter how old you are' kind of rental. But if you feel you are willing to take the risk, you can find the companies in the small ads in the local news papers. These days you can also find them in the internet equivalent, the local listings of 'things for sale'. And if you do not speak the local language, getting the help of a little bit shady hostel owner may help, but will make the situation a bit more risky as there is one more person to rip you off.




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How many years of driving experience do you need to rent a car?

Whatever your age, you'll usually need to hold a full driving licence for at least two years to rent a car. If you've had your driving licence for just a year, you may be able to hire a small car.

Can you rent a car as a foreigner?

Nearly all car rental agencies will have no problem renting to someone with an international driver's license. Check the website of the rental agency you plan to use to see specific requirements and documentation. Most car-sharing services will also accept your foreign license.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Asia?

Cheap car rentals in AsiaEconomy$15/dayFull-size$35/dayPassenger van$25/dayPremium SUV$6/dayMini$19/day7 more rows



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Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Tim Samuel, Bảo Minh, Dids, Dids