What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Pakistan?
What to have ready when you hire a car with a driver in Islamabad or Rawalpindi — for Pakistani citizens, overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors.
Hiring a car with a driver needs very little paperwork, because you are not driving. Self-drive hire is different. Here is what to have ready.
Car with driver
- Your name and a contact number on WhatsApp.
- Pickup address — including phase and house number in gated communities.
- Dates, times and route, and the number of passengers and bags.
- For airport pickups, your flight number.
On trips into restricted or border areas, travellers carry their own identification: a CNIC for Pakistani citizens, a passport (and NICOP if you have one) for overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors.
Self-drive
Where self-drive is available, expect to be asked for:
- A valid driving licence — a Pakistani licence, or for foreign visitors an international driving permit alongside the home licence.
- CNIC or passport.
- A security arrangement agreed in writing before handover.
See self-drive car rental for how it works and when we recommend a driver instead.
Foreign visitors
Carry your passport and visa at all times when travelling outside the city; checkpoints on the Karakoram Highway and in border regions ask for them. Some areas need a no-objection certificate. Read our permits guide before planning a northern trip.
