Can an Indian Drive in Uzbekistan? — IDP Advised + the Side Switch

Can an Indian licence holder drive in Uzbekistan? Yes — your Indian licence works for a tourist stay, and you should carry an International Driving Permit alongside it. Police checkpoints are a normal part of road travel here, and an IDP gives the officer a recognised translation to match against your licence and passport. Arrange it in India before you travel.

The first real adjustment for driving in Uzbekistan is the side of the road. India drives on the left; Uzbekistan drives on the right. That flips your road position, your roundabout direction and your instinctive glance at junctions. Pick the car up in a quieter part of Tashkent rather than the city centre, and give yourself an hour to let right-hand driving settle before you take on real traffic.

The second is alcohol, and it is easy to underestimate because the number looks familiar. The limit is 0.03 BAC — the same near-zero figure you have at home, not the looser 0.05 you might assume. There is no social-drink allowance; if you are driving, don’t drink at all. With frequent checkpoints, this is not a rule to test.

Speeds are a little higher than India in some categories — roughly 60 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on rural roads and 110 km/h on the better intercity routes — but the surface varies a lot once you leave the main corridors, and you will meet slow farm vehicles, livestock and unlit traffic after dark. Fuel is cheap at around $0.55 per litre, though some stations run on methane or propane, so check what your rental takes before you fill. The general emergency number is 112.

Confirm exactly what to carry with the Driving Permit Checker, read the wider rules on the Uzbekistan driving guide, and if you want to gauge a penalty, the Speeding Fine Calculator gives a quick estimate.