Uzbekistan on a US Licence 2026: AAA Permit Caveat
United States
Uzbekistan
Carry your US licence, the AAA permit and passport, and get the hire firm's acceptance in writing: the AAA permit is a 1949 IDP, while Uzbekistan joined only the 1968 treaty.
Uzbekistan is an increasingly popular Silk Road self-drive, and for an American the side of the road is the easy part. The paperwork needs more thought than it first appears.
The permit caveat
The UN treaty records show the United States is a party only to the 1949 Geneva road traffic convention, so the permit AAA issues is a 1949 IDP. Uzbekistan is a party only to the 1968 Vienna convention. UK government advice asks British drivers for the 1968 version of the permit. Canada, which also issues 1949 permits, tells its drivers that a home licence alone is not acceptable in Uzbekistan and that an international driving permit must be carried.
For an American that adds up to: carry your US licence, the AAA permit and your passport together, and get the hire firm to confirm in writing, before you pay, that it accepts that combination. The Driving Permit Checker covers other countries on a Central Asian route.
Same side, different roundabouts
Uzbekistan drives on the right, the same as the United States. One local habit to know: Canada’s advice says vehicles entering a roundabout often have priority over those already on it, the reverse of what you may expect. Lane changes without signalling are common, so leave space.
Speeds by place
Chapter 11 of the Road Traffic Rules sets 60 km/h in Tashkent, Nukus, regional and district centres and other cities, 70 km/h in smaller settlements, 30 km/h near signed schools and 100 km/h for cars outside settlements. There is no separate motorway limit; higher speeds apply only where signs allow them. Canada’s advice notes that numerous roadside cameras enforce the limits.
Roads and emergencies
Tashkent’s roads are generally good; rural and mountain roads have large potholes, weak lighting and poor markings, and fuel stations thin out. Do not drink at all before driving. In an emergency dial 102 for police, 103 for an ambulance and 101 for fire. The Uzbekistan driving guide has the wider rules, and the Speed Limit Map compares the road types.
Sources
- Global Affairs Canada, Uzbekistan travel advice (home licence alone not acceptable, IDP must be carried; roundabouts; cameras; road conditions; 102/103/101): travel.gc.ca
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Uzbekistan (1968 IDP for UK drivers): gov.uk
- Road Traffic Rules of Uzbekistan, Cabinet of Ministers resolution No. 172 of 12 April 2022, clauses 78-80: lex.uz
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (United States a party; Uzbekistan not) and 1968 Convention (Uzbekistan a party; United States not): treaties.un.org
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Not on the licence alone. Canada's travel advice, written for drivers whose permits are also 1949 versions, says a home licence alone is not acceptable and an international driving permit must be carried. The United States belongs only to the 1949 convention and Uzbekistan only to the 1968 one, so ask the hire firm in writing whether it accepts a US licence with the AAA permit.
Yes, on the right. There is no left-to-right adjustment, so your instincts at junctions carry over, though Canada's advice warns that vehicles entering roundabouts often take priority over those already on them.
60 km/h in Tashkent, Nukus, regional and district centres and other cities, 70 km/h in smaller settlements, 30 km/h near signed schools and 100 km/h for cars outside settlements, under clauses 78-79 of the Road Traffic Rules. There is no separate motorway limit.