More and more people travel to Pakistan and especially to the capital Islamabad on business. While the public transportation network is vast, you will be better off relocating on your own transport to ensure that you will not be late for meetings and other important events. It's easy to rent a car in Pakistan to use during your stay in the country. Here are some essential tips to help you ensure that you will rent the right vehicle at an affordable price.
General Requirements
To rent a car in Pakistan, you will need an international driver's license, also known as international driving permission (IDP), if you are a foreigner. You can obtain this license via the licensing authorities in your country before departure.
The minimum legal age for driving in Pakistan is 18 and this applies to foreign nationals who drive a rental car within the country. At the same time, many car rental companies in the country have a young driver requirement under which drivers who are under 25 years of age should pay higher charges corresponding to the risk which they pose. When approaching a service provider, you should check if they apply such charges.
Where to Find Rentals
Car rental companies operate in all major cities including Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. They usually have offices at the international airports and the largest hotels popular with foreign business people and tourists. While you can rent a car directly at such an office, you may want to do it online in advance of your arrival. This will guarantee you that you will be able to use a car which meets your requirements fully during your stay. All major car rental services have a website supporting online bookings.
What types of cars can you rent in Pakistan? When you use a reliable service with strong reputation, you can expect all vehicles to be under 10 years of age. You can choose from sedans, coupes, SUVs and even vans in some cases. There are luxury vehicles too. It is worth noting that the cars are mostly from Asian and European brands such as Honda, Toyota, Suzuki and Mercedes Benz and BMW.
Costs and Payments
The price which you will pay for renting a car in Pakistan depends on the type of vehicle that you hire and the term of the hire. There are extra charges for specialty services such as having the car delivered directly to the place where you will stay. The cost of insurance is also added to the total price. Before you travel to the country, you should check whether your auto insurance at home extends or can be extended to this country. You may also want to inquire if your international credit card comes with car insurance coverage which is valid in the country.
Check when and how you are expected to pay when you rent a car in Pakistan. Most companies require a deposit and a few will only accept a cash deposit in the local currency, Pakistani Rupee. Ideally, you will be able to pay both the deposit and the reminder of the total cost via a credit card.