Documents You Need to Rent a Car or Motorbike in Nepal

The licence, ID, deposit and paperwork you need to rent a self-drive car or motorbike in Nepal, plus what foreign visitors should check before they travel.

Renting a self-drive car, SUV or motorbike in Nepal is mostly simple, but paperwork is where people get stuck. Turn up without the right licence or ID and the rental business has every reason to say no.

This guide covers what most rental businesses ask for, what foreign visitors should check before they travel, and which papers should already be inside the vehicle when you drive away. Rules and business policies change, so treat it as a checklist to confirm with the business, not the final word.

A driving licence for the right vehicle category

Your licence has to cover the type of vehicle you are renting. Nepali licences are issued in categories. Category A covers motorcycles and Category B covers cars, jeeps and vans. Some licences carry Category K, which is for scooters. If your licence only shows A, you can rent a motorbike but not a car, and the reverse is also true.

Check that the category printed on your licence matches the vehicle you want.
Check the expiry date. An expired licence counts as no licence, both for the business and for the traffic police.
Bring the physical licence card. Ask in advance if the business will accept anything else.
If your licence only covers scooters, ask before booking a geared motorbike.

If you are visiting from abroad

Foreign visitors should plan to carry a valid licence from their home country together with an International Driving Permit (IDP). The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, for example, advises that you need either a valid Nepali licence or a valid IDP to drive in Nepal. An IDP is a translation of your home licence. It does not replace it, so carry both.

Get the IDP in your home country before you leave. It is issued by the country that issued your licence, not in Nepal.
Make sure the IDP covers the vehicle class you plan to rent, especially if you want a motorbike.
Check that your travel insurance covers you while driving or riding in Nepal. Many policies have conditions about licences and engine size.
If you are staying long term, ask the Department of Transport Management about getting a Nepali licence.

Requirements can differ by nationality and change over time. Confirm the current position with the rental business, and with your embassy if you are unsure.

Identity documents

Alongside the licence, the business will want to know who you are. Nepali citizens usually show their citizenship certificate (nagarikta) or national ID card. Foreign visitors usually show a passport with a valid visa. Some businesses keep a photocopy, others photograph the document at pickup.

Some businesses ask to hold an original document as security. Think carefully before handing over your passport, which you need for hotels, trekking permits and leaving the country. Ask whether a deposit can be used instead.

Before you travel, photograph your licence, IDP, passport and visa page, and keep the photos somewhere you can open without mobile data.

The security deposit

Most rental businesses take a refundable security deposit. It covers things that can go wrong during the rental, such as a fuel shortfall, a late return, a traffic fine or damage. The amount depends on the vehicle and the business, so check it before you book rather than at the counter.

Ask what the deposit can be deducted for, and how deductions are worked out.
Ask how it will be refunded and how long that takes.
Make sure the deposit amount is written on the agreement.

On Sajilai, the business records the vehicle's condition at pickup and again at return, and the deposit refund is settled at return against that record.

Age and driving experience

The minimum age for a car licence in Nepal is 18, but there is no single rule for renters. Most businesses ask that you are older than the legal minimum and have held your licence for some time, particularly for SUVs and larger motorbikes. Some also ask about your experience on mountain roads before you take a vehicle on a long trip.

These are business policies, so they vary. If you are young or recently licensed, ask before you book.

Read the rental agreement

The agreement is where most disputes are settled, so read it before you sign. Look for:

The rental period, the return time and what happens if you are late.
Any daily kilometre limit and the charge for going over it.
The fuel policy, for example return at the same level you received.
What you pay if the vehicle is damaged, and what insurance covers.
Who is allowed to drive. Usually only the person named on the booking.
Where you may take the vehicle. Some businesses restrict certain roads or seasons.
What to do if you have an accident or a breakdown, and who to call.

If something is unclear, ask and get the answer added in writing.

Papers that should be in the vehicle

Before you drive away, check that the vehicle carries a copy of its bluebook (the vehicle registration book, which also shows that the annual tax has been paid) and its insurance papers. Traffic police can ask to see these along with your licence, and you will need the insurance details if anything happens on the road. Also look for the pollution test sticker on the windscreen.

If any of these are missing or out of date, raise it with the business before you leave, not at a police checkpoint.

Before you book, pack your licence, your IDP if you are visiting, your ID and a way to pay the deposit. Then spend ten minutes on the agreement and the papers in the vehicle. You can [browse verified rental businesses](/businesses) or [search available vehicles](/explore) and check each listing's requirements before you commit.