You can drive in Kazakhstan at the age of 18, however you must be 23 years old and have one year’s experience if you want to rent a car in Kazakhstan.
Documentation and insurance
As well as an international driving license, the car you are driving must be covered by third party insurance as a minimum. You’re required to carry proof of this in addition to proof of ownership of the vehicle, or equivalent for rental cars.
Rules of the road
Drinking and driving
While most countries allow a certain amount alcohol in your bloodstream when driving, Kazakhstan has an extremely strict zero tolerance policy. Even if you have been taking medicine which contains alcohol, you will be reprimanded.
Penalties include jail time, and expats can be deported from the country.
Speed limits
Speed limits in Kazakhstan are signposted in kilometers per hour, and vary depending on the type of road you are driving on. Towns have limits of 60km/h, with residential areas being restricted to 20km/h. You can drive up to 90 km/h on open roads and up to 110 km/h on motorways.
Kazakhstan doesn’t have any speed cameras, but police do set up speed traps from time to time.
Mobile phones
You cannot use a mobile phone when driving in Kazakhstan for calling or texts, unless you are using a hands-free device.
Parking regulations
If you are parking your car in any of the cities in Kazakhstan, try to do so in a garage with security guards. Fortunately this shouldn’t be hard to find in paid garages.
You are not allowed to park your car bridges or overpasses, or within 50 metres of railway crossings.
Emergency number
All emergency services in Kazakhstan respond to the same number: 112. Call it if you have a road accident, but keep in mind before setting out that certain stretches of road do not have phone coverage.