Getting a driving licence in Uzbekistan as a foreigner

In short: as a visitor you can drive on an international driving permit or a national licence that meets the 1968 Vienna Convention. If you want an Uzbek licence, there are two routes: exchange your foreign one (verification through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then theory and practical exams) or train from scratch at a licensed driving school. Exams are in Uzbek or Russian, and the category B practical test is in a manual car. Rules below are as of October 2026.

Can you drive on your own licence?

The rules are in points 74–76 of the Regulation approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 408 of 31 May 2018. In short:

Who you are	Can you drive on a foreign licence?	What to do
Foreign national (tourist, business visitor, resident)	Yes, with an international driving permit or a national licence meeting the 1968 Vienna Convention	Carry the licence and your passport. Consider an Uzbek licence if you're staying long term
Uzbek citizen with a licence from another country	No. Only the Uzbek national licence is valid for citizens in Uzbekistan	Exchange it, with exams
Diplomatic or consular staff, international organisation staff, accredited foreign media	Licences not meeting the Convention can be exchanged via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Exchange without exams
Foreign staff of non-profit organisations (where an agreement exists)	Exchange via the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Medical check and exams

Two practical points. First, if your national licence isn't in Latin script or doesn't follow the Convention's format, get an international driving permit in your home country before you travel and carry both. Second, the rule that lets drivers leave their licence at home only applies to Uzbek-issued biometric passports and ID cards. As a foreigner, always carry your licence and passport.

Driving without a valid right to drive is an offence under Article 135, part 2 of the Administrative Code, with a fine of 5 BCV (the base calculation value used for fines; 1 BCV is 440,000 soum from 1 September 2026, revised regularly). The car can also be impounded.

Route 1: exchanging a foreign licence

This suits people who already drive and plan to live in Uzbekistan. The steps under point 76:

1. Verification. The traffic police (YHXB) check your licence with the issuing country through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There's no fixed deadline, so start early.
2. Medical certificate. You'll need a form 083 medical certificate for the exam. See our guide to the 083 medical certificate.
3. Theory exam. 20 questions in 25 minutes, at least 18 correct.
4. Practical exam. On an automated driving ground, in a manual car.
5. Licence issue. You pay the licence fee and receive the card. Your foreign licence is not returned: since December 2024 the traffic police send it back to the issuing authority through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you still need it abroad, plan for that.

A driving school isn't required for an exchange. Still, most experienced drivers benefit from 3–5 hours at a driving ground first, especially if they're used to automatics. Our article on exchanging a foreign licence covers documents, fees and timing in more detail.

Route 2: a first licence in Uzbekistan

Under point 38 of the same Regulation, foreigners getting a licence for the first time follow the same rules as citizens.

Step	What it involves
Age	For category B you must be 18 by the end of training
Medical certificate	Form 083, from an authorised clinic
Theory	Since 1 February 2026, you can self-study or take a course, online or in person
Practical training	At a licensed driving school only: at least 69 hours of driving for category B, over a course of at least 18 weeks
Electronic confirmation	After your practical training, the school assesses your driving and sends an electronic confirmation to the exam centre
Exams	Theory first, then the practical test on an automated driving ground
Licence	Issued after you pass both exams and pay the fee

The 69-hour minimum comes from the Regulation on driver training (an annex to Resolution No. 408). In practice that's three to four months of lessons two or three times a week. A school that promises a licence in a month is promising something the programme doesn't allow. Make sure the school is licensed: only a licensed school can issue the electronic confirmation you need for the exam.

Language: the biggest hurdle

The theory exam is available in Uzbek and Russian, plus Karakalpak in Karakalpakstan. Point 25 of the Regulation allows you to bring an interpreter if you need another language. Ask the exam centre in advance how they handle this.

Driving schools in Tashkent teach mainly in Uzbek and Russian. English-speaking instructors exist but are few, so ask before you sign. Some practical tips from teaching foreign students:

• Learn the question bank in Russian with a translation app, then drill it until you recognise each question by its picture. Our article on the theory exam explains the format.
• Learn the key terms. You'll hear them at the school, the exam centre and on the road.
• The practical test needs little language. Scoring is automated by sensors, so clear driving matters more than conversation.

English	Uzbek	Russian
Traffic rules	YHQ (Yoʻl harakati qoidalari)	ПДД
Driving licence	haydovchilik guvohnomasi	водительское удостоверение, права
Driving school	avtomaktab	автошкола
Driving ground (test track)	avtodrom	автодром
Exam centre	imtihon markazi	экзаменационный центр
Traffic police	YHXB	ГУБДД / УБДД
Medical certificate 083	083 tibbiy maʼlumotnoma	медсправка 083

The manual gearbox rule

For category B, the practical exam is taken in a car with a manual gearbox (point 11 of the exam centre requirements under Resolution No. 408, as amended in March 2026). This catches out many drivers from Korea, the US and Western Europe. If you've only driven automatics, book manual lessons early: hill starts on the ramp and reversing into a bay are where most points are lost.

What it costs

Costs change, so treat these as a guide and check prices before paying.

Item	Approximate cost
Category B course in Tashkent	about 6–7 million soum (Kun.uz, December 2025)
Theory exam	1.5 million soum (October 2026)
Practical exam	1.5 million soum if paid on the day you pass theory, otherwise 1.6 million (October 2026)
Each retake	1.6 million soum (October 2026)
Licence card	0.7 BCV
Extra hour with an instructor	from about 100,000 soum (end of 2025)

Exam bookings and payments are made online through the exam centres' cabinet at cabinet.yim.uz or at the centre's cash desk.

Driving in Tashkent: three things to know

• Speed limit. 60 km/h in Tashkent, with 70 km/h on some signed sections. Cameras are everywhere, and fines are counted in BCV.
• U-turns instead of left turns. On many big roads you can't turn left at the junction. You go further and make a U-turn at a marked spot.
• Penalty points. Since 2025, some offences add points as well as fines. More than 12 points in a year means losing the right to drive for at least six months.

Find a school or instructor

The Tashkent driving school catalogue lists schools by district, and the instructor catalogue shows private instructors who can help with extra manual practice. Exam centres and driving grounds are listed in the driving grounds section.

If you'd like help finding a school where someone speaks your language, leave a request through the school matching form. Mention the language you need and your district, and our operator will look for suitable options.