How to avoid an unlicensed driving school in Uzbekistan

In short: a licensed driving school is a legal entity listed in the public licence register, with a dual-control training car and a practice ground. Only such a school can create the electronic confirmation that you completed your practical training, and without it you won't be admitted to the exam. Checking takes 15 minutes. Do it before you pay.

What you risk at an unlicensed school

The main risk isn't a fine. It's lost months. Since 1 February 2026, under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 676, theory for categories A and B can be self-studied, but the practical training must be completed in full at a licensed organisation. After the practical lessons, the school assesses your skills and generates a standard electronic confirmation. It goes to the traffic police and the exam centre, and it is what gets you admitted to the exams.

A "school" without a licence has no access to this system. You drive 30–40 hours, you pay, and then you can't book the exam. You'll have to chase a refund through a written claim or the courts, and do the practical programme again elsewhere.

There's a second risk. Points 146–151 of the Traffic Rules allow driving lessons on public roads only with an instructor who holds a document entitling them to teach, in a car with dual clutch and brake pedals, an extra mirror, GPS and a training-car sign, and only on routes agreed with the traffic police. If your "instructor" doesn't have these documents, an officer may treat it as driving without a licence and handing control to an unlicensed person (Article 135, part 2 of the Administrative Code, a fine of 5 BCV, the base calculation value used for fines).

What a licensed school must have

The requirements are set out in the licensing passport, an annex to Cabinet Resolution No. 408 of 31 May 2018, as amended by Resolution No. 396 of 17 August 2023 and later changes. A few points are easy for a student to check in person:

Requirement	What it means for you
Only a legal entity can hold the licence	Your contract is with a company, not a private person
A training ground, owned or leased	First lessons happen on a closed site, not in a residential yard
Category B training cars no older than 10 years	A 2008 training car is a red flag
One category B training car per 8 students	No month-long wait for a car
One driving instructor per 12 students	Your instructor isn't spread across 30 people
Groups of no more than 24	Theory classes aren't a crowd
Instructors with at least 3 years' driving experience	You learn from someone with real experience
A computer room with at least 10 workstations	Internal tests are taken on computers

The licence has no expiry date. But the Ministry can suspend or revoke it, so check its status, not just the number.

Seven signs of an unlicensed school

1. "Licence in two weeks" or "guaranteed pass". Exams in Uzbekistan are run by an automated, video-recorded system. An honest school guarantees training, not results.
2. A price far below the market. Running a training ground, a fleet and staff costs money. If an offer is 40–50% cheaper than nearby schools, ask why.
3. A contract with an individual, or no contract at all. Only a legal entity can be licensed. Paying "to the instructor's card" without a contract is a bad sign.
4. No licence number on the website, Instagram or contract. Licensed schools usually show it openly. If you ask for the number and hear "we work through partners", walk away.
5. A training car without a second brake pedal or training sign. That breaks the Traffic Rules whatever the school's status.
6. Lessons start straight away in city traffic. Under the Traffic Rules, initial training takes place on a closed site or training ground.
7. The address doesn't match the licence. The register lists the address where the activity is carried out. A "branch" elsewhere may be an intermediary with no licence of its own.

How to check a school in 15 minutes

1. Ask for the company details. The full legal name, tax ID (STIR/INN) and licence number. A proper school gives them straight away.
2. Find the licence in the register. The licence register is kept in the 'Litsenziya' information system (license.gov.uz) and is public. Check that the licence is active, that the activity is driver training, and that the address matches where you'll study.
3. Compare with the contract. The name and tax ID on the contract must match the licence holder. The contract should state the category, number of practical hours, the price and what it includes.
4. See the car and the training ground. Ask to see a training car: dual pedals, an extra mirror, the training sign. Ask where the first lessons take place.
5. Ask about the electronic confirmation. How and when does the school create it after your practical training? If the question surprises them, that's your answer.

Other questions to ask before paying (price, schedule, gearbox, instructor) are covered in how to choose a driving school. For costly mistakes, see 10 mistakes when choosing a driving school.

Excuses worth decoding

What they say	What it usually means
"Our licence is being re-registered"	Re-registration takes up to 5 working days, and the school keeps working under the old licence meanwhile. Ask to see it in the register
"We're a branch of a big school"	Ask for the legal entity's name and check that the branch address is listed on the licence
"Cash is cheaper, no contract needed"	Without a contract and receipt, getting money back is almost impossible
"We'll get the electronic confirmation through contacts"	Only a licensed organisation can issue it. It can't be arranged "through contacts"
"You'll take the exam with us"	Exams are run by exam centres with automated scoring. A school can only prepare you

What about a private instructor?

A private instructor is a reasonable option, with one condition. Before you have a licence, practical hours count towards the mandatory programme only if a licensed organisation runs them. Many good private instructors work through a driving school, which is fine: the hours go into the system. If you already have a licence and want extra practice, lessons with a private instructor in your own car are perfectly legal. You can find instructors by district in the instructor catalogue.

If you've already paid

• Collect the contract, receipts, transfers and messages.
• Send a written claim demanding a refund, with a deadline for a reply.
• If the school refuses, contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs as the licensing authority (via the local traffic police) and go to court.
• Start looking for a new school early: you'll need to complete the practical programme at a licensed organisation.

Choosing a checked school

Our Tashkent driving school catalogue lists schools by district with prices and categories. If you'd rather not check everything yourself, leave a request through the school matching form. An operator will confirm your district, category and budget and suggest options. Still check the company details and licence yourself before paying. That's your protection.