Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Pakistan: 8 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside national licence
Pakistan recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, which UK drivers obtain from the Post Office for GBP 5.50. Carry it with your photocard licence and passport at all times.
Passport and visa
A valid passport and Pakistani visa (or e-visa) are mandatory for UK and EU nationals. Carry copies separately from the originals.
Third-party motor insurance compulsory
Third-party insurance is a legal minimum but the Green Card system does not extend to Pakistan, so cover must be bought locally from a Pakistani insurer on arrival or for any rental.
Drive on the left
Pakistan drives on the left, same as the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard.
Speed limits
Motorway 120 km/h, rural highways 100 km/h, and urban areas 50 km/h unless signed otherwise. Motorway Police enforce strictly with on-the-spot fines.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit
BAC limit is 0.00 g/L: alcohol is prohibited for Muslims and heavily restricted generally, and any trace while driving leads to arrest.
Cash tolls on motorways
The M-network (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M9) uses ticket-and-pay toll booths in PKR cash; budget roughly PKR 600-900 (EUR 2-3) per 100 km. Some plazas now accept the M-Tag RFID sticker.
Currency declaration at border
Declare cash above USD 10,000 equivalent on arrival; export of PKR is capped at PKR 10,000 per person and foreign currency above USD 10,000 must be declared on exit.
FCDO advises against all travel to Balochistan, KP tribal districts, and the Afghan border; against all but essential travel to other parts of KP and areas of Punjab. Self-driving in restricted zones is not realistic and may require an armed police escort.
Pakistan recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, which UK drivers obtain from the Post Office for GBP 5.50. Carry it with your photocard licence and passport at all times.
A valid passport and Pakistani visa (or e-visa) are mandatory for UK and EU nationals. Carry copies separately from the originals.
Third-party insurance is a legal minimum but the Green Card system does not extend to Pakistan, so cover must be bought locally from a Pakistani insurer on arrival or for any rental.
Bringing a foreign-plated car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane (from RAC/AA) plus the V5C; without a Carnet the vehicle will be impounded at the border.
Pakistan drives on the left, same as the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard.
Motorway 120 km/h, rural highways 100 km/h, and urban areas 50 km/h unless signed otherwise. Motorway Police enforce strictly with on-the-spot fines.
BAC limit is 0.00 g/L: alcohol is prohibited for Muslims and heavily restricted generally, and any trace while driving leads to arrest.
Lane discipline is loose, undertaking is constant, and you should expect unlit trucks, animals, and rickshaws after dark. Avoid driving at night outside major cities.
Dial 130 for the Motorway Police on M-roads, 15 for general police, and 1122 for ambulance/rescue services in Punjab, KP, and most major cities.
The M-network (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M9) uses ticket-and-pay toll booths in PKR cash; budget roughly PKR 600-900 (EUR 2-3) per 100 km. Some plazas now accept the M-Tag RFID sticker.
There is no legal requirement for hi-vis, triangle, or extinguisher, but the Motorway Police recommend a warning triangle, first-aid kit, and spare tyre, and will check rentals for them.
The Karakoram Highway, Babusar Pass, Lowari, and Khunjerab (China border) close roughly November to April/May due to snow. 4x4 and chains are essential off-season in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR); petrol costs around PKR 270/litre (EUR 0.85) and diesel PKR 280/litre. Fuel stations are overwhelmingly cash-only outside major cities. No tipping expected.
Declare cash above USD 10,000 equivalent on arrival; export of PKR is capped at PKR 10,000 per person and foreign currency above USD 10,000 must be declared on exit.
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Don't get caught out
Pakistan drives on the left, same as the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard.
Motorway 120 km/h, rural highways 100 km/h, and urban areas 50 km/h unless signed otherwise. Motorway Police enforce strictly with on-the-spot fines.
BAC limit is 0.00 g/L: alcohol is prohibited for Muslims and heavily restricted generally, and any trace while driving leads to arrest.