Car rental without a driver in Almaty

I, Askhat Nurlanov from Rent-Trip, will tell you everything about car rental without a driver: real prices, delivery around the city in 30–60 minutes, insurance included in the price, and nuances of trips outside the city.

How much does car rental without driver cost: prices by class

The main question when renting a car is the price. Rent-Trip has fixed rates for 6 classes, no surprises.

Price table for car rental without driver

At Rent-Trip, car rental without a driver costs from 18 990 ₸/day (Skoda Rapid) to 500 000 ₸/day (BMW M5), all prices are fixed.

The difference between classes is not only in price, but also in fuel consumption: economy class uses 30-40% less gasoline than an SUV, which on a trip to Charyn and back saves 3,000-5,000 ₸.

Discounts on long-term rentals

When renting a car without a driver for a month at Rent-Trip, a discount of up to 20% from the daily rate applies. For example, a Skoda Rapid for 30 days will cost 455,760 KZT instead of 569,700 KZT — saving 113,940 KZT. This is more profitable than 10+ separate bookings: you pay once, don't waste time on repeated paperwork, and each time you get the same car without surprises. Long-term rental is especially popular among business travelers who work in the city for a month or two — they save not only money but also nerves on daily taxi hunting.

What's included in the rental price

The cost of renting a car without a driver at Rent-Trip includes compulsory third-party liability insurance, 24/7 technical support, and basic insurance.

• Compulsory third-party liability insurance: mandatory civil liability insurance — covers damage to third parties up to 600,000 ₸.
• 24/7 technical support: if the car breaks down on the road — call us, we'll send a tow truck or a replacement.
• Basic insurance: protection against theft and damage within the limit — for economy class, the deductible is 50,000 ₸.

The price in the contract is the same as what you see on the website: no hidden surcharges for car delivery or return outside working hours. Car delivery around the city in 30–60 minutes, the contract is signed online or at key handover, support is available 24/7, including weekends. Cars undergo inspection and washing before each issuance, CASCO and OSAGO insurance included in the price, payment via Kaspi or Halyk, rental from one day.

Deposit: amount and when it is returned

The deposit is one of the main barriers when renting a car without a driver. Let's break down how it works at Rent-Trip.

What deposit is required for car rental

At Rent-Trip, the deposit for car rental without a driver depends on the car class: from 50,000 ₸ for economy and comfort to 200,000 ₸ for premium and unique models. For economy and comfort — 50,000 ₸, for business, SUVs, and minivans — 100,000 ₸, for premium — 150,000 ₸, for unique models — 200,000 ₸. The deposit is blocked on a Kaspi or Halyk card and is returned within 1–3 business days after returning the car without damage or fines. The deposit is insurance for both parties: you are confident that you will return the car in good condition, and we are confident that it will remain safe.

Car rental with a deposit: who it suits

Car rental without a driver with a deposit at Rent-Trip suits all customers, including new ones. The deposit is a guarantee of the car's safety, and it is fully returned if the car is returned without damage or fines.

• Regular customers: for them, the deposit remains standard by car class — no exceptions, but the return is fast.
• New customers: the deposit is calculated based on the class of the selected car, without additional conditions.
• Corporate clients: companies with a contract rent with a deposit based on the car class — just need details and a stamp.

For new customers, the deposit depends only on the car class — this is convenient if you are flying into the city and want to know the blocked amount in advance.

Payment methods: Kaspi, Halyk, cash

You can pay for car rental without a driver at Rent-Trip using Kaspi, Halyk cards, cash in tenge, or bank transfer. Kaspi is the most popular method: 80% of our clients pay via Kaspi Pay, which takes 30 seconds. When paying via Kaspi Red, installment plans for 3 months without overpayment are available — for example, renting a Volkswagen Tiguan for a month at 35,990 KZT/day is split into three payments of 359,900 KZT. Cash is accepted only in person; transfer is to the individual entrepreneur's account using the details.

What documents are needed for car rental in Kazakhstan

To rent a car without a driver, you need a minimum set of documents. Here's what Rent-Trip asks for.

Driver's license and age

To rent a car without a driver at Rent-Trip, you need a driver's license of the Republic of Kazakhstan and age from 21 years. For business-class cars (Lexus ES, Volkswagen Arteon, BMW M5), the minimum age is 23 years, this is standard practice for all rental agencies in the city. If the driver is under 21, rental is possible with an increased deposit — for example, for a Skoda Rapid the deposit will be 50,000 ₸. The driver's license must have an open category B — motorcycle or truck licenses are not suitable.

Driving experience requirements

The minimum driving experience for car rental without a driver at Rent-Trip is 1 year with an open category B. Drivers with less than 1 year of experience can rent a car with additional CASCO insurance (covers damage without deductible) and an increased deposit — at the upper limit of the class, but not more than 200,000 ₸. In our practice, there was a case: a guy with 8 months of experience rented a Nissan Sentra, got into a minor accident on Abay Avenue — CASCO covered repairs of 120,000 ₸, he paid only the deductible of 30,000 ₸.

What foreigners and city guests need

Foreigners need an International Driving Permit and a passport to rent a car without a driver in Kazakhstan. Citizens of CIS countries can rent a car with their national license if it's in Russian or Kazakh — Ukrainian, Belarusian, Uzbek licenses are accepted without translation. Tourists from China and Europe bring international permits — we check them against the database, it takes 5 minutes.

Where you can go: city, mountains, Kyrgyzstan

Rented a car without a driver and don't know where to go? We'll tell you about permitted destinations and restrictions.

City and region trips

On a rented car, you can freely drive around the city and the Almaty region. The tariff includes mileage up to 200 km per day; beyond the limit — an extra charge per kilometer, the amount is specified in the contract. Popular routes among our clients: Medeu — Shymbulak (30 km from the city, toll road 500 ₸), Big Almaty Lake (BAO, 25 km, gravel road at the end), Charyn Canyon (200 km, asphalt all the way to the canyon). For a trip to Shymbulak in winter, we recommend a Volkswagen Tiguan or any SUV — on a Skoda Rapid with summer tires it's risky due to ice on the serpentine.

Travel to Kyrgyzstan: conditions and restrictions

Travel to Kyrgyzstan in a rented car is allowed — we issue a power of attorney for crossing the border. Conditions:

• 24-hour notice: inform us about the trip so we can prepare the documents.
• Additional insurance: OSGPO does not cover abroad — get a 'Green Card' (1,500 ₸ for 15 days).
• Restrictions: you cannot travel to countries outside the EAEU — Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China.

Last season, clients drove a Nissan Elgrand to Issyk-Kul (350 km from the city) — 7 people in the car, comfortable, fuel consumption 12 L/100 km.

Winter trips: what you need to know

In winter, winter tires are mandatory in the mountains — by law from December to February. All our cars come with winter tires in season, but check upon pickup. If you're going to Shymbulak or the Turgen Gorge, take an SUV: on a Nissan Sentra in icy conditions, the risk of getting stuck is over 50%. In December, we had a case: a client on a Skoda Rapid made it to Medeu but couldn't get back up on an icy section — had to call a tow truck for 15,000 ₸.

Fines, Sergek cameras and accidents: what you need to know

We break down who pays fines for Sergek cameras and what to do in case of an accident in a rental car.

Who pays camera fines

Fines from Sergek cameras are paid by the renter — we provide the driver's data to the Traffic Control Center upon request. If a fine arrives after the car is returned, we send a photo of the violation and a payment link. In the city, cameras are at every intersection — speeding by 10-20 km/h is fined 5 MCI (17,250 ₸). Our recommendations:

• Do not exceed 60 km/h in the city — Sergek records even +5 km/h.
• Park only in permitted areas — towing to the impound lot costs 15,000 ₸ + 3,000 ₸/day storage.
• Check fines via eGov — we do not track them for you.

What to do in case of an accident

In case of an accident in a rental car, the procedure is simple:

1. Stop and turn on your hazard lights 1. Do not leave the scene — otherwise, license suspension. 2. Call the police — 102, file a European accident report (up to 100,000 ₸ damage) or a full report. 3. Call Rent-Trip — we'll advise you and send a tow truck if needed.

If you are at fault — damage is covered by CASCO (if taken) or you pay from the deposit. If you are the victim — the at-fault party's compulsory insurance covers repairs up to 600,000 ₸. In our experience, 90% of accidents are minor scratches in parking lots that fall within the deductible of 30,000-50,000 ₸.

How to choose a car for your scenario: city, highway, off-road

We match a car to your route — from traffic jams to gravel roads in the mountains.

For the city: Skoda Rapid and Nissan Sentra

For city trips — traffic jams, narrow streets, parking — the Skoda Rapid (18,990 KZT/day) and Nissan Sentra (19,990 KZT/day) are ideal. The Rapid is maneuverable, consumes 7 L/100 km, and parks anywhere — on Zhibek Zholy Street or near TSUM. The Sentra is more spacious, suitable for a family of 4, with a 460 L trunk — enough for groceries and shopping. In my opinion, taking an SUV just for the city is an overpayment of 10,000 KZT/day and 12-15 L/100 km consumption in traffic.

For highways and long trips: Volkswagen Arteon and Lexus ES

For the Almaty — Astana or Almaty — Kyrgyzstan highway, choose business class: Volkswagen Arteon (89,990 KZT/day) or Lexus ES (50,990 KZT/day). The Arteon holds 140 km/h on cruise control, consumes 8 L/100 km, and has soundproofing at a level — after 5 hours behind the wheel you don't get tired. The Lexus ES is for status: leather interior, heated seats, adaptive headlights. The Arteon is more economical on the highway than the Lexus by 1-2 L/100 km — for a trip to Astana (1,200 km), the fuel difference is 3,000-4,000 KZT.

For mountains and off-road: Geely Coolray and Volkswagen Tiguan

For trips to Shymbulak, BAO, or Charyn, take an SUV: Geely Coolray (24,990 KZT/day) or Volkswagen Tiguan (35,990 KZT/day). The Coolray is a crossover with 190 mm ground clearance, enough for the gravel road to BAO, but not suitable for deep ruts. The Tiguan has 4Motion all-wheel drive; in winter, it's indispensable for Shymbulak: a 12% incline on ice is passed without wheel spin. If you plan an overnight stay in the mountains, the Tiguan has a larger trunk — a tent, sleeping bags, and provisions for 4 people will fit.

Insurance and safety: what OSGPO covers

We break down what risks insurance covers and what to do to avoid losing money.

MTPL: what it covers and how much it costs

MTPL is mandatory insurance included in the rental price for self-drive cars. It covers damage to third parties up to 600,000 ₸ if the accident is your fault. It does not cover:

• Damage to your car — you pay for repairs or use CASCO.
• Theft damage — requires separate insurance.
• Fines — paid by the driver.

MTPL is issued for 1 year and costs 15,000-25,000 ₸ — we include it in the tariff, you pay nothing extra. If you're in an accident not your fault, the at-fault party's MTPL covers your repairs; we help with paperwork.

CASCO: when it's worth getting

CASCO is voluntary insurance you can take out when renting. It covers damage to your car with no deductible or a deductible of 30,000-50,000 ₸. It costs 1,500-3,000 ₸/day depending on the car class. When it's worth getting:

• Young drivers (experience under 2 years) — accident risk is 2x higher.
• For mountain trips — rocks, ice, wild animals.
• For expensive cars (BMW M5, Lexus ES) — bumper repair costs from 200,000 ₸.

In our practice, CASCO pays off in 1 out of 20 cases — but if it does, you save 100,000-500,000 ₸.

What to do in case of breakdown

If the car breaks down on the road, call 24/7 technical support. We'll send a tow truck (free within the city) or a replacement car. Breakdowns are rare: we service every car every 10,000 km, change oil, filters, brake pads. In 2025, there were 3 breakdowns out of 1,200 rentals — all resolved within 2 hours. If the problem is your fault (wrong fuel, dead battery from leaving lights on), the tow truck is paid, 10,000-15,000 ₸.

Conclusion

Renting a self-drive car means freedom of movement without being tied to taxi or bus schedules. Choose a car for your scenario: economy for the city, SUV for the mountains, business class for status. The main thing is to check documents, deposit terms, and insurance so your trip leaves only pleasant memories. Remember: winter tires are mandatory in the mountains, and traveling to Kyrgyzstan requires 24-hour notice. Plan your route in advance — and the road will be a pleasure.