Car Rental at Faisalabad International Airport (LYP)

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended and often required by rental agencies. Your US license alone may be accepted at some smaller agencies, but police checkpoints and insurance claims become complicated without an IDP. The IDP costs about $20 from AAA in the US and is valid for 1 year. Book it before your trip - you can't get one after arriving in Pakistan.

Yes, this is genuinely disorienting. Pakistan inherited British-style left-hand traffic (keep left, overtake right), but nearly all vehicles are right-hand drive Japanese imports. At roundabouts and when turning at intersections, positioning yourself correctly requires extra attention. If you're not comfortable with this setup, consider hiring a local driver for the first few days. It's a small price for avoiding head-on collisions.

Toll booths on major highways (M1, M2, M3) accept cash (PKR) and sometimes cards. Tolls range from PKR 100-500 (under $2 USD) per segment. No electronic tags are required - just pay at each booth. Keep small bills handy as change can be limited. If you're renting an SUV or larger vehicle, expect slightly higher toll rates.

Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C (113°F), causing road surfaces to deteriorate and increasing tire blowout risk - check tire pressure daily and avoid midday driving. Winter (December-February) brings dense fog that can reduce visibility to near zero on highways between 5-9 AM. If driving in fog, use low beams only and reduce speed to 40 km/h or less. Rainy season (July-August) causes urban flooding on low-lying roads.

Petrol (unleaded 87-95 octane) and Diesel are universally available. Many vehicles also run on CNG (compressed natural gas). Gas stations are plentiful in cities and along highways, but credit cards aren't always accepted - always carry PKR cash. Most rental agencies provide a full tank and expect you to return it full. Diesel cars are common for SUVs and larger vehicles.

The minimum age is typically 21 years at major rental agencies. Drivers under 25 are charged a young driver surcharge of approximately PKR 500-1,000 per day (roughly $2-4 USD). Luxury vehicles and some SUVs require drivers to be at least 23-25 years old. There's no upper age limit, but drivers over 70 may need to present additional health documentation at some agencies.