Car Rental at Multan International Airport (MUX)

US licenses alone are not sufficient. You'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your US license. While some local rental companies may not strictly enforce this, police checkpoints are common and fines can reach PKR 2,000-5,000 (USD 7-18) without proper documentation. The IDP is valid for 1 year and can be obtained from AAA in the US before departure.

Pakistan drives on the left side (British-style), but many vehicles are right-hand-drive imports from Japan. Multan's traffic is chaotic with mixed vehicles—rickshaws, motorcycles, buses, and cars sharing lanes. Expect honking as a communication norm, not aggression. Traffic lights are often ignored at night. White dashed lines mean nothing—vehicles frequently cross into oncoming lanes. Stay alert and avoid driving at night outside city limits.

Petrol (gasoline) is widely available at government and private stations throughout Multan. Diesel is also common for larger vehicles. Unleaded petrol (95 RON) costs approximately PKR 270-290 per liter (USD 0.95-1.05). Most rental cars run on petrol. Fill up at major stations like Shell or PSO near main highways rather than rural areas. Credit cards are rarely accepted at fuel stations—carry cash.

Multan experiences extreme heat from May-September, with temperatures reaching 45°C (113°F) and occasionally exceeding 50°C (122°F). This causes road surfaces to soften and increases tire blowout risk—check tire pressure before long drives and avoid midday travel. Summer dust storms reduce visibility to near zero. The monsoon season (July-August) brings sudden flooding; many city roads become impassable. Keep emergency water and a charged phone at all times.

The M4 motorway connects Multan to Lahore and Faisalabad with tolls. Electronic toll collection (E-Tag) exists but is unreliable. Most drivers pay cash at toll plazas: PKR 200-400 (USD 0.70-1.40) depending on distance. Keep small denominations handy as change is often unavailable. Inner city roads are generally toll-free. If crossing into other provinces, budget extra PKR 500-1,000 for additional tolls on the N-5 highway.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory and typically included in rentals, but collision damage waivers (CDW) are often limited. US credit card CDW coverage frequently does not apply in Pakistan—verify with your provider. Expect a credit card hold of PKR 50,000-100,000 (USD 180-360) for the rental period. Avoid rental companies that cannot provide a receipt in English. Keep copies of all documents; police bribery is common if documents are incomplete or missing.