How to Rent a Motorcycle in Pakistan

Renting a motorcycle abroad can be tricky, especially in countries like Pakistan. So we asked Haris, who owns a motorcycle rental and tour company in Pakistan to explain what you need to know and how to go about renting. Here’s his expert advice…

What You Need to Know About Renting a Motorcycle in Pakistan

By Haris Ali Shah

Haris is a passionate motorcycle traveller and owns Pakistan Bikers

Why rent a motorcycle in Pakistan?

Pakistan is a big and beautiful country and you will love travelling here. But unfortunately, it’s not easily travelled and there’s not a lot of information online for motorcycle travellers. And getting in and around with your own bike can be logistically and bureaucratically difficult. So, the easiest way to travel through Pakistan is to simply fly in and rent a motorcycle. And this guide’s job is to help you do just that. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a motorcycle in Pakistan.

Paperwork for renting a motorcycle in Pakistan

You will need a valid passport, a visa for Pakistan and a motorcycle driver’s licence. Pakistan also requires you to carry a 1968 International Driver’s Permit. You will also need to sign a rental agreement when picking up your motorcycle.

Getting your visa arranged before travelling is important. In the past, getting a visa for Pakistan was a pain, travellers had to get them at an embassy in their home country. But, as of August 2024 the Pakistan government has reformed their visa situation and now offer e-visas for citizens from a number of countries. For more info, have a look at Pakistan’s visa policy.

Insurance and personal insurance

Motorcycle insurance is not available in Pakistan – and it’s not a requirement either. However, it’s important to make sure you get personal travel insurance that covers you to ride a rental motorcycle in Pakistan for the duration of your trip should you need cover for medical bills. Make sure you have an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) as insurance companies may not cover you if you’re riding without one.

Choosing a rental / tour company in Pakistan

Do your research, you’ll want to thoroughly check the company you’re planning on going with. Make sure they have lots of genuine reviews on Google and take a look at the variety of bikes they have too. Get in touch with them, ask questions, see how responsive they are and get a feel for the company.

Our recommendation

If you’re looking for a rental or tour company in Pakistan, then you can always check out ours! I run Pakistan Bikers, and we offer multiple motorcycle options from 125cc to 250cc bikes and are the only company who owns a full workshop and maintain our motorcycles to a high standard. We provide customised tour options for multiple destinations in Pakistan as well as visa assistance too.

Is it better to rent or join a tour?

You won’t find many motorcycle group tour options in Pakistan, unless you bring your own group. So, the best option is to rent a motorbike and explore the places you want to visit on your own. If you’re not sure where to go, then ask your rental company to draw up a self-guided route for you in advance.

you will not find many options of group tours unless you are making your own group. So best option is to rent motorbike and explore places on your own or ask companies to make self-guided tour for you.

What bikes are on offer in Pakistan?

You’ll mostly find small bikes in Pakistan. From 125-150cc are the most common due to a wide availability of spare parts and mechanics around the country who know these bikes inside out. But, there are 250cc bikes if you want something larger.

What should you check for when inspecting your bike?

Thoroughly check your motorcycle before leaving the shop. Check all the main things like your chain and slack, test the brakes, throttle, oil etc. Ask to take it for a quick test ride and listen for any noises. Make sure you’re happy and confident with the bike before you set off.

And most importantly, before you do anything, take a video on your phone of the entire motorcycle walking around it and pin pointing any damage or issues so there’s no conflicts when returning the bike at the end of your rental.

What should you take with you?

It’s always best to bring your own motorcycle gear because kit from a rental company may not fit you well and the quality may not be what you’re used to or want. It can be a pain bringing your own boots, jacket, helmet etc, but it’s worth it.

I also recommend bringing a set of warm clothes and a set of warm gloves because Pakistan’s climate hugely fluctuates dependent on where you’re riding.

For a complete packing list for motorcycle trips and for help choosing the right riding gear, take a look at the below guides.

READ MORE:

Where’s the best region to ride?

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and also centrally located to start your tour. Mostly, people visiting Pakistan are interested in its beautiful nature and stunning mountains so they travel north. So you can start your trip by renting your motorcycle in Islamabad and then travelling north.

We recommend heading specifically to the Gilgit Baltistan region where the Hunza Valley and Skardu regions are located. We suggest covering these regions and then taking a loop to the Chitral side before returning to Islamabad again.

When is the best time of year to visit Pakistan on a motorcycle?

From April until the start of November is a good time to ride in Pakistan. And in summer you can access most of the places in the mountains, which are not accessible in the other months, so June until the end of September is good for mountain rides. December until March is good for the southern side which covers the coastline.

Is Pakistan safe for motorcycle travel?

Pakistan’s safety and security issues have improved over the last 10 years and that is the reason many tourists are now visiting Pakistan. Personally, I believe it’s safer than many developed countries, even such as the USA where street crime is much higher than in Pakistan.

The people of Pakistan are friendly and helpful. We suggest taking a look at your government’s website for more specific safety information, such as the UK Gov site and having a read of the below guides. If there’s anything you want to discuss, please feel free to get in touch.

Pakistan is a beautiful country filled with wonderful people and out of this world landscapes and the best way to explore it is on a motorcycle. You’re going to love it!

READ MORE:

About the author

Haris Ali Shah is a passionate motorcycle traveller. He’s explored Pakistan extensively and visited every province including Baolochistan and the Former FATA area.

His main passion is running Pakistan Bikers and showing travellers the beauty of Pakistan on two wheels. Take a look at Pakistan Bikers here:

Web: pakistanbikers.com
Insta: @pakistanbikers

Note: The tours and rentals mentioned in this post are offered by the guest author, Haris and his company Pakistan Bikers. Please contact him directly for details.

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