Renting a car without a driver in Karachi or Islamabad costs PKR 3,000–7,000/day for common cars plus a refundable deposit of PKR 25,000–100,000. You must present your own CNIC and driving licence — rentals on borrowed documents are refused at pickup.
How do deposits and refunds work?
Deposits are paid at handover (cash or bank transfer) and refunded at return after a joint inspection: bodywork, fuel level, odometer, and toll records. Photograph the car — including wheels and the windscreen — at both ends. Refund disputes almost always trace back to undocumented pre-existing scratches.
What are the CNIC and licence rules?
- Your own original CNIC — not a family member's.
- A valid licence; Learner permits are not accepted.
- Foreigners: passport, valid visa, and International Driving Permit.
- Some vendors add a second CNIC-verified local guarantor for higher-value cars.
Where is self-drive supply concentrated?
In Karachi: PECHS, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and DHA — most listings serve multi-day and out-of-city renters. In Islamabad: F-10 and F-11, with vendors accustomed to foreign renters and embassy staff. Filter RentalSawari listings by "Self-Drive" in either city to see current verified options.
Karachi or Islamabad — which suits a first-timer?
Islamabad. Wider roads, grid layout, calmer traffic, and vendors who regularly onboard first-time and foreign renters. Karachi rewards experienced city drivers; if that's you, start with a weekday booking to learn the car before a weekend trip.
