Renting a bike or car in India as a foreigner: the permit, the papers and the limits

Royal Brothers' FAQ gives a clear example of what a provider expects. For international customers it asks for a valid licence from the home country with an International Driving Permit, along with a valid visa and passport, with originals brought to pickup. ONN Bikes' FAQ also has a separate entry for international users, so check each provider's terms before you book.

Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 applies to everyone driving in a public place: you need an effective licence authorising you to drive that vehicle. Section 139(1)(c) separately lets the Central Government make rules on the conditions under which people entering India for a temporary stay may drive here.

This is where care is needed. The copy of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules checked for this guide defines 'International Driving Permit' as a licence issued in India to an Indian national for driving abroad, so that definition is about the opposite journey. The specific current rule for incoming visitors could not be located, and India Code could not be reached directly when this was checked.

So this guide will not quote a section for the visitor's IDP requirement. What can be relied on is the official travel advice below and the terms that providers publish, which point the same way.

Many websites state that a visitor can drive for exactly one year. That figure could not be traced to an Indian rule text, so treat it with caution. UK advice says the rules on how long you can drive on a UK licence vary from state to state, which is a good reason not to assume.

In practice, three dates limit you. Stop at whichever comes first: the expiry of your IDP, the expiry of your home licence, or the end of your permission to stay in India.

The class matters too. Section 3 requires a licence authorising you to drive that particular vehicle, so check that your licence and permit both cover what you are renting. A foreign car-only licence is the common trap for visitors who want a scooty or a Bullet. If motorcycles are not shown on your licence, an IDP will not fix that.

Two points in the rental schemes affect foreign hirers directly. The Rent a Motor Cycle Scheme, 1997 and the Rent a Cab Scheme, 1989 both require a licensed operator to keep a separate register for foreign nationals, which records passport details along with the licence. The motor cycle form also has a column for a 'driving permit No., if any', and it does not say more than that. Being asked for your passport at the counter is normal.

Asking to see it is one thing. Leaving it with the shop is another, and the same goes for your other originals. Read what not to hand over before you arrive.

Paragraph 9 of both schemes also says a licence holder shall collect hire charges from a foreign national or non-resident Indian only in foreign exchange. These scheme copies predate later amendments, and not every provider operates under a scheme, so ask how payment works before you arrive and keep the receipt.

If you are working or studying in India, treat your home licence as a short-term arrangement. Section 9 lets a licensing authority issue a driving licence, and its proviso says no test is needed where the applicant shows they hold a licence for that class from a competent authority of a country outside India, subject to a condition in section 8(3) on medical certificates. The rules also list proof of legal presence in India as an application document for foreigners.

Ask your local transport office what it currently requires. Procedures are handled at state level and can change.

Be honest with yourself about this one, because the official warnings are blunt. Canada's advice says road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the country, and it tells travellers to avoid driving or riding motorcycles in India, even if they are experienced. UK advice warns of a high death rate from road accidents and says to avoid travelling at night and in fog.

Traffic in India drives on the left. Add wandering livestock, mixed traffic and unfamiliar signage, and a first-time visitor is often better off hiring a car with a driver. Paragraph 10 of the Rent a Cab Scheme allows a hirer to bring in someone with a valid licence to do the driving, if the provider agrees.

If you do self-drive, start with short daytime trips. A gearless scooty on rent in Jaipur is simpler than a heavy geared bike, and the scooty vs bike comparison can help you choose.

Ask these by message, and keep the answers. Provider rules differ, and CarBikeRent.com does not verify them.

• Do you accept my licence and IDP for this exact vehicle?
• Is an English translation needed if my licence is in another language?
• Do you need to keep any original, and will you give a receipt?
• How do I pay, and is the deposit handled differently for foreign customers?
• What does your insurance cover, and what do I pay after damage?
• Who do I call in an accident, and is there help in English?

Read your travel insurance before you ride. Many policies set conditions on motorcycles, licences and helmets, and a claim can depend on them. Ask your insurer in writing whether a rented two-wheeler in India is covered at the engine size you plan to hire.

Then read who pays after an accident on a rental. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and it gives official sources where they could be found. Where a rule could not be confirmed, it says so.

• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: India travel advice, safety and security
• Government of Canada: travel advice for India
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended (Rajasthan Transport Department copy)
• Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (Chhattisgarh Transport Department copy; predates later amendments)
• Rent a Motor Cycle Scheme, 1997 (Andhra Pradesh Transport Department copy)
• Rent a Cab Scheme, 1989 (Andhra Pradesh Transport Department copy)
• Royal Brothers FAQ, read on 4 November 2026
• ONN Bikes FAQ index, read on 4 November 2026

• Documents you need to rent a bike, scooty or car in India

  The documents required to rent a bike or car in India: which licence class covers what, when DigiLocker counts, and what never to leave as security.

• Can you rent a bike or car without a driving licence in India?

  Can you rent a bike or car without a licence or on a learner's licence? What the Act says, what happens if you are stopped, and what it does to insurance.

• Vehicle rental deposits: what is normal, what can be deducted and how to get yours back

  How vehicle rental deposits work in India: what to expect, how they are held, which deductions are fair, and what to do if a refund is withheld.

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