Asia > 🇦🇫Afghanistan

Should You Hire a Car in Afghanistan? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Afghanistan (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Afghanistan - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.

CITY	IATA	Score

Afghanistan: Car or No Car?

Afghanistan is not a conventional tourist destination, and travel here comes with serious safety, legal, and logistical concerns. However, if you’re looking for a clear understanding of transport options in principle — here’s how travel works if someone has legitimate permission, purpose, and security arrangements.

🚫 First Reality Check: Independent Travel Is Not Advisable

There is no standard tourism infrastructure
Roads may be controlled by different authorities in different regions
Visitors generally require a security escort
Movement often needs approval or permits

➡ Because of this, the question usually isn’t “car or no car?” — it’s “will your security team provide a vehicle?”

🚙 Transport If You Do Have Permission to Travel

✅ You do not self-drive.

Instead, you travel in a vehicle arranged by your host, organisation, or government escort.

These vehicles are usually:

Armoured SUVs or 4x4s
Driven by trained local drivers who understand checkpoints and risks
Accompanied by guards or escorts in many cases

🚗 Self-Drive Reality

Aspect	Situation
Renting a car	Not available for foreigners
Driving yourself	Not recommended and often not allowed
Road conditions	Can be rough, damaged, or unmarked
Security risk	Extremely high outside designated areas

➡ Driving yourself is not a realistic option.

🚐 When a Vehicle Is Necessary

Nearly ALL travel within the country requires a vehicle due to long distances and limited public transport.
However, you travel by official convoy, NGO vehicle, or with verified driver arrangements.
In rural areas, 4×4 vehicles are essential because roads can be unpaved or mountainous.

🚌 Public Transport? Limited and Risky

Buses and shared taxis exist, but they are not considered safe for foreign nationals.
Transport routes may pass through areas with uncertain control.

🏁 Final Recommendation

Traveller Type	Car Needed?	How Travel Works
Tourist	🚫 Not recommended	Most countries advise against all travel
Journalist / NGO / Diplomatic	✅ Yes, but not self-drive	Vehicle provided by organisation
Independent explorer	🚫 Not feasible	Permits and escorts required
Local resident	✅ Yes	Many use personal cars or shared taxis

✨ Summary

You cannot simply rent a car and drive around Afghanistan.
All movement requires coordination, security awareness, and usually a driver.
In practice, the only viable way to travel is in an arranged vehicle with a trusted escort or organisation.

Should You Hire a Car in 🇦🇫 — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder