To rent a car in Gilgit, most visitors hire it with a local driver. In 2026, firms serving Gilgit and Hunza listed a Corolla-class sedan with driver at roughly PKR 6,000 to 10,000 a day and a Prado at roughly PKR 10,000 to 25,000, depending on the model year and whether fuel is included. Self-drive hire exists, but from fewer firms, often in older 4x4s that are licensed only for use inside Gilgit-Baltistan, and against a security deposit. For the Naltar lakes and Fairy Meadows you need a local jeep whatever you rent.
This guide covers the choice between self-drive and a driver, which vehicle suits which route from Gilgit, what the day rates include, and what to agree about deposits and paperwork before you hand over any money.
| At a glance (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Sedan with driver | About PKR 6,000 to 10,000 a day |
| Honda BR-V with driver | About PKR 8,500 a day |
| Prado with driver | About PKR 10,000 to 25,000 a day, by model year and fuel |
| Hiace Grand Cabin with driver | About PKR 13,500 a day and up |
| Self-drive | Limited; rates by quote, deposit required |
| Fuel | Sometimes included, often extra; ask |
| Petrol in Gilgit | PKR 389.28 a litre from 25 September 2026 |
| Jeep-only places | Naltar lakes, Fairy Meadows track, upper Bagrot |
Self-drive or with a driver?
For most people, with a driver is the better choice in Gilgit. Local drivers know the Karakoram Highway, the side roads and which stretch was blocked by a landslide yesterday. They know where to park in Karimabad, which jeep drivers to call for Naltar, and where to stop for tea. And nobody in your group has to drive the long day back from Khunjerab tired.
It also means a breakdown or a dent is the firm's problem, not yours.
Self-drive suits confident drivers who have driven mountain roads before and want privacy and flexibility, particularly couples and small groups staying a week or more. It is also the only way to have a car to yourself without paying for a driver's food and room on nights away from Gilgit.
Self-drive: what you need to know
Self-drive hire in Gilgit is less common than hiring with a driver, and it works differently from renting a car in a big city.
Many cars are NCP vehicles. Many cars in Gilgit-Baltistan are non-custom-paid imports, which are cheaper because no import duty has been paid on them, and which may only be used inside Gilgit-Baltistan. Rental firms offering them state clearly that they cannot be driven outside the region. That rules out driving to Naran over Babusar or back to Islamabad, and it matters if your plans might change. Ask whether the car is NCP before you book.
Expect older 4x4s as well as cars. Self-drive vehicles on offer are often Hilux and Vigo pickups and older Prados, which suit the roads but vary a lot in condition.
You will need documents. Pakistani renters are asked for their CNIC and a valid driving licence. Foreign nationals need their passport, and an international driving permit along with their home licence.
There will be a deposit. Firms ask for a security deposit, usually in cash or by transfer, returned when the car comes back in the same condition. We have not found published amounts we would stand behind, and they vary with the car, so ask before you book and get a written receipt.
Ask about insurance. Find out whether the car is insured, and get in writing what you would pay if it is damaged, stolen or breaks down far from Gilgit. Assume you are responsible unless the firm says otherwise in writing.
Sedan or 4x4? Matching the car to the route
The main roads around Gilgit are paved, and a sedan manages most of what visitors want to do. A 4x4 earns its cost only on a few routes and in winter.
| Route from Gilgit | Sedan? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gilgit to Hunza and Nagar | Yes | Good road on the Karakoram Highway, about 100 km to Karimabad |
| Hunza to Khunjerab Pass | Yes, in season | Paved to the border; fill up in Sost |
| Gilgit to Skardu | Yes | Paved via Jaglot; slow in the Indus gorge |
| Kargah valley and Hanzal | Yes | Short, paved roads west of the city |
| Nomal to Naltar Bala | In dry weather | Narrow and steep; check after rain |
| Naltar Bala to the lakes | No | Local jeep only |
| Upper Bagrot | No | Jeep or 4x4 with a local driver |
| Raikot Bridge to Fairy Meadows | No | Private vehicles not allowed; local jeep |
| Winter, after snow | 4x4 preferred | With an experienced local driver |
For the jeep tracks, it is simpler and usually cheaper to keep a sedan for the paved days and hire a local jeep for the rough one. Our guide to jeep rent in Gilgit-Baltistan explains how those fares work, and our round-up of day trips from Gilgit shows which outings need one.
Typical daily rates in Gilgit
These are day rates with a driver, as listed in 2026 by firms that serve Gilgit and Hunza. Treat them as a way to judge a quote, not as a price.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Rough day rate (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla or Honda City | 3 to 4 | PKR 6,000 to 10,000 |
| Honda Civic | 3 to 4 | About PKR 10,000 |
| Honda BR-V | 5 to 6 | About PKR 8,500 |
| Toyota Prado, older models | 4 to 6 | About PKR 10,000 to 15,000 |
| Toyota Prado, with fuel included | 4 to 6 | About PKR 18,000 to 25,000 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 4 to 6 | About PKR 22,000 to 35,000 |
| Hiace Grand Cabin | 10 to 12 | About PKR 13,500 to 25,000 |
| Coaster | 20 or more | About PKR 20,000 and up |
The spread comes from the model year, whether fuel is in the price, and the season: July, August and Eid are the dearest weeks, when local cars are booked well ahead. Ask for the model year in writing. Our guide to Prado rent for the Northern Areas explains when the bigger car is worth it.
What the day rate includes
Before comparing two quotes, check each of these:
- Fuel. Some Gilgit firms quote fuel-inclusive rates for set routes; others charge fuel separately. At the pump, petrol cost PKR 389.28 a litre from 25 September 2026, according to PSO's published prices, with Octane Plus a few rupees dearer in Gilgit than down country.
- Hours. A standard day is usually about 12 hours. Ask the overtime rate.
- The driver's food and room. On nights away from Gilgit, in Hunza or Skardu, you pay for them, either as a fixed allowance or by booking his room.
- The empty return. A one-way hire, such as Gilgit to Skardu, usually includes the driver's day getting home.
- Airport pickup. Many firms include collection from Gilgit airport. Our guide to getting from Gilgit airport to Hunza covers the transfer.
For a wider comparison of rates and allowances across the north, see our guide to hiring a driver for a Gilgit-Baltistan trip.
Deposits, advances and paperwork
Most firms ask for an advance to confirm a booking with a driver, and a security deposit for self-drive. Before you pay either, get these answered in writing; a single WhatsApp message is enough:
- The exact car, its model year, and photographs of that car.
- The total price and what it includes: fuel, hours, allowances, airport pickup.
- How much the advance or deposit is, how you pay it, and when and how it is returned.
- What happens if you cancel, or if your flight to Gilgit is cancelled for weather.
- For self-drive: whether the car is NCP, where you may take it, who pays for damage, and what happens in a breakdown.
When you collect the car, walk round it with the owner. Photograph every scratch, the fuel gauge and the tyres, including the spare, and check the brakes and the heater. Keep the photographs until the deposit is back.
Which option suits you?
- Couples and families flying in for a few days: a sedan with a driver from Gilgit, booked with the airport pickup. It is the easiest way to see Hunza without driving.
- Groups of five to eight: a BR-V for light luggage, or a Hiace Grand Cabin for comfort and bags.
- Experienced drivers staying a week or more in Gilgit-Baltistan: self-drive can work, if you are comfortable with the deposit and the NCP restriction.
- Winter trips: a 4x4 with a local driver, not self-drive.
If you would rather not deal with cars and drivers at all, our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour includes all ground transport with an experienced mountain driver, from PKR 90,000 per person. To plan transport around your own dates, start on our trip planning page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a car in Gilgit?
In 2026, firms serving Gilgit listed a sedan with driver at roughly PKR 6,000 to 10,000 a day and a Prado at roughly PKR 10,000 to 25,000, depending on the model year and whether fuel is included.
Can I rent a self-drive car in Gilgit?
Yes, from a few firms, usually against your CNIC or passport, a driving licence and a security deposit. Many self-drive vehicles are NCP cars that may only be used inside Gilgit-Baltistan.
Can I take a Gilgit rental car to Islamabad?
Not if it is an NCP vehicle, which is only legal inside Gilgit-Baltistan. Ask before booking if you might leave the region by road.
Do I need a 4x4 in Gilgit?
Not for the main roads to Hunza, Khunjerab and Skardu in summer. You need a local jeep for the Naltar lakes, Fairy Meadows and upper Bagrot, and a 4x4 is the safer choice in winter.
Can I hire a car at Gilgit airport?
There is no rental desk to rely on, but many firms and hotels will meet your flight if you book ahead. Arrange it before you fly.
