Renting a Scooter, Motorbike or Car in Northeast India as a Foreign Visitor
Quick take: Yes, you can rent from us in Guwahati as a foreign visitor. Bring your passport with a valid Indian visa, your home driving licence, and an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your own country, in the 1949 Geneva Convention format and covering the vehicle you want (motorcycles for a scooter or bike). Indian law doesn't accept a foreign licence on its own. Prices start at ₹799 (about US$9) a day, and you can pay in cash (rupees) or by international UPI.
What Indian law asks for
According to India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a foreign national can't drive in India on a foreign licence alone. You can drive on an International Driving Permit issued in your own country, if that country is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, for the vehicle categories on the IDP, for as long as it's valid (an IDP lasts up to a year). Carry your home licence with it.
Three things catch people out:
- Get the 1949 version. Some countries issue more than one kind of IDP (the UK, for example, sells 1926, 1949 and 1968 versions). India is a 1949 Convention country, so ask for that one.
- Check the motorcycle category. To ride a scooter or bike, the IDP must cover motorcycles (category A), not just cars.
- Get it before you leave home. An IDP is issued by your own country; India can't issue one to a visitor.
What we ask for
| Document | Why |
|---|---|
| Passport with a valid Indian visa | Your ID; we keep a copy |
| Your home driving licence | Must be valid for the vehicle category |
| International Driving Permit (1949) | Makes your licence valid in India |
| A permit for Arunachal or Nagaland, if you're going there | A Protected Area Permit; we help on request |
There's no age limit and no security deposit on the vehicle: the only deposit covers the full tank of fuel, settled when you return. The full terms are on our rentals page.
Prices
| Vehicle | Per day | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid Street Rally | ₹799 (about US$9) | Guwahati, Shillong and most of Meghalaya |
| TVS NTorq 150 | ₹899 (about US$10) | A stronger scooter for the hills |
| Yamaha FZ-S FI V2 | ₹999 (about US$11) | Long rides, two-up, Arunachal |
| Suzuki Ertiga 7-seater | ₹2,799 (about US$32) | Families and groups of up to 7 |
| Private car with a driver | from ₹2,900 (about US$33) | No licence needed, no driving |
Dollar figures are approximate; you pay in rupees. Renting for 7 days or more? You get 10% off the daily rent; see weekly and monthly rental.
No IDP? Take a private car with a driver instead. You don't need a licence, and a local driver handles the roads, the permits and the language.
Paying
- Cash in rupees. ATMs are easy to find in Guwahati and Shillong; fewer in the hills, so carry enough for the trip.
- International UPI. If your bank or wallet supports paying through UPI from abroad, you can use it with us. Ask us when you book.
Where you can go
Our rentals can go anywhere in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Assam and Meghalaya need no permit for foreign visitors; Arunachal and Nagaland need a Protected Area Permit. See Northeast permits for foreigners.
Popular first trips: Guwahati to Shillong (100 km), Cherrapunji and Kaziranga. New to Indian roads? Read our tips for driving in the Northeast hills first: you drive on the left, and horns are used at every blind bend.
Picking up
We're in Maligaon, Guwahati, about 12 km from the airport and 2 km from Kamakhya railway station. Pickups start at 7 AM; if you land late, you can pick up the evening before your rental starts at no extra cost. Arriving from abroad? Our first-timer's guide to Guwahati covers the airport, SIM cards and cash.
FAQs
Can a foreigner rent a motorbike in India? Yes, with a passport and visa, your home licence and a 1949-format International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles. A foreign licence alone isn't valid in India.
Is my foreign driving licence valid in India? Not on its own. You need an International Driving Permit from your own country (1949 Geneva Convention format), carried with your licence.
Can I get an International Driving Permit in India? No. India issues IDPs only to holders of Indian licences. Get yours at home before you travel.
How can I pay? In cash (rupees) or by international UPI.
Do I need a permit to ride in Meghalaya? No. Assam and Meghalaya need no permit for foreign visitors. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland need a Protected Area Permit.
Contact / Book
Message us on WhatsApp (international numbers welcome) with your dates and the vehicle you'd like. We'll confirm availability, the documents to bring, and help with any permit.
