Kazakhstan tightens driving school rules after 25,000 lose licences

September 22, 2026 at 12:44 PM2 min

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Kazakhstan will tighten requirements for driving schools, with pre-opening checks of instructors, facilities and training vehicles, Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha said. The move follows the disqualification of 25,000 drivers, including 17,000 for drunk driving. The Interior Ministry also plans to raise the issue of stripping repeat traffic offenders of fine discounts at the upcoming Qurultay.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan will require driving schools to pass pre-opening checks of instructors' qualifications, material and technical base, and availability of training vehicles.
25,000 drivers in Kazakhstan have been deprived of the right to drive, including 17,000 for drunk driving.
18,000 people were placed under administrative arrest for driving while intoxicated.
The Interior Ministry plans to raise at the new Qurultay the issue of revoking fine discounts for drivers who commit more than 10 violations per year.
The Interior Ministry has launched the 'Avtomеktep' information system to register driving schools, training groups and students.

Driving School Requirements

Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha announced that driving schools will undergo preliminary checks before starting operations. Inspectors will verify instructors' compliance with established requirements, the equipment of the training base, and the presence of vehicles for driving instruction. Lepekha noted that many driving schools currently lack proper training facilities and qualified instructors. The Interior Ministry plans to transition to a permit-based procedure for opening driving schools. Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov stated that state control over driving schools has been insufficient since 2018.

Driver Disqualification Statistics

Lepekha reported that 25,000 Kazakhstani drivers have been deprived of the right to drive. Of these, 17,000 were punished for driving while intoxicated. Driving into oncoming traffic also led to licence revocations. 18,000 people were placed under administrative arrest for drunk driving.

Fine Discount Review

Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha said at a government briefing that some drivers may lose the discount on fine payments. He noted that the ministry had previously proposed setting a threshold for repeat violations, such as 10 or 5 fines per year. Lepekha said the issue will be raised again at the new Qurultay. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov earlier ordered strict measures against drivers who create excessive noise at night and called for increased fines for deliberate traffic violations.