Renting directly from locals in Kyrgyzstan

[NAZKA]

Hey everyone, planning a road trip around Kyrgyzstan to hit Issyk-Kul and some mountain passes. I have been told renting from private owners is a thing there, anyone tried it and is it reliable compared to standard agencies?

[DirtyGangsta]

Going directly through a local owner has its upsides, the prices are usually lower and people tend to be more flexible with pick-up times as long as you communicate properly. The flip side is you really need to check the car thoroughly because maintenance records are hit or miss and you do not want to be stranded on a mountain pass. Finding a car to rent across Kyrgyzstan through private listings is pretty easy on sites like this one https://getrentacar.com/en-US/kyrgyzstan .

[RavisS]

Haggle politely on the price if you are renting for more than a few days, most private owners are open to knocking a bit off for a longer booking and it never hurts to ask before you shake on it.