Kyrgyzstan Considers Bringing Driving Schools Under State Control and Recording Exams on Body Cameras

Kyrgyzstan is considering a major overhaul of driver training, licensing exams and the registration of certain vehicles. The draft law has been submitted for public discussion and would shift key parts of the system toward state oversight.

State educational organisations, along with vocational and higher-education institutions offering relevant programmes, would be allowed to train and retrain drivers. All approved providers would need to enter a unified state registry of driving schools. The current licensing system for driver training would end, with registry enrollment becoming the basis for operating.

Training records, attendance, results and eligibility to take exams would be managed through an automated information system. The draft would also require technical recording of licensing exams. Examination vehicles would use video recorders, while employees of the authorised body would wear personal body cameras. Other devices could provide continuous photo and video recording of candidates’ theoretical and practical skills.

The proposal would allow a temporary national driving licence as part of a phased system for gaining permission to drive. The document would be valid only within Kyrgyzstan, with the government determining the conditions for its issuance, use and cancellation. Medical checks would remain mandatory, including examinations for addiction and psychiatric conditions, as well as vision tests.

The draft also addresses imported vehicles and certain other categories. A certificate confirming vehicle design safety would become a required registration document for some cars, including vehicles imported by individuals for personal use and cars more than three years old that were previously operated in countries outside the Customs Union. State-accredited testing laboratories would assess compliance. Eligible electric cars owned by Kyrgyz citizens and locally registered companies could receive special green plates, while foreign nationals, diplomatic missions, consulates and international organisations would not qualify. If adopted, the law would take effect 15 days after official publication, and the Cabinet would have six months to issue regulations and launch the registry.