Car rental in Kathmandu — with a driver or self-drive
Delivered to your door anywhere in the Valley — Thamel, Patan, Bhaktapur or wherever you're staying tonight.
Fast delivery
Inside the Ring Road in about an hour
Free one-way drops
Pick up here, drop off at any hub
All-inclusive
Insurance and unlimited kilometres included
No deposit
Pay when the car arrives
Driving Kathmandu, door to door
Kathmandu is our home base and the heart of the fleet — car hire in Kathmandu, Nepal is where Purple Cars started. Book a car for rent in Kathmandu before noon and it can usually reach any address inside the Ring Road within the hour — washed, fuelled and with the paperwork already done digitally.
The Valley rewards having your own wheels: the best of it — sunrise ridges, old Newar towns, forest passes — sits just past where the taxis stop going. Drive out for the day and be back in Thamel for dinner. Hire a car in Kathmandu for a single day or the whole trip — the all-in rate is the same either way.
Car rent in Kathmandu works the way it should: no deposit, no counter, licence verified before we set off. Tell us where you're staying — a hotel in Thamel, an apartment in Patan, a guesthouse lane in Bhaktapur — and the car meets you there.
Where we're available
We're available anywhere inside Nepal. Meeting a flight is an airport transfer, not a door delivery — how airport pick-up and drop-off works.
Airport pickup — Tribhuvan International, any hour
Car rental at Kathmandu airport starts at the kerb: land at Tribhuvan International (TIA) and the car is waiting at the terminal instead of a taxi queue. Purple Cars delivers directly to the arrivals area — no negotiating, no waiting. A 3am landing costs what a 3pm one does: one flat airport fee, no unsociable-hours surcharge. The airport sits 6 km from Thamel, normally 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Meet-and-greet at arrivals
Driver or car meets you at the domestic or international terminal exit, name board included.
Pre-booked, fixed rate
The rate you agreed is the rate you pay; no meter, no surge, no negotiation at the kerb.
Outbound too
Drop the car at the terminal on your way out; one-way drops to Pokhara or Chitwan also available from the airport.
Tribhuvan International has one terminal for international flights and one for domestic. Tell us which you're arriving at when you book — TIA car rental is the same flat fee at either. How airport pick-up and drop-off works.
Recommended cars for Kathmandu
Every car arrives washed, fuelled and serviced — reserve and it comes to you. Rates are per day in Nepali rupees (NPR), VAT and all taxes included, with no minimum rental period.
Drives we love from Kathmandu
Every rental includes unlimited kilometres — these are the roads our members rate highest.
Nagarkot sunrise
32 km eastClimb out of the Valley to the classic sunrise ridge — on a clear morning the Himalaya stretches from Ganesh Himal to Everest.
Daman, via the old Tribhuvan Highway
80 km southwestSwitchbacks to 2,300 m and one of the widest mountain panoramas in Nepal, on the quiet old road to the Terai.
Namobuddha & Dhulikhel loop
55 km round tripMonastery ridges, terraced fields and a lunch stop in old Dhulikhel — an easy first drive out of the city.
Kakani & the Trishuli road
25 km northwestPine forest, strawberry farms and Ganesh Himal views, starting minutes past Balaju.
★★★★★
“Booked a Hiace for eleven of us. It reached Thamel in under 40 minutes.”
Bikash TamangPurple Cars member · Kathmandu
How fast can a car reach me in Kathmandu?
Inside the Ring Road, usually within the hour — Thamel, Patan and Lazimpat are quickest. Tribhuvan is the one exception: meeting you there is an airport transfer rather than a door delivery.
Can I pick up in Kathmandu and drop off in Pokhara or Chitwan?
Yes, and it's free — one-way drops between our four hubs carry no extra charge. Drive the Prithvi Highway down and fly back, or keep the car for the whole loop.
Which car should I take for the Valley rim roads?
For sealed roads to Nagarkot or Dhulikhel the Creta is ideal. In monsoon, or for the rougher shortcuts above Kakani and Daman, take the Scorpio-N — clearance matters more than power up here.
Is driving in Kathmandu traffic difficult?
It's busy but slow — most first-timers adjust within a day. If you'd rather skip it, add a local driver to any booking and take the wheel yourself once you're out of the city.
How much does car rental in Kathmandu cost?
Daily rates run from NPR 4,500 for a Suzuki Swift to NPR 6,500 for a Hyundai Creta and NPR 9,500 for a Mahindra Scorpio-N 4x4 — all-inclusive, meaning insurance, unlimited kilometres, and 24/7 roadside support are built in. No hidden fees, no deposit, no fuel surcharge: what you see is what you pay. Pick the car that fits your route and budget; the price doesn't change if you drive the Kathmandu Valley rim or head toward Pokhara.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to self-drive in Kathmandu?
Foreign nationals must carry both an International Driving Permit (IDP) and their home country driving licence; Nepali police checkpoints will ask for both. Indian nationals can drive on their original Indian licence alone. Bring both documents every time you drive — checkpoints are routine on main roads and at valley exits, and having them ready saves time and avoids fines.
What is included in the rental price?
Comprehensive insurance (third-party and own-damage), unlimited kilometres, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a full-to-full fuel policy (you pick up with a full tank, return it full) are all included — no add-ons, no surprises. We don't hold a deposit; you pay the daily rate upfront and walk away with the keys. If you break down or need help on the road, call us anytime and we'll send support to your location.
Can I get a car delivered to Tribhuvan International Airport?
Yes. Book in advance and we'll have the car — or a driver — waiting at the terminal exit when you land, domestic or international. No unsociable-hours surcharge: the flat airport fee is the same whatever time your flight arrives.
Ready to drive Kathmandu?
Delivered to your door, insurance and kilometres included. Free cancellation up to two hours before delivery.