Kazakhstan · Astana

Car rental software for Astana, Kazakhstan

Astana’s car and scooter rental operators use Movialy to record bookings, track deposits, and reconcile payments in KZT — all from one mobile-first platform.

Rental market study · updated on 30/09/26

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Local market

The car and motorbike rental market in Astana

population

Over 1.4 million residents (2025 estimate)

peak season

May to September

main visitors

Domestic tourists, foreign business travelers, and international tourists — especially from India, China, Russia, and Central Asia

typical fleet

Mixed: compact cars for airport transfers and business rentals; e-scooters for short urban trips

Market context

Understanding the Astana car and motorbike rental market

Astana’s vehicle rental market is shaped by its dual identity as Kazakhstan’s political capital and a rapidly modernizing hub attracting foreign investment and tourism. The city hosts major international events, diplomatic missions, and corporate headquarters — driving consistent demand for car and motorbike rental services among business travelers and expatriates. Simultaneously, micromobility is gaining traction: JET’s blue electric scooters operate across Astana, supported by expanding EV infrastructure and new urban mobility policies. Tourist arrivals surged 12% in early 2026, with foreign visitors accounting for over 380,000 of the 1.6 million total in 2025 — many arriving via Air Astana’s 63-aircraft domestic and regional network. Payment habits remain hybrid: cash dominates among locals, while international guests increasingly use cards and mobile wallets. Unlike Almaty, Astana’s newer road network and centralized layout make scooter-based last-mile mobility particularly viable — yet regulatory clarity on e-scooter licensing and insurance remains under development at the municipal level.

JET e-scooter presence

Blue electric scooters from JET are actively deployed in Astana, confirming operational micromobility infrastructure and consumer adoption distinct from other Kazakh cities.

Air Astana connectivity

Astana serves as a primary hub for Air Astana’s 112-route network across 20 countries — generating high-volume, time-sensitive airport pickup demand for car and motorbike rental operators.

Tourism growth spike

Visitor numbers rose 12% year-on-year in H1 2026, reaching nearly 830,000 — outpacing national averages and signaling strong short-term rental demand elasticity.

New China-Kazakhstan rail link

The newly launched China–Kazakhstan train service increased cross-border tourist flow into Astana, introducing new customer segments requiring multilingual contracts and foreign license validation.

Challenges

Specific challenges for local operators

Seasonal demand volatility

Rental demand spikes sharply from May to September due to temperate weather and peak tourism, but drops significantly during winter months when temperatures fall below −20°C. Operators must manage fleet utilization across extreme seasonal variance without overextending maintenance or staffing budgets.

Mixed payment acceptance

Operators must accommodate cash, bank transfers, and card payments simultaneously — yet lack unified tools to reconcile deposits and refunds across methods. Foreign tourists often pay in USD/EUR, requiring accurate KZT conversion and ledger visibility.

Regulatory uncertainty for e-scooters

No unified national framework governs e-scooter insurance, rider age limits, or liability assignment in Kazakhstan. Astana operators renting scooters face ambiguity in compliance documentation and damage dispute resolution.

Airport logistics complexity

Air Astana’s 63-aircraft fleet generates frequent short-notice pickups at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (TSE). Coordinating real-time vehicle availability, driver dispatch, and document verification remains manual for most small-to-midsize operators.

How Movialy helps

How Movialy is adapted for Astana

Proof & vehicle condition

In Astana, where JET’s blue electric scooters share roads with rental cars, Movialy’s timestamped, side-by-side check-in/check-out photos prevent disputes over pre-existing damage. Automatic odometer and fuel gauge reading from images reduces manual entry errors during high-volume airport pickups.

Fleet & scheduling

Movialy’s global fleet calendar shows real-time status of every car and scooter in Astana — critical for fulfilling same-day Air Astana arrival requests. AI-suggested best vehicle allocation helps match compact cars to business travelers and scooters to urban tourists during May–September peaks.

Money & customers

Movialy records deposits and refunds in KZT for all rental types — whether cash from local customers or card payments from Indian or Chinese tourists arriving via the new rail link. Customer balances separate overdue amounts from doubtful debt, improving cash flow forecasting amid seasonal fluctuations.

Remote internet printer

At Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, Movialy’s remote printing sends signed contracts and deposit slips directly to an office printer the moment a rental is finalized — eliminating delays when staff are on-site with no local hardware.

Practical tips

Running a car or motorbike rental business in Astana

Capitalize on tourism growth

With 830,000 tourists visiting Astana in H1 2026 — up 12% YoY — add multilingual contract templates and accept foreign driver’s licenses. Offer bundled car + scooter packages for visitors staying >3 days, as 380,000+ foreign tourists spent $2.9B nationwide in 2025.

Optimize for airport demand

Air Astana operates 63 aircraft across 112 routes — prioritize real-time fleet visibility and same-day booking confirmation. Equip staff with Movialy’s mobile terminal for instant contract printing at TSE arrivals, reducing wait times during peak landing windows (10:00–14:00 local time).

Standardize e-scooter handover

JET’s blue electric scooters are active in Astana — adopt digital condition reporting with photo timestamps for every scooter rental. This builds trust with riders and creates defensible evidence in case of damage claims, given the absence of national e-scooter insurance mandates.

Align with seasonal weather

Rentals peak May–September when highs average 22–23°C. Pre-schedule winter maintenance for cars (oil, antifreeze, tires) using Movialy’s deadline tracker — 40% of Astana’s annual rentals occur in these five months, making off-season prep essential.

FAQ

Common questions

Does Movialy process payments from my customers in Astana?+

No. Movialy does not collect, hold, route, or refund money from your customers. It only records payments you receive via your existing methods — cash, bank transfer, card, or mobile wallet — and reconciles them in KZT.

Can I use Movialy to manage both cars and electric scooters in Astana?+

Yes. Movialy supports mixed fleets including cars, vans, motorbikes, and scooters. You can assign categories, track utilisation separately, and generate per-vehicle reports for each type in Astana.

Is Movialy compliant with Kazakhstan’s financial reporting requirements?+

Movialy generates exportable sales journals, cash receipts journals, and VAT-collected reports in KZT. These align with standard Kazakh accounting practices but do not replace certified local tax filing.

How does Movialy handle internet outages during airport pickups in Astana?+

Movialy is resilient to brief network drops. Check-in actions, photo uploads, and signature capture continue locally and sync automatically when connectivity resumes — critical for operations at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

What languages does Movialy support for Astana-based teams?+

Movialy supports 13 languages including Russian and English — both widely used in Astana’s tourism and business sectors. Date, time, and currency formats auto-adjust to local KZT standards.

Do I need a credit card to start using Movialy in Astana?+

No. Movialy offers a free plan for up to 20 vehicles with no card required. Paid plans are billed in USD or EUR via Paddle, and you can upgrade anytime from the dashboard.

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