ROUTE GUIDE · LAHORE → ISLAMABAD
Lahore to Islamabad by Rental Car: Self-Drive Costs (2026)
Drive yourself from Lahore to Islamabad on the M-2: about 4 to 4.5 hours. Live daily rates, petrol and the Rs 1,430 toll, and when a car beats the bus.
Updated 17 October 2026 · By the HireACar team
Driving yourself from Lahore to Islamabad takes about 4 to 4.5 hours on the M-2 motorway, roughly 375 km. A self-drive car on HireACar costs from the day rates below, plus petrol and the Rs 1,430 motorway toll each way. You need an M-Tag, and the owner has to agree to the trip before you take the car out of Lahore.
What one way costs, by car type
| Car | Self-drive from / day | Petrol each way | M-2 toll each way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchback (Alto, Cultus, Wagon R) | Rs 3,850 | about Rs 8,000 | Rs 1,430 |
| Sedan (City, Corolla, Elantra) | Rs 3,300 | about Rs 10,500 | Rs 1,430 |
| SUV (Sportage, Tucson, Fortuner) | Rs 7,700 | about Rs 16,500 | Rs 1,430 |
Day rates are live, with HireACar's fee included. Petrol is an estimate: 375 km at about 18, 14 and 9 km a litre for a hatchback, sedan and SUV, at Rs 390.23 a litre (OGRA, 16 October 2026). Toll: NHA rate for cars from 5 July 2026.
The route
Join the M-2 at the Ravi toll plaza and stay on it to Islamabad. The service areas at Bhera and Kallar Kahar have fuel, food and prayer rooms; the Salt Range climb after Kallar Kahar is the one stretch with steep curves, so keep to the speed limit and stay in the left lane with a small car. The motorway police enforce the limit with cameras and patrols.
A car, the coach, or a car with a driver?
- On your own with little luggage: a coach seat is usually the cheapest.
- Three or four people, luggage, or several stops on the way: a self-drive car can cost about the same per person, and you leave when you like.
- No motorway experience, or you want to work on the way: book a car whose owner offers a driver, where one is listed.
Before you set off
- Say in your request that you are driving to Islamabad. Only if the owner allows it. Say where you are going in your request, and the owner confirms.
- Check the M-Tag balance and the fuel level together with the owner at pickup. Return the car with the same fuel level.
- Nobody may keep your original CNIC, licence or other documents, ask for a cheque, or ask for a guarantor. HireACar checks your identity instead. Report a host who asks.
HireACar is a marketplace. The car belongs to the host, and the rental is an agreement between you and the host. HireACar is not responsible for any loss, damage, theft, accident, fine or injury involving the car.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to drive from Lahore to Islamabad?
- About 4 to 4.5 hours on the M-2 motorway, roughly 375 km city to city, plus any stops at the Bhera or Kallar Kahar service areas.
- How much is the M-2 toll for a car?
- Rs 1,430 each way for a car, the rate in force since 5 July 2026. Pay with an M-Tag; check the balance before you set off.
- Can I drop the car in Islamabad?
- Most owners want the car back in Lahore. Only if the owner allows it. Say where you are going in your request, and the owner confirms.
- What do I need to drive the car myself?
- Every renter signs up with a verified phone number and gives their CNIC number and a photo of the front of the card. Self-drive also needs a valid Pakistani driving licence. Owners may look at the original card at pickup, but may not keep it or any other original document.
- What if I return the car late?
- Returning late: after 30 minutes of grace on hourly trips (1 hour on daily trips), each started hour is charged at the car’s hourly rate, up to one day’s price per day late.