From April 1, 2026, car purchase and sale transactions in Uzbekistan are processed only non-cash via escrow

What changes from April 1

From April 1, 2026, in Uzbekistan, the purchase and sale of category M, N, O and G vehicles no more than one year old, as well as special motor vehicles, must be carried out in a non-cash form. Kun.uz reports this citing the new rules for processing such transactions.

How the transaction works

The buyer does not hand cash to the seller: payment goes through the bank via an escrow mechanism. The bank confirms to the notary that the funds are available, and after the contract is notarized, the money is transferred to the seller's account. If the confirmation reaches the bank within the business day, the transfer happens the same day; if after business hours — on the next business day.

Is a separate account needed

Under the rules, one escrow account is provided for each purchase and sale contract, but this does not mean the buyer must open a new bank account. If the escrow conditions are met, the bank may use the buyer's existing account, bank card or e-wallet. To process the transaction, the buyer applies to the bank and signs the relevant contract; if the bank offers this option, the application can also be submitted electronically. Cash can be deposited into the account through the bank's cash desk — and in that case the payment for the car is considered to have been made in a non-cash manner.

If the deal falls through

If the notary does not certify the contract, the buyer can apply to the bank to have the money returned from the escrow account. At the same time, the conditions for refunding or not refunding the fee paid for banking services should be clarified separately — this is emphasized in Kun.uz's explanation. The practical meaning of the new scheme for the parties to the transaction is that the seller receives the money only after the contract is notarized, while the buyer is protected from transferring the amount before the transaction is legally formalized.