Following a 2025 pilot project, the parliament is updating the legislative framework. Leasing will become an alternative to car loans, allowing drivers to change vehicles without having to sell them.
What happened
The Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan has approved amendments to the Law “On Financial Leasing”. The changes eliminate barriers identified during the pilot launch of the program for individuals in late 2025. In parallel, leasing services are being integrated with toll road systems. This is reported by Ranking.kz.
Until now, this financial mechanism in the country was only available to legal entities. Now, the infrastructure is being adapted for the mass retail consumer.
Country and market
The corporate segment has already formed the foundation for the new product. By the end of 2025, the financial leasing portfolio for businesses in Kazakhstan reached 3.4 trillion tenge, showing a 36% year-on-year growth. The volume of operating leases amounted to 26 billion tenge.
The main difference between leasing and a loan is ownership. With a car loan, the buyer immediately becomes the owner of the pledged car. In leasing, the company remains the owner, and the client pays for a long-term lease with the right to purchase or return the car upon the expiration of the contract.
Why it matters
The launch of the product changes the approach to vehicle ownership. Leasing relieves the driver of the risks of resale on the secondary market. In European practice, such contracts often include insurance, maintenance, and seasonal tire changes in a single monthly payment.
In Kazakhstan, the new tool is aimed at two categories of clients. The first is drivers who prefer to change their car every three to five years. The second is foreign specialists and digital nomads who find it difficult to obtain a classic bank car loan.
The financial sector receives a legal tool to transition a portion of retail clients to a subscription-based car ownership model.
What’s next
Following the final adoption of the amendments and the signing of the law, updated offers from leasing companies and banks will enter the market. For the financial sector, this is an opportunity to occupy a niche that in developed countries covers up to 35% of new car sales.