Uzbekistan’s ban on cash at gas stations sparks debate among motorists

Starting April 1, 2026, Uzbekistan officially prohibited the use of cash for purchasing gasoline, methane, propane, and diesel fuel at gas stations. This policy change serves as a major turning point in the country’s transition toward a cashless economy. Under the new regulations, non-cash payments are now mandatory for fuel, alcohol, tobacco, utilities, state services, real estate, and automobiles, as well as any goods or services exceeding UZS 25 million in value.

To learn the public’s reaction to this significant shift, a Kun.uz correspondent visited several fueling stations in the capital. While some drivers find plastic cards convenient, many voiced concerns over technical hurdles, financial costs, and the sudden loss of flexibility.

A recurring grievance among drivers is the increased time required to refuel. One motorist explained that if a driver only has cash on hand, they must first find an ATM to deposit the funds onto a card before they can even approach the pump. "It is taking up a lot of time," he noted, adding that the shift to card-only transactions has occasionally led to unusually long queues at payment terminals.

Financial implications are also a major point of contention. Some drivers highlighted the burden of transaction fees and deposit percentages when topping up their cards. "These percentages are a weight on the people," one driver stated, pointing out that repeatedly paying fees to load a card for fuel adds a significant hidden cost to regular commuting.

Beyond the financial aspect, technical reliability remains a worry for those traveling outside the capital. Drivers noted that internet connectivity can be inconsistent once they leave the city, causing payment systems to stall. Furthermore, the concern that not all cards are accepted equally across various regions has led many to argue that a dual-payment system – allowing both cash and cards – would have been a more practical solution. "Not everyone has a card, and loading them involves fees. It would have been better to keep both options," suggested another motorist.

Despite the transition's goal of modernization and transparency, the early days of the mandate have revealed a clear divide between the government's push for a digital economy and the daily logistical realities faced by the Uzbek public.