Driving Permit for Latvia
Driving in Latvia with a foreign license: when you need an IDP, how the 1968 convention applies, winter tyre dates, alcohol limits and rental-car rules for Riga and beyond.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1968 Vienna
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Latvia?
Latvia, an EU member on the Baltic coast, recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and its road-traffic authority (CSDD) applies convention rules to visiting drivers. If your license was issued in an EU/EEA state or the United Kingdom, you can drive in Latvia without any extra paperwork for as long as the license itself is valid. If your license comes from outside the EU/EEA, it is accepted for up to 12 months from your arrival provided it uses the vehicle categories set out in the 1968 convention; stay longer and you must exchange it for a Latvian license, which involves passing a driving test.
In practice, non-EU visitors — including drivers from the US, Canada, Australia and most of Asia — should carry an IDP together with the original license. It becomes essential when your license is not printed in the Latin alphabet, and rental companies at Riga Airport and in the city frequently ask non-EU customers for one before releasing a car. Traffic drives on the right, the minimum driving age is 18, and police issue on-the-spot fines that must be paid within 30 days.
Latvia has some distinctive rules worth knowing before you set off. Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times, every day of the year. Winter tyres are compulsory for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes from 1 December to 1 March, while studded tyres are banned from 1 May to 1 October. Every car must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and reflective vest. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, dropping to 0.02% for drivers with less than two years' experience. Cars pay no national road toll, though the resort town of Jurmala charges a small entry fee in season.
Latvia recognises the IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Latvia is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Latvia, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Latvia
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Minimum driving age is 18; always carry your original national driving license
EU/EEA and UK license holders can drive in Latvia with no IDP for as long as their license is valid
Non-EU licenses meeting the 1968 convention are accepted for up to 12 months from arrival; an IDP is strongly recommended, and essential if your license is not in the Latin alphabet
Winter tyres are compulsory for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes from 1 December to 1 March
The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, and just 0.02% for drivers with under two years' experience
Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 December to 1 March; studded tyres are prohibited from 1 May to 1 October
Cars must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and reflective vest, which must be worn by anyone leaving the vehicle on the roadside
Standard speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside them, with higher limits only where signposted
Dipped headlights are required at all times, day and night, year-round
Police enforce speeding strictly and issue on-the-spot fines, payable within 30 days
What to know before you turn the key
Latvia drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Rental desks in Riga commonly ask non-EU visitors for an IDP alongside the original license, so carry both to avoid refusals
Dipped headlights are compulsory at all times, day and night, all year round
Cars need no national vignette, but Jurmala charges a resort entry pass (about 5 EUR per day) in season
Police issue on-the-spot fines for traffic offences and enforce speeding strictly; fines must be paid (or appealed) within 30 days, and driving without a recognised license, required winter tyres or compulsory equipment can lead to fines and restrictions on using the vehicle.
Local rules to watch in Latvia
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Riga: expect cobbled streets, tram tracks and paid parking zones in the centre; rental desks at the airport routinely ask non-EU drivers for an IDP
Jurmala: the seaside resort charges a vehicle entry pass of about 5 EUR per day during the season
Rural Latvia: outside cities many secondary roads are gravel and signposting is sparse, so allow extra time and drive with care
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Latvia keeps.
Common questions about driving in Latvia
Drive Latvia, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.