Driving Permit for Lithuania
Do you need an IDP in Lithuania? EU/EEA licences are valid alone; non-EU visitors should carry a 1968-convention IDP with their licence. Right-side driving, winter tyres Nov-Apr, no car tolls.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1949 + 1968
- IDP validity
- 90 days
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Lithuania?
Lithuania drives on the right-hand side of the road and is a contracting party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so it recognises International Driving Permits issued under that convention. If your licence was issued in an EU or EEA country, it is fully valid in Lithuania and you do not need an IDP. Licences from outside the EU/EEA are accepted for short visits when they conform to the Vienna (or Geneva) convention format - but if yours does not, or is not printed in the Latin alphabet, you must carry an IDP or an official translation alongside it. In practice, visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and similar countries are advised to obtain an IDP before travelling; the US Embassy tells American visitors to carry one with their state licence.
At the rental desk the rules are applied pragmatically: major firms at Vilnius and Kaunas airports accept EU licences on their own, while non-EU renters are frequently asked to show an IDP or certified translation and can be turned away without one. Police carry out roadside checks and issue on-the-spot fines, so keep your passport, licence, IDP and insurance documents in the car. Visitors who take up residence in Lithuania (185+ days a year) must exchange their licence for a Lithuanian one through Regitra, the state vehicle authority.
Local rules are strict but straightforward. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights are compulsory day and night, all year. Winter tyres are mandatory from 10 November to 1 April. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.04%, dropping to effectively zero for novice and professional drivers. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on rural roads, 110 km/h on dual carriageways and up to 130 km/h on motorways in summer (reduced to 110 km/h in winter). There are no road tolls or vignettes for passenger cars.
Lithuania recognises the IDP under both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions.
Lithuania is a signatory to both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Lithuania, plan on 90 days.
What you need to drive in Lithuania
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Minimum driving age is 18; carry your original national driving licence at all times
EU/EEA driving licences are fully valid in Lithuania - no IDP needed
Non-EU/EEA visitors: carry a 1968-convention IDP with your licence; it is required if your licence is not convention-compliant or not in the Latin alphabet
Valid third-party motor insurance (EU policy or Green Card) is compulsory
Traffic drives on the right; Lithuania acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and issues and recognises 1968-format IDPs
Blood-alcohol limit is 0.04%, with a near-zero limit for novice drivers (under 2 years) and professional drivers
Winter tyres are compulsory 10 November to 1 April; studded tyres are permitted from 1 November to 9 April
Dipped headlights or daytime running lights are required day and night, every day of the year
Motorway limit is 130 km/h in summer and 110 km/h in winter; built-up areas are 50 km/h
A warning triangle and reflective vest must be carried, and a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are also widely required equipment
What to know before you turn the key
Lithuania 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.
Most rental companies in Lithuania expect an IDP from non-EU/EEA licence holders and can refuse the car without one
Winter tyres are compulsory from 10 November to 1 April, and dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on day and night all year
There are no tolls or vignettes for passenger cars; e-vignettes apply only to trucks and buses
Lithuanian police issue on-the-spot fines for offences such as speeding, driving without dipped headlights or missing winter tyres. Drink-driving above the 0.04% limit carries heavy fines, licence confiscation and possible vehicle impoundment in serious cases. Driving without a valid licence (or without the IDP/translation required for non-convention licences) risks fines and refusal at rental desks.
Local rules to watch in Lithuania
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Vilnius: the Old Town is a maze of narrow cobbled one-way streets with paid parking zones - park outside the centre and walk
Klaipeda and the Curonian Spit: cars cross by ferry from Klaipeda and pay a local entrance (ecological) fee to enter the national park
The A1 Via Baltica corridor links Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda - a fast motorway run with the 130 km/h summer limit
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Lithuania keeps.
Common questions about driving in Lithuania
Drive Lithuania, 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.