Driving Permit for North Macedonia
Driving in North Macedonia with a foreign licence: 1968-convention IDP rules, rental car requirements, motorway tolls, headlight and winter tyre laws, and alcohol limits for visitors.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1968 Vienna
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in North Macedonia?
North Macedonia recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence during a temporary stay. Licences printed in Latin script are generally accepted on their own, while licences in non-Latin alphabets should be paired with a 1968-format IDP so local police can read them. The requirement is applied seriously in practice: the UK government advises that even British photocard holders need the 1968 IDP when driving a privately owned car in North Macedonia, with exemptions only for rental-car drivers and residence-permit holders.
At rental desks in Skopje, Ohrid and the airports, a full EU, UK, US or similar licence is usually enough to collect a car, though hire companies commonly require a higher minimum age than the legal driving age of 18 and around two years of driving experience. Document checks by traffic police are not uncommon, so keep your passport, licence, IDP, vehicle registration and proof of insurance in the car. If you bring a foreign-registered vehicle, carry a Green Card or other evidence that your insurance covers North Macedonia.
Traffic drives on the right, and dipped headlights are compulsory at all times, day and night. Motorways such as the routes linking Skopje with Ohrid and the Greek and Serbian borders are tolled through a ticket-and-booth system paid in cash or by card — there is no vignette. Winter rules run from 15 November to 15 March, when winter tyres or snow chains are required, and the blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, dropping to zero for professional drivers and those licensed for under two years.
North Macedonia recognises the IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in North Macedonia
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Valid original driving licence — licences not printed in Latin script should be paired with an IDP
1968-convention IDP required or strongly recommended for non-EU visitors driving private (non-rental) cars
Minimum driving age is 18; rental firms typically require a higher minimum age and around 2 years of driving experience
Valid third-party insurance — a Green Card is useful proof of cover for foreign-registered vehicles
Traffic drives on the right, with overtaking on the left
Dipped headlights are compulsory 24 hours a day on all roads, including in towns
The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, with effectively zero tolerance for professional drivers and novices licensed under two years
Winter equipment rules apply from 15 November to 15 March: winter tyres with at least 4 mm tread, or snow chains carried where conditions require them
Motorway tolls are collected at toll plazas in cash or by card — North Macedonia does not use a vignette
General speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80–110 km/h on open roads and 130 km/h on motorways, unless signed otherwise
What to know before you turn the key
North Macedonia 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 Skopje and Ohrid usually accept EU/UK/US licences on their own, but police document checks are common on Macedonian roads, so carry your IDP as well
Motorways use a ticket-and-toll-booth system paid in cash or by card — North Macedonia has no vignette sticker
Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times, day and night, on all roads
Traffic police conduct frequent document checks and can fine drivers on the spot for offences such as driving without dipped headlights, missing winter equipment, speeding or not carrying required documents. Drink-driving over the limit and other serious offences attract heavier penalties, so keep your licence, IDP and insurance papers with you at all times.
Local rules to watch in North Macedonia
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Skopje: the capital has the country's heaviest traffic and assertive local driving styles; allow extra time at rush hour and use paid parking zones in the centre
Ohrid: the lakeside town is the most popular road trip from Skopje via the tolled motorway network; expect mountain stretches and slower local traffic near the lake
Border areas: roads to the Greek and Serbian crossings are motorway-standard and tolled, but queues at the border itself can be long in peak season
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road North Macedonia keeps.
Common questions about driving in North Macedonia
Drive North Macedonia, 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.