To travel abroad in your car or rent a car on a trip, you will need a driver’s license. In some countries, a Russian driver’s license is valid, while for others you will have to make an international one. In order to rent a car without problems, make insurance and not get into unpleasant situations with police officers on the road, you need to find out where and how you can get an international license, in which countries Russian driver’s licenses are valid, and what is the difference in their use.
What is an international driver’s license
An international driver’s license is a document translated into other languages, confirming the right to drive and certified by government authorities. An IDP is not issued by itself, but if you have a driver’s card of the country of citizenship. Without national rights, international ones have no legal force. At the end of the term or the deprivation of basic rights, they cannot be used.
When moving to a permanent place of residence in another state, they also do not work – you need to register local ones.
The document is issued in the form of a booklet of three sheets filled in on both sides. In it, you can find the driver’s data, his photo, the categories of vehicles available for driving, the presence of restrictions (for example, driving only with glasses). There you can also find a list of states where such a format is accepted.
How did
appearTraffic and driving by drivers from different countries is based on two treaties — they are called the Geneva and Vienna Conventions.
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic was adopted in 1949. Its purpose was to simplify and adopt general rules so that it would be possible to travel by motor transport on the territory of other states. The participating States, there were 96 of them, made decisions on unification, including the creation of a single driver’s license with which you can ride on various types of transport. Then, in addition to the general rules, the form of the booklet, its appearance, age restrictions for drivers (18 years old), validity period, vehicle categories were approved.
In 1968, a new convention on road traffic, called the Vienna Convention, was signed. It has been signed not by 96, but by 75 countries, and Russia is also among them. According to the agreements adopted at it, within these 75 states it is allowed to drive on a Russian (national) driver’s license (IDP).
The decision of the Vienna Convention concerns only a new type of IDP, which has been in force in Russia since 2011. The modern standard was adopted in 2006, and in the Russian Federation it began to be issued 5 years later. According to the addendum to the Vienna Convention, the IDP must have a barcode, which is only on the new card.
In which countries international driving licenses are needed or Russian ones will be enough, depends on the state’s participation in the conventions:
- Only the Geneva Convention has been signed – the rights of the Russian Federation will not work.
- The Vienna Convention – you can use Russian ones.
- Both – you can travel with Russian and international ones.
There are States that have not signed any of these conventions, and accordingly do not recognize any transport management documents other than their own. Drivers can only get a certificate in these countries. As a rule, these are non-touristic places.
Countries where the document of the Russian Federation is accepted
You can travel with a domestic driver’s license in many countries of Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. These are the whole of Eastern and Western Europe (except Andorra, Iceland and Ireland), Asia (Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Philippines, etc.), Africa (Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, etc.), South America (Venezuela, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Cuba, etc.).
If the host country accepts Russian driver’s documents, but they are old-style (before 2011), then this option will not work.
Countries where international driving licenses are valid
They did not sign the Vienna Agreement, and therefore they will require an international driver’s license – Australia, Japan, USA, Egypt, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Singapore, Canada, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Paraguay and others. The full list can be found on the UN website.
But in practice, everything is much more complicated and there may be various nuances. For example, police officers or rental agencies require IDUs, despite the State’s participation in signing the Vienna Convention. And in some, who did not sign the 1968 agreement, they calmly accept the card of the Russian Federation, since there is a photo and English. This cannot be foreseen, so it is better to make an international document just in case. For example, in the UAE, most local companies require an IDP, and without it, neither a rental car nor insurance is provided. This is regulated, among other things, by the internal rules of insurers and rental offices.
There is also a nuance – some states are on the list of signatories, but have not ratified the convention. It also leaves room for police action. Without an IDP, there may be problems with the police, payment of a fine, and in case of an accident, there is a possibility of going to jail for driving without documents.
Although Russian rights with photos and data in two languages are often enough abroad, it is not worth taking risks.
The best way to know for sure what to take on a trip is to go to the website of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, select the country of interest, and read about the laws and regulations. To do this, there is a special section where you can get acquainted with all the nuances. The section “Traffic” specifies the features of movement on the roads, rental rules, insurance, common types of fuel, and including the procedure for using documents of the Russian Federation.
How to get an international driver’s license in Russia
To get an IDP, there are three options: contact the traffic police directly, the MFC or the Public Services website.
In any case, you will have to pick it up in person, but you can apply online. An IDP is issued only to those who have national rights of the Russian Federation confirming the ability to drive vehicles. They do not issue it abroad – only in Russia, it cannot be done by proxy either.
It is quite simple to issue a certificate. You will need only two steps to apply – fill out an application and pay a fee (for 2024, it is 1,600 rubles). You can pay in the bank, in the banking application or in the traffic police terminal. There are categories exempt from duty, it is worth clarifying in advance. You don’t need a medical certificate, you won’t need to take theory and practice exams again either.
How to get it in person
- Pay the fee in a convenient way.
- Come to the nearest traffic police department.
- Fill out an application.
- Present a Russian driver’s license and passport.
- A finished photo is also required. It should be 3.5×4.5 cm, only matte.
Most likely, you will not have to present a payment receipt, the staff will check the receipt of funds themselves.
The photo book is issued on the same day, but there may be queues at the traffic police.
Another way to get a document in person is less fast, but more relaxed – registration at the MFC.
How to arrange receipt:
- Make an appointment at the MFC.
- Fill out an application, present the above documents, give a photo, pay the fee.
- Pick up the document at the MFC. You will have to wait at least 9 days.
How to order an IDP online
To order international–style rights online, you need to go to the Public Services website – in order to perform actions there, you will need registration and a personal account. In your personal account, you must:
- Submit an application.
- Pay the fee.
- Make an appointment with the traffic police by selecting the nearest address on the portal.
- Come to the inspection to pick up the document.
The notification will be sent in your personal account (usually it arrives on the same day). To get to the traffic police department, you must bring a photo and provide the originals of the driver’s license and passport.
Validity period
The IDU is valid for three years from the date of registration. But since this is not an independent document, the validity period is directly related to the Russian one – if it is invalid, the IDP is canceled automatically. It is also necessary to remember this when you take the driver’s documents with you to travel abroad – you must always have a domestic card with them.
After three years, when the deadline expires, the procedure for obtaining the same. The international driving certificate is not exchanged or extended, the procedure must be repeated. You can do this at any time according to the above scheme. If you do not plan to travel abroad, you do not need to receive an IDP – there are no sanctions for this.
IDUs can be recognizedinvalid:
- After three years.
- If the usual rights are invalid.
- There have been changes in the full name.
- The passport (series and number) has been changed.
- The IDU is lost or corrupted (unreadable).
- It is forbidden to drive a car by court order.
IDP will not be issued if:
- There are no ordinary rights.
- Basic rights have expired or been deprived.
- All documents are not provided, the photo is not suitable, etc.
Driving in Russia with an IDP without a Russian license is equivalent to driving without documents.
When you may need a license abroad:
- When traveling abroad in your own car.
- When staying abroad to rent a car.
- To be used as proof of identity (ticket purchase, room reservation, tour registration, etc.).
Car rental abroad
Let’s talk about some popular destinations – what is the situation with a valid driver’s license, car rental and the situation on the roads.
Thailand
In most cases, you will need an international driver’s license in Thailand. In their absence, an impressive fine is possible, and not all rental offices will give you a car. It must be remembered that IDUs do not work without a Russian certificate. A passport and a bank card are also required for rental. It is convenient to rent a car in Tae to visit interesting places, parks and palaces – this is much better than using public or sightseeing transport.
Thailand has left-hand traffic, so you need to get used to the other side. Without right-hand drive experience, it is advisable to use models with automatic transmission. These are usually offered for rent in Thailand. On the roads, as often happens in Asia, the rules are treated in a peculiar way, so you should be more careful.
You can fill up with gasoline and diesel at local gas stations. Gasoline is also often sold privately – it is cheaper, but may be of poor quality.
Turkey
Do I need an international driver’s license in Turkey? Turkey belongs to the states that participated in both conventions, so both the IDP and our certificate with Latin letters and a photo are valid here. You need to take both of them with you, just in case there are problems with the police.
The Russian-issued certificate in Turkey is valid for 6 months, so if you come for a longer period, you need to change it to a local one.
Turkey is a large and very diverse territory, and is not limited only to beach holidays, so exploring it on your own transport is interesting and convenient. You can drive along the coast, explore Fethiye, Didim, or go inland to picturesque places, such as Cappadocia. Car rentals are available in all resort towns, airports and hotels. You can rent a car if you are 21 years old. You will also need a passport, a deposit on the card and mandatory insurance.
There are no problems with gas stations and gasoline quality in Turkey, there are also good highways and clear international signs. There are toll highways – money is withdrawn automatically, it is worth considering when renting and planning a route.
India
In India, the Vienna Convention was not signed, the Russian driving license is not valid, you need to have an international or Indian one. Both well-known world companies and local companies offer cars for rent. But tourists are not recommended to take a car on their own. In India, they not only drive on the left side, but also have a special flavor of traffic rules, so it’s better to rent a car with a very experienced driver here.
Also, roads in India are not of very good quality, road signs and markings are not always there, and chaotic movement is known all over the world. One of the advantages is cheap gasoline.
Italy
In Italy, theoretically, you can also drive with both rights. But in fact, experienced travelers recommend making an MVA – there is a high probability that it will be asked at the rental office, or checked by the police. There are a lot of car rentals in Italy, you will need a deposit on the card to rent.
There are many toll roads in Italy, payment for which is carried out at departure, so it is better to take care of cash or a suitable bank card in advance. An unpaid fine is fraught with problems. There are also many automatic refueling stations, which also needs to be taken into account when paying.
Cyprus
For Cyprus, you will need a Russian-style driver’s license. An IDP is not required. Renting a car in Cyprus is a good idea, you can travel around the island, having time to see even the distant sights. Cyprus has excellent roads, automatic gas stations and familiar rules. Features of traffic regulations – left-hand traffic. Because of this, it is better to use a car with an automatic transmission. It is better to take an air-conditioned car in the hot summer months. And if you are going to the mountains, it is worth renting an SUV, climbing the slopes can be difficult.
Entry from the Greek part of Cyprus to the Turkish part in a rented car may be prohibited at some rental offices. In any case, if you manage to enter, the insurance is not valid there. You will have to buy an additional one already in Northern Cyprus.
United Arab Emirates
Renting a car in the UAE under Russian rights is possible and legally approved, but in fact you will most likely need an IDP. In his absence, you can not only get a refusal to rent, but also get a very large fine.
The UAE is an ideal state–of-the-art road and inexpensive gasoline. Even in Dubai, where there is an incredible automatic subway, it is more convenient to travel by your own transport. Rental services, including luxury cars, are well developed in the Emirates. They give transport only to those who have turned 21 years old, with at least one year of driving experience. In the UAE, large fines are provided for many violations, such as speeding, unbuckled seat belts, driving in the bus lane, so it is worth observing traffic rules. Even deportation or jail time is possible for drunk driving.
Georgia
In Georgia, you can drive with a Russian license, with a restriction of 1 year from the date of entry. In Tbilisi, you can rent a car quite cheaply. You will need a deposit and insurance. Traffic regulations are the same as in Russia.
It is convenient to rent a car here – beautiful views that are pleasant to observe on trips. Moving between the sights is much better than using a tour bus. You can go to the mountains and visit not too well-known to tourists, but cozy places. Residents of Georgia may violate traffic rules, but it is not worth repeating – the police monitor security very strictly.
But the mountains in Georgia are as beautiful as they are dangerous. It is forbidden to travel on steep mountain roads by car rental. There are uncovered areas, villages and even regions that cannot be visited. The lack of paved roads causes damage to cars, many places are not evacuated, dirt roads over cliffs are often found. You will be informed about this when renting a car or indicated in the rental agreement, but just in case it is better to check with the manager of the rental company. It is also forbidden to visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Also, each country has its own limitations and peculiarities:
- In Belarus, even if you have a Belarusian residence permit, Russian rights will be valid for only 3 months.
- In Bulgaria, you will not be able to travel with a Russian IDP for more than a year.
- China also accepts IDUs – but only on short-term trips. If you stay for a long time, you need to make local rights.
The main thing to remember
- A number of states have adopted international laws, while in others it is possible to travel in Russian. It is better to clarify this before the trip.
- In practice, international law may require in almost any country. Therefore, it is better to arrange an IDP anyway – it is inexpensive and easy.
- Be prepared that you will be asked to show a domestic driver’s license for the IDP. The IDP is invalid without it, so when you go abroad, take both documents.
- To get an IDP, you need to apply through Public Services, the traffic police or the MFC. You do not need to take additional exams or provide a medical certificate.
- The validity period of the international certificate is 3 years, and they are also limited by the validity period of national rights.
- Different countries have different traffic patterns, so before you travel, you should study the nuances: parking rules, right-hand or left-hand traffic, nuances of toll roads, as well as download a navigator and maps. It is worth looking at the forums and discussions to find out how things are going with police control and car rental.
- You will need a credit card in the rental service, most landlords do not accept Russian cards.