Where is a Russian driver's license valid?

Anyone who decides to get the right to drive a vehicle just needs to get a driver's license. He can travel with it in his own country as long as the VU is valid. But can you use your national driver's license abroad? Are they valid there? You can understand these issues and find out in which countries Russian driver’s licenses are valid by reading this article.

Vienna and Geneva conventions

In 1968, the Convention on Road Traffic was signed in Vienna. It replaced the Geneva Convention of 1949, the main drawback of which was that, in addition to the national ID, an international certificate was also required for unhindered movement abroad.

The Vienna Convention was created to make traffic rules common to different countries around the world. Therefore, the result should have been road safety, since drivers took the driving test using the same rules. When moving from one country to another, they would not adapt to the new rules. General traffic signs were also developed around the same time.

The Convention was supported and signed by a large number of states, including the Russian Federation. Now, to travel abroad - to one of the countries that have signed and ratified the Vienna Convention - you do not need to change your national license or obtain an additional international driver's license (IDP). In 1971 and 2006, the agreement was finalized.

Which countries recognize Russian VU?

Many drivers are interested in the question of whether a Russian driving license is valid in Europe. The answer may surprise you, but Russian VU is valid not only in many European countries, but also in some countries in South America, Asia and even Africa.

On the map, countries that have signed the Vienna Convention are highlighted in dark color. But currently, not all of them accept Russian IDs. The fact is that the leadership of countries can change their decision and sign new agreements, canceling old ones.

You can see the list of countries where a Russian driver's license is valid in 2019 below:

Austria,
Albania,
Azerbaijan,
Armenia,
Bahrain,
Bahamas,
Belgium,
Belarus,
Bulgaria,
Brazil,
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Ghana,
Greece,
Germany,
Georgia,
Democratic Republic of Congo,
Zimbabwe,
Denmark,
Romania,
Slovakia,

In accordance with the requirements of the convention, information on a driver's license must be duplicated in English, and the lines must be numbered. According to these requirements, new plastic Russian licenses have been issued.

But if you have a laminated ID issued before March 23, 2011, it must also be recognized until its expiration date.

For which countries do you also need an international VU?

In addition to the Vienna Convention, many countries have also signed the Geneva Convention, according to which you can also move freely on the territory of the signatory states. Moreover, in addition to the Russian license, you need to have an annex to it - an international driver's license (IDP).

There are slightly fewer of these countries, since many of them reconsidered the decision and signed the Vienna Convention.

To find out how many countries are parties to the Geneva Convention as of 2019, read the list below:

Australia,
Algeria,
New Guinea,
Andorra,
Nigeria,
Papua,
Argentina,
Paraguay,
The Republic of Korea,
Ghana,
Venezuela,
Haiti,
Dominican Republic,
Mali,
New Zealand,
Namibia,
Ireland,
Malaysia,
Malta,
Benin,
Iceland,
Singapore,
Bangladesh,
Syria,
USA,
Rwanda,
Sierra Leone,
Egypt,
India,
Botswana,
Burkina Faso,
Guatemala,
Vatican,
Jordan,
Barbados,
Great Britain,
Spain,
Cambodia,
Canada,
Cyprus,
Laos,
Ecuador,
Lebanon,
Madagascar,
Malawi,
Thailand,
Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago,
Uganda,
Fiji,
Chile,
Lesotho,
Sri Lanka,
Congo,
Jamaica,
Japan.

All of these states are supporters of the Geneva Convention and require drivers to have an international driving license.

What rights are needed in other countries?

Undoubtedly, there are many states that have given their preference to one or another agreement on road traffic, but there are also those that have decided to stay on the sidelines. In order to legally drive your own car in such countries, you will need to obtain a local driver's license.

There are many problems associated with the execution of the document, and they may refuse to replace the national license with a local one due to the discrepancy between the rights and accepted standards. Therefore, you need to find out what rights are needed for Russians abroad in specific countries in advance.

What do we end up with?

For motorists, the countries of the world are conventionally divided into three types: members of the Geneva Convention, the Vienna Convention, and those that have not signed either one. Before traveling abroad, it is worth knowing this information in advance. This way you will protect yourself from troubles and unnecessary problems.

Also, do not forget that the old-style Russian driver’s license is not recognized even in countries that have signed the Vienna Convention.

Practicing lawyer with 10 years of experience. Specializations: criminal law, insurance law, administrative offenses.

Which countries recognize Russian driver's licenses?

Cars, planes and trains are among the three most popular modes of transport for traveling abroad among Russians. But if a foreign passport and a visa are enough for air and rail transport, then traveling by car creates additional difficulties. Since not all countries in the world recognize Russian driver's licenses, we will find out in which countries Russian driver's licenses are valid and what can replace them.

Are Russian rights recognized abroad?

Whether Russian rights are recognized abroad depends on the country. There are two conventions on road traffic: Vienna (1968) and Geneva (1949). Signatory countries to the Vienna Convention, including Russia, mutually recognize national driving licenses issued in member countries, provided that these licenses comply with the requirements of the convention.

Countries that have signed the Geneva Convention require foreigners to have an international driver's license.

The traffic police in Russia issues both types of these rights. National rights of the new type, issued in Russia since 2011, are recognized by all members of the Vienna Convention, and therefore do not require the execution of other documents. To visit the territory of countries signatory to the Geneva Convention by car, you will need an international driver's license (IDP). The procedure for its issuance is described in Section III of the Rules approved by Government Decree No. 1097 of October 24, 2014.

Countries where national Russian laws apply

Russian drivers should be glad that most countries in the world are members of the Vienna Convention. In Europe, for example, only a few countries have not signed or ratified this document, so traveling within the EU with a Russian license is not a problem. The list of countries that recognize Russian driving licenses is much wider – below are all the states where Russians with a national driver’s license can drive a car.

It is worth noting that only those Russians who have received a new type of certificate issued after March 1, 2011 have the opportunity to use Russian national rights. The old-style rights, although valid, are not recognized in foreign countries due to the lack of transliteration in Latin.

National licenses allow you to drive a car only for short-term visits - within a period of 3 to 12 months from the date of entry into a particular country.

Local requirements then require obtaining a local license, since such drivers are considered by the state to be local temporary or permanent residents.

In addition, even in a country party to the Vienna Convention, an IDP may be required, for example, when renting a car. Let's take a closer look at what an international driver's license is.

IDP: what is it and where is it required?

An international driver's license is a document issued by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate as an addition to your national license. Therefore, in the countries of the Geneva Convention, an IDP will be invalid without national rights - they are presented together. There are no problems with obtaining an international license: they are issued to the driver on the day of application without an additional exam. You only need to pay a state fee of 1.6 thousand rubles, provide the employee with your national license, application, photo and passport. The form of the certificate is approved by Appendix No. 1 to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 206 of 04/18/2011. A sample IDP can be found below.

Front page of the second sheet

Front page of the third sheet

Inner page of the first sheet

Inner page of the second sheet

Inner page of the third sheet

The need for an IDP arises when moving across the territory of the countries of the Geneva Convention. An International Driver's Permit is not required to travel abroad, but you will need one when traveling in Australia, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mali, Malta and many other countries that have not signed or ratified the Vienna Convention.

As practice shows, IDPs will not always be mandatory. According to tourists and according to information from the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, many countries of the Geneva Convention are very loyal to national rights. The main condition is the presence of Latin transliteration. However, it is not recommended to take risks and travel to these countries without an international license - this can lead to fines and other troubles being imposed on the driver.

IDP for car rental

International rights may be required not only in the countries of the Geneva Convention, but also in the Vienna Convention. In particular, when renting vehicles. Thus, many vehicle rental companies put forward conditions such as mandatory length of service, the age of the driver, payment of a deposit, and the presence of an IDP. This is not a violation of the law: the landlord makes such demands on tenants as he considers necessary. But as a rule, such an order is established only by large rental networks. Small firms, although they have a smaller fleet of vehicles, do not require an international driver's license.

For example, in Switzerland, Norway and Belgium, it is extremely difficult to find rental services without IDP requirements.

Moreover, some countries where national rights are recognized oblige car renters to have an IDP even at the legislative level. A striking example is Greece, where the new transport law 4530/2018, which came into force in March 2019, allows drivers without an IDP to be fined 200 euros if they rented a car. In practice, local police interpret the rule in such a way that the fine increases to 1 thousand euros and doubles for a repeated violation. And although tourists from the Russian Federation claim that the conditions for renting a car in Greece have not changed in 2019, the local police may have a different opinion.

Recommendations and reviews from experienced travelers

Even if you plan to visit a Vienna Convention country, it is advisable to obtain an IDP. And it’s not just about the rental: in the event of an accident, in which the police will be involved, you shouldn’t count on insurance compensation without an international certificate. These are, as a rule, the conditions of the insurance company itself, specified in the insurance contract, according to which, without an IDP, insurance is considered invalid, regardless of the country and its affiliation with any of the conventions.

If you plan to rent a car, make sure to obtain an IDP long before your trip. Especially if you travel abroad often. The fact is that recently an incident occurred to me at the GoldCar rental company in Italy: an employee refused to give me a car due to the fact that IDPs were issued immediately before departure. The rental conditions included the following clause: “The client is required to have a valid driver’s license, issued at least one year before concluding the rental agreement.” I had to look for another rental company.

Do not forget that international licenses are valid for only three years from the date of issue. One day, having forgotten about this and gone on a long business trip to India for eight months, I suddenly discovered that the IDP was expiring in just 30 days. No matter how inconvenient it may be, throughout the entire business trip I had to forget about renting a car and use the “excellent” Indian public transport. Don't repeat my mistakes!

Conclusion

A few key takeaways that readers should always keep in mind:

most countries in Europe and neighboring countries are members of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, therefore they recognize national driving licenses, including those issued in Russia;
International driving license may still be required - to rent a car or in case of an accident to receive insurance payments;
countries that are not members of the Vienna Convention require an IDP even when driving your own car;
In any case, no matter what country you go to by car, we recommend that you obtain an international driving license and always carry it with you.

List of countries where Russian driving licenses are valid in 2019

Experienced motorists often prefer to travel to foreign countries in their own vehicle. The ability to independently regulate the number of stops to view certain attractions guarantees only a pleasant travel experience. However, positive emotions can be spoiled by an inspection of documents by an inspector if he discovers that the driver’s license does not comply with the law. Therefore, every driver needs to know in which countries a Russian driver’s license is valid, and where an international one is needed.

National driver's license outside the Russian Federation

Russian documents that allow you to drive a car on the territory of our state are national driving licenses (NAP) of the old and new type. The old format of the certificate, which was issued until 2011, is valid until the end of its term (clause 8 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation dated May 13, 2009 No. 365 “On the entry into force of a driver’s license”). The new Russian plastic rights, unlike previous versions of the document, comply in all respects with today's requirements of international standards.

Abroad, depending on the country of residence, national and international driving licenses are valid. A driver's license for traveling abroad should be selected based on the type of document you have:

You can drive according to the old NAP in any country that is a party to interethnic agreements only if you have an international car license and a notarized translation of the Russian one (we will look at which states have signed the Convention on Road Traffic below).
According to the new NAP, without the need to obtain an international license, movement is allowed only in a limited number of states party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
With an international driver's license, driving a vehicle (vehicle) is possible in any country that is a party to international agreements, but only if you have a valid driving license.

A driver's license of the new format, recognized by many foreign countries, gives the right not only to travel in your own car, but also to rent a car in the host country without any problems.

In states that recognize the Russian NAP, even large transnational rental companies will rent out the car you are interested in (subject to their requirements for the driver’s age and driving experience). You can book a car and clarify additional requirements for the driver in advance on the Hertz website or the Avis Rent web portal.

Next, it’s worth taking a closer look at whether Russian driver’s licenses are valid in Europe and how to drive in countries that have not signed the convention on road traffic.

Features of the legal application of Russian rights abroad

As mentioned above, there are countries that have signed international treaties, and countries that do not participate in any of the agreements regarding the recognition of certain motor rights on their territory. Each case has its own nuances:

CU Department for National Rights of the Russian Federation in Foreign Countries

States parties to the Vienna Convention that have ratified the agreement are highlighted in red.

What driver's license do Russians need in Europe?

For many drivers, traveling in your own car is the most comfortable.

After all, this is the only way there is no connection to public transport; you can independently plan your route and stops along the way.

Renting a car abroad is also not particularly difficult.

Therefore, the question of whether Russian driver’s licenses are valid in Europe remains relevant.

In accordance with the law, the following types of driving documents are distinguished:

National - give you the opportunity to drive a car on the territory of your state.
International - issued for use on the territory of foreign powers.

The answer to the question of what kind of driver's license is needed in Europe for Russians can only be based on official documents that regulate this. In this case, these are the Geneva and Vienna Conventions.

What type of driver's license can you drive abroad?

All existing countries can be divided into three groups:

states that have signed the Vienna Convention;
states that have signed the Geneva Convention;
countries that have not signed any of these documents.

Based on which document the country where you are planning to travel has joined, it depends which driver’s license will be valid on its territory.

States in the third group, which have not supported any convention, recognize exclusively their own driving rights . Thus, it will be possible to drive a car in their open spaces only after the driver has passed the appropriate exams and received a local document.

Some of these states allow exceptions. On their territory it is possible to use a national document with a translation attached to it. But before you go there, you should find out everything in detail.

Countries that signed the Geneva Convention of 1949 agreed that they would recognize an international driving license in their territories . In this case, you can safely take out a license to travel abroad and not worry about possible misunderstandings and fines.

Thus, with international rights you can travel to the following countries:

Australia;
Albania;
Algeria;
Andorra;
Argentina;
Bangladesh;
Belize;
Benin;
Botswana;
Haiti;
Gambia;
Guatemala;
Gibraltar;
Hong Kong;
Grenada;
Dominican Republic;
Egypt;
Western Samoa;
India;
Jordan;
Ireland;
Iceland;
Cambodia;
Canada;
Cyprus;
China;
Congo;
Laos;
Lesotho;
Lebanon;
Mauritania;
Madagascar;
Malawi;
Malaysia;
Mali;
Malta;
Namibia;
Netherlands;
New Zealand;
New Caledonia;
Papua New Guinea;
Paraguay;
Peru;
Rwanda;
San Lucia;
Swaziland;
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
Singapore;
Syria;
USA;
Sierra Leone;
Taiwan;
Tanzania;
Togo;
Trinidad and Tobago;
Tunisia;
Türkiye;
Uganda;
Fiji;
French polynesia;
Jamaica;
Japan.

The most convenient and pleasant group for Russians is the group of states that includes the parties to the Vienna Convention. It is in such countries that Russian driver's licenses and other national licenses are valid. The main condition is their compliance with established standards.

Since this convention was supported by almost all European countries, Russian rights are valid in Europe. The list of these states is as follows :

Austria;
Bahamas;
Bahrain;
Belarus;
Belgium;
Bulgaria;
Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Brazil;
Great Britain;
Hungary;
Venezuela;
Guyana;
Ghana;
Germany;
Greece;
Georgia;
Denmark;
Zaire;
Zimbabwe;
Israel;
Indonesia;
Iran;
Spain;
Italy;
Kazakhstan;
Kyrgyzstan;
Costa Rica;
Ivory Coast;
Cuba;
Kuwait;
Latvia;
Lithuania;
Luxembourg;
Macedonia;
Morocco;
Mexico;
Monaco;
Niger;
Norway;
UAE;
Pakistan;
Poland;
Portugal;
The Republic of Korea;
Republic of Moldova;
Romania;
San Marino;
Seychelles;
Senegal;
Slovakia;
Slovenia;
Tajikistan;
Thailand;
Turkmenistan;
Uzbekistan;
Ukraine;
Uruguay;
Philippines;
Finland;
France;
Croatia;
CAR;
Czech Republic;
Chile;
Switzerland;
Sweden;
Ecuador;
Estonia;
SOUTH AFRICA;
Yugoslavia.

In 2006, the format of the international driver's license changed . The numbering of all lines of this document has become a prerequisite.

After the introduction of the changes, the countries that signed the Vienna Treaty were given 5 years to bring all driving documents into compliance.

Thus, an international driving license is needed in those countries that are parties to the Geneva Convention. But there are exceptions here too.

For example, in the USA, which signed the Geneva Convention and must recognize only international driving documents, there are no questions about Russian licenses, either at the rental office or with the police.

Does a Russian driver's license correspond to international ones?

In some European countries, the new Russian driving license causes distrust. This is due to the fact that there are no Latin inscriptions on the document.

What rights apply in Europe is a rather pressing question . After all, the driver's license of Russians fully complies with the requirements of the international Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, adopted in 1968.

It sets uniform standards for road signs and traffic rules for all participants. This convention has been approved in almost all European countries.

Quite often, drivers who have already acquired new plastic licenses encounter certain problems abroad. The main reason for them is misunderstanding on the part of the police.

It is caused by the lack of translation of the phrase “Driver’s license”. In the old document, this translation was in French.

Some companies that provide cars for rent require that you show them an international driving license. This happens quite rarely.

An international license is only required if the driver plans to visit a country that has not signed the Vienna Convention.

If the police officer refuses to recognize Russian rights, it is recommended to have with you a printed copy of the Vienna Convention in English or in the language of the country you plan to visit.

If someone is very afraid that problems may arise with national rights abroad, then they can obtain an international document.

But all police inspectors should know whether an international driving permit is needed in Europe. Therefore, they cannot make unfounded claims against Russian drivers.

How to get an international driving license

Countries that have supported only the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic recognize an international driving license on their territory.

For those planning to visit them, it should be taken into account that national rights must also be present, since without them the international document is not valid.

This is not very convenient for Russian drivers who only have a national license. But, as practice has proven, discrepancies occur quite often.

Some countries, although they have signed the Vienna Convention, continue to require an international document or recognize only those rights that are issued on their territory.

According to international law in 2019, the above requirements are not legal. They are doomed to fail in court proceedings.

But similar situations happen, and most often in European countries. The problem does not have to be immediately resolved in court; sometimes it is resolved on the road or at the police station, referring to international law.

By law, international rights in Europe are only required in countries that are members of the Geneva Convention.

In addition to the police, misunderstandings may also arise with offices that provide cars for rent. They may refuse their services if the driver does not have an international document.

Therefore, before traveling to another country, you should carefully study all the necessary information about it on the Internet. And in order not to spoil your mood with worries on vacation and showdowns with the police, you can get an international ID card. This procedure takes a little time.

The following documents will be required for registration:

Russian driver's license.
Identity card of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
International passport.
Medical certificate of fitness to drive a vehicle.
Driver's photo.
Receipt of payment of the duty.

With the package of the above documents, you should go to the central department of the traffic police of your city, since not every department can issue the document. After this, in about half an hour, the driver will receive an international driver's license.

It is very comfortable to travel in your own car to different countries. But first of all, it’s worth understanding in which countries Russian driver’s licenses are valid. And also, is an international driving license required in Europe?

The first thing you need to do is determine which group the country you plan to visit belongs to . In accordance with the law, Russian driver's licenses are valid in Europe, since European countries have signed the Vienna Convention.

An international driver's license is recognized by states that have signed the Geneva Convention. In practice, various nuances occur, but you can always defend your interests if you act in accordance with international law.

In which countries do Russian laws apply and where are international ones needed?

When going to other countries for vacation or business, citizens prefer to use personal or rented transport rather than public transport. This solution allows you to feel freedom, comfort and save money. Since driving a car is impossible without special permission issued in the form of a driver’s license, many drivers have a question: are the licenses valid in their country valid in the territory of another state? We will answer it in this article.

Classification of foreign countries

To drive a vehicle, you must have a special permit, issued in the form of a national or international license. Their relevance on the territory of another state depends on the country's membership in a certain category, depending on the type of point of view supported, expressed in formalized international agreements. Thus, all countries are divided into 3 categories:

Signatories to the Vienna Convention (1968);
Signatories of the Geneva Convention (1949);
Those who have not signed international agreements.

More than 85 states have signed the Vienna Convention. Among them are countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia. Over 60 countries participate in the Geneva Convention. Among them are Australia, Egypt, India, Kyrgyzstan, USA, Turkey, Japan. Countries that have not signed international agreements do not recognize any driving licenses other than licenses issued in a form in accordance with the requirements of local regulatory sources. In some situations, the provisions of internal legislative documents of such states recognize the right of citizens of a particular country to use international driver's licenses. However, in most cases, driving in these countries is possible only after obtaining special permission based on passing exams and obtaining local licenses.

Countries that signed the Vienna Agreement

Countries party to the Vienna Convention recognize on their territory citizens of other states who drive a car on the basis of an international or national driving license. In accordance with the requirements of the treaty agreement, the format of the national ID recognized in the territory of its member countries has been changed. Citizens of these states were given time until 2011 to bring their national driving licenses into compliance with the new format. The certificates issued in Russia by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate currently comply with the requirements of the international agreement. Persons who issued such documents after 2011 can travel freely by personal transport without the need to complete additional documentation.

Since the Russian Federation is a party to this agreement, foreign national rights of an international format are valid on its territory. However, this applies only to those persons who do not carry out labor or entrepreneurial activities in the field of transportation. For such citizens, from June 1, 2017, in accordance with clause 13 of Art. 25 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety”, the use of a driver’s license from one’s own state is unacceptable. Exceptions are citizens of Kyrgyzstan, as well as countries in which Russian is the official language (Belarus, Kazakhstan and others).

Countries that have signed the Geneva Convention

The states parties to the Geneva Agreement have agreed to recognize the validity of an international driver's license on their territory. Therefore, Russians can travel to such states if they have an IDP. Since the document is only valid if you have national rights, you should not forget about them when getting ready to travel. The lack of documents is the reason for the accrual of penalties for driving without a permit to drive a vehicle.

Conclusion

To ensure that a trip abroad is not spoiled by a meeting with a traffic inspector, the driver must have information about the current laws of the state and the existence of international agreements with his country. Before you go on a trip, you should find out whether it is possible to move a car around the territory on the basis of a Russian license, or whether you need to obtain an international one. In some states, both types of documents are not current, so their guests will have to issue a new certificate according to local rules.