Seatbelt Requirements
The wearing of front and rear seatbelts is compulsory when fitted.
Children Passengers
Children in the front seat under 12yrs/1.5m must use an appropriate restraint.
Drink Driving Limits
50mg/100ml (UK 80mg/100ml)
Minimum Driving Age
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18
Speed Limits
Urban kph (mph)
Open Road kph (mph)
Motorway kph (mph)
Car
50 (31)
90 (56)
90-100 (56-62)
Towing
50 (31)
90 (56)
90-100 (56-62)
Drivers who have held a licence for less than 2 years are limited to 80kph (50mph)
Lights
Dipped headlights are required at all times.
Fuel
Fuel stations are well-equipped and widespread, most 24 hour service. You will want to fuel up at Statoil, Neste, Shell, of Lukoil for highest quality and value.
Tolls
There are no toll roads in Latvia.
Parking
Some areas of Latvia have established "Pay and Display" parking, in these areas you will need to purchase a disc or ticket from a meter to display on your dashboard. Illegally parked cars will have a wheel clamp placed on them.
Fines
We have no information regarding the issue of on-the-spot fines in Latvia.
Mobile Phones
It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving. The use of hands free systems is tolerated.
Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services.
Local numbers:
Fire – 01
Police – 02
Ambulance – 03
Other Useful Information
Drivers should carry original vehicle registration documents, when crossing the border into Latvia (including for motorcycles). Those who do not have these documents will not be allowed to take their vehicle back out of Latvia.
Drivers should not leave the driving seat unless asked to do so when stopped by the police.
If involved in an accident, do not attempt to move the vehicle until given permission by the police, even if it is blocking the road.
Winter tyres are required between 1 December and 1 March.
Embassy Details
Address:
British Embassy
5, J. Alunana Street
Riga LV-1010
Note 1: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries. Countries outside the EU still require national identification.
Note 2: Regardless of local requirements it is always a wise precaution to carry a spare set of vehicle bulbs and adjust headlamp beams for driving on the right. A spare bulb kit will not prevent a fine if you are travelling with faulty lights, but it may avoid the cost and inconvenience of a garage call out. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb or lamp unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spare bulbs is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights which may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Do not forget to ensure that you also carry any tools that might be required to change the various bulbs.
Disclaimer EUroadlegal has made every effort to ensure that the information contained on this page is accurate and up-to-date. In most instances the information has been collated from either an official document from the country concerned or from two or more reliable sources. EUroadlegal cannot be held responsible for any actions resulting from the adherence to or ignoring of the information contained on this page. If you would like to contribute by adding, removing or modifying the data on this page based on your own experience, please us.
LATVIA – drives on the right
