Can a Brit Drive in Latvia? — Yes, Side Switch + Winter Tyre Rule

Latvia is an easy, underrated Baltic drive — Riga’s old town, the coast, and quiet forest roads toward Estonia and Lithuania. For a British visitor the rules are mostly straightforward, but two of them differ enough from home to be worth fixing in your mind before you collect the keys.

The verdict for British licence holders

You can drive in Latvia on your UK licence. Since Brexit, a British licence is treated as a non-EU one, so an International Driving Permit is advisable to carry alongside it — particularly for rental desks and roadside checks, even though Latvia generally accepts the UK photocard. Bring the UK licence, the IDP and your passport as a set. Your documents are good for a normal tourist stay; arrange the IDP at home before you travel.

Adjustment one: switching to the right

The UK drives on the left; Latvia drives on the right. It is the change most likely to catch you, and the risk peaks in the first hour — joining a roundabout that now circulates the other way, pulling out of a fuel station, or glancing the wrong direction at a junction. Start somewhere quiet rather than central Riga and stay deliberate until right-hand traffic stops feeling alien. The busy Via Baltica corridor sees heavy lorry traffic, so leave room.

Adjustment two: winter tyres are the law

Here is the rule that surprises British drivers most. In the cold-season months, winter tyres are legally required in Latvia — not a suggestion, as they are in the UK, but a mandate. A hire car booked for a winter trip should come fitted with them, but confirm it with the rental firm rather than assume. Driving on summer tyres in winter is both an offence and genuinely dangerous on ice.

The everyday numbers

Limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 on rural roads and 110 on motorways, enforced by fixed cameras and mobile patrols. The alcohol limit is 0.05 BAC, below the 0.08 of most of the UK, so keep it to zero. Police can issue on-the-spot fines, so carry a card or cash; missing the right equipment can cost around EUR 30-40. Fuel is roughly $1.58/litre and the emergency number is 112.

Confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, read the full local rules on our Latvia driving guide, and estimate any penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.