Can an American Drive in Moldova? — Same Side, but a 0.03 Limit

Yes, an American can drive in Moldova on a US licence, and the document to add is an International Driving Permit. The State Department’s Moldova page does not spell out a licence rule. Global Affairs Canada does: it tells visitors to carry an IDP, and says foreign visitors may drive on one for up to 90 days after arrival. For an American, that means getting the permit from AAA before the flight. It cannot be issued in Chișinău, and it only counts alongside your US licence and passport.

No side switch is needed. Moldova drives on the right, as you do.

The 0.03 rule and the blood test

The State Department puts this plainly: Moldova’s maximum legal blood alcohol content is 0.03 percent, well under the limit in the United States, and the safe course is not to drink before driving. A glass of wine at dinner can be enough to cross the line.

It also gives a piece of advice you will not find on most travel pages. If traffic police stop you for drink-driving and tell you that you will be fined or arrested, ask for a blood test to confirm your actual level. Stay calm, be polite, and make the request clearly.

Roads that change once you leave Chișinău

The department says Moldovan road conditions differ from those at home. Roads often lack signs and are unevenly maintained. On the same stretch you may meet:

• tractors
• cyclists
• horse-drawn carts
• pedestrians
• livestock

Put those together with poorly lit roads and the advice is clear: avoid driving at night. A rural journey takes longer than the distance suggests, so plan to arrive before dark.

If you land in Chișinău in the evening, consider a taxi to the hotel and collecting the rental car the next morning. Your first hour in an unfamiliar car then happens in daylight, on city streets, rather than on an unlit road out of town where a cart or a cow can appear with no warning.

In towns, take extra care at pedestrian crossings. The State Department notes that not all drivers stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. That cuts both ways. As a driver, expect the car beside you to keep going when you stop. As a pedestrian, do not step out on the assumption that traffic will halt.

Speed limits in mph

Interstate habits do not transfer. Moldova’s highest limit is below many American highway limits, and surfaces that break up without warning often make it too fast.

Fines in lei

Fines are in Moldovan lei (MDL):

Kit to check at the rental desk

Moldovan rules expect a car to carry a warning triangle, a reflective vest, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit. Look for all four before you sign. Walk round the car and photograph any damage, too.

Getting help

To reach the police or an ambulance, the State Department says to call 112, not 911. Road emergency services are generally responsive, but you may not get an English-speaking operator, so keep your location written down in a form you can read out, or share it by phone.

If you would rather not drive, the department notes that public transport is well developed, though some trains, trolleybuses and buses are old and can break down. Taxis in towns range from very old to new.

Confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, read the Moldova driving guide, and estimate a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Sources

• U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Moldova (road conditions; night driving; pedestrians; 0.03 percent and blood test; 112), last updated June 25, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov
• Global Affairs Canada, Moldova travel advice (carry an IDP; foreign visitors may drive on an IDP up to 90 days after arrival): travel.gc.ca