Can an Indian Driver Drive in North Macedonia? — IDP Recommended & a Side Switch

North Macedonia is an easy, cheap and scenic Balkan drive, and for an Indian visitor the paperwork is straightforward. Here is the verdict, then the two things that genuinely catch people out.

An Indian licence holder can drive in North Macedonia on their Indian licence with an International Driving Permit recommended alongside it. The IDP matters more here than in some countries because police checkpoints are common and an officer will want a document they can read — carry the IDP, your Indian licence and your passport together, and sort the IDP in India before you travel.

The first real adjustment is the side of the road. India drives on the left; North Macedonia drives on the right. The danger window is your first day — joining a roundabout that now flows the other way, or a reflex glance the wrong direction at a junction. Take your first hour on quiet roads outside Skopje rather than in city traffic.

The second is enforcement. Police checkpoints are a normal part of driving here, and stops to inspect documents are routine rather than a sign of trouble — have your papers to hand and the process is quick. Speed is watched by both fixed cameras and mobile patrols. Limits are 50 km/h in towns, 80 on rural roads and up to 130 on the motorways, and a speeding penalty typically runs MKD 3,000–6,000 (≈ €50–100), often paid at the roadside. The drink-drive limit is 0.05. Winter tyres are required in the cold months, so check the dates if you travel between late autumn and spring. Fuel is around $1.35 a litre and the emergency number is 112.

See our North Macedonia driving guide for the full detail, confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any penalty before you go with the Speeding Fine Calculator.