Russia on a UK Licence 2026: 1968 IDP, Then Keep Right
United Kingdom
Russia
GOV.UK says to carry the 1968 IDP with your UK licence in Russia, and it can only be bought in the UK. Keep right, no summer tyres 1 Dec-end Feb, 0.03 alcohol. FCDO advises against all travel.
Russia is a serious undertaking for a British self-driver, and it starts with a warning: the FCDO advises against all travel to Russia, and travel insurance may be invalid if you go against that advice. For anyone who still drives there, the paperwork is short but strict.
Licence and IDP
GOV.UK is direct: you need both the 1968 International Driving Permit and your UK driving licence with you in the car. The IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so get it from a Post Office before you leave; there is no arranging it on arrival. Keep the licence, IDP and passport together, because document checks by traffic police are routine.
The side switch
Russia drives on the right. A British driver carries the left-side reflex into a country of long, fast, lorry-heavy highways, so build in a quiet first hour and be deliberate at every junction and on every overtake.
Winter, alcohol and fuel
Winter tyres are a legal matter, not advice. Under the Customs Union vehicle regulation TR CU 018/2011, cars may not use summer tyres from 1 December to the end of February, and studded tyres are banned from June to August; regions may lengthen both periods. The alcohol limit is 0.03%, against 0.08% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 0.05% in Scotland, so drive dry. GOV.UK also reports fuel shortages and short-notice quotas in places, so check availability before any long leg.
Limits are 60 km/h in towns, 90 on rural roads and up to 110 on motorways. The general emergency number is 112, and offline maps are worth having once you leave the big cities.
Read the full Russia driving guide, confirm your permit with the Driving Permit Checker, and if a penalty does follow you, see our guide to who pays driving fines abroad.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Russia (advice against all travel; 1968 IDP plus UK licence; IDP only from the UK; fuel shortages): gov.uk
- Customs Union technical regulation TR CU 018/2011, Annex 8 s.5.5 (winter tyres): eec.eaeunion.org
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Russian Federation profile (60/90/110 km/h; 0.03 g/dl): who.int
- GOV.UK, drink-drive limits (England, Wales and Northern Ireland 80 mg; Scotland 50 mg per 100 ml blood): gov.uk
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Winter tyres in Russia — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are compulsory on fixed dates in Russia: Dec - Feb (varies by region; summer tyres prohibited Dec-Feb).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Russia sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: M+S or 3PMSF
- Studded tyres: allowed
Checked against national legislation, 1 Oct 2026 · Full Russia tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with the 1968 version of the International Driving Permit carried alongside it. GOV.UK says you need both in the car, and the IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so get it from a UK Post Office before you travel.
Yes. From 1 December to the end of February cars may not run on summer tyres, and studded tyres are banned from June to August; regions can lengthen both periods. A hire car in season should already be fitted; confirm it before you drive off.
0.03%, far below the 0.08% of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and also below Scotland's 0.05%. Treat it as zero before driving.