Armenia drives on the right with a 0.02% alcohol limit that is close to zero, and visitors are expected to carry an IDP with the national licence. We found no verified national speed table, so follow the signs.
Armenia Driving 2026: Right Side, 0.02% Alcohol, IDP Needed
Data verified:
4 min readArmenia drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18. The general emergency number is 112. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC. Visitors need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their national licence.
Armenia has right-hand traffic and treats you as drunk above 0.2 grams of alcohol per litre of blood (0.02%), so in practice plan on not drinking at all before driving.
Watch: Driving in Armenia
How to drive in Armenia · Armenian Life with Mitch
Armenia drives on the right and holds drivers to a blood alcohol ceiling of 0.02%. Foreign drivers must be at least 18, should carry an International Driving Permit alongside the national licence, and are expected to have a warning triangle, reflective vest, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher in the car at routine police stops.
Your case: Armenian distances read short on a map and drive long over the passes, so the fuel bill is where budgets slip. Put your own car and route into the fuel cost calculator before committing to a day trip out of Yerevan.
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Emergency Numbers in Armenia
General Emergency: 112 | Police: 112
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Armenia, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Armenia
We could not find a published national speed table for Armenia in an official source we could check, and the WHO road safety report notes that limits are reduced in residential areas, so follow the posted signs rather than a rule of thumb.
Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.
Speeding Fines and Penalties
Speeding fines in Armenia vary based on how much you exceed the posted limit. Fines increase sharply for higher violations and may include licence points or driving bans for serious offences.
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, traffic circulates anticlockwise: give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, which approach from your left, unless signs say otherwise.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is prohibited. Hands-free systems are permitted.
Use headlights in poor visibility, tunnels, and at night.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
The legal blood alcohol limit in Armenia is 0.02%. Article 126 of the Code of Administrative Offences counts a driver as intoxicated once a test finds more than 0.2 grams of alcohol per litre of blood, or 0.1 milligrams per litre of exhaled breath. A first offence brings a fine and five penalty points; above 1 gram per litre of blood the licence goes for a year, and taxi and public transport drivers lose theirs at any level of intoxication. Penalties for drink-driving include heavy fines, licence confiscation, and potential imprisonment.
The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.
Tyre Requirements and Regulations
Winter tyres are required in Armenia when conditions demand them, particularly on mountain roads. There is no fixed calendar window.
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm.
Studded tyres are prohibited in Armenia.
For detailed tyre law information, see our Tyre Laws in Armenia guide.
Driving License Requirements
Always carry your original driving licence — photocopies are not accepted.
Parking and Fuel
Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Practical Driving Tips for Armenia
- Download offline maps of Armenia before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
- Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
- Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
Related tools
Mandatory Equipment in Armenia
Winter tyres in Armenia — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Armenia whenever conditions are wintry — When conditions require (mountain roads).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Armenia sets no separate winter figure.
- Studded tyres: allowed
Checked against national legislation · Full Armenia tyre law · Compare all countries
Licence Requirements for Foreign Drivers
Canada: IDP or Armenian licence needed. GOV.UK: 1968 IDP plus UK licence. Armenia is a 1968 Vienna party only (2005), not 1949.
Emergency Numbers in Armenia
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Tyre Laws in Armenia
Winter tyre requirements, tread depth rules, and studded tyre regulations.
View tyre regulationsAvoid a fine in Armenia
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guideDriving in Armenia on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
Renting a Car in Armenia?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
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Recent changes to this page
- Roundabout rule corrected: the page said to enter clockwise, but traffic keeps right here, so roundabouts run anticlockwise.
- Template speed limits (50/80/100 km/h) and the 100 km/h motorway field removed; no national speed figure is verified, so title, description and quick answer now rely on the 0.02% alcohol rule and the IDP requirement.
- Corrected the drink-driving limit from 0.05% to 0.02% (0.2 g per litre of blood or 0.1 mg per litre of breath), as set by Article 126 of Armenia's Code of Administrative Offences.
- Opening rewritten as a direct answer on driving side, limits and paperwork for foreign drivers, with a fuel-cost bridge for mountain routes; title, description and quick answer aligned to the questions this page is found for. Blank driving age filled in as 18 from TyreMap country data.
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
- Replaced the speeding-fine calculator link: that tool covers 17 countries and Armenia is not one of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
We could not find a published national speed table for Armenia in an official source we could check, and the WHO road safety report notes that limits are reduced in residential areas, so follow the posted signs rather than a rule of thumb.
In Armenia, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.
Foreign visitors to Armenia should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their valid national driving license. An IDP translates your license into multiple languages and is recognized internationally. Check with the embassy of Armenia for the most current requirements.
Winter tyres in Armenia are: Not Required. Regardless of legal requirements, winter tyres or all-season tyres with the appropriate markings (M+S or 3PMSF) are strongly recommended when temperatures drop below 7°C for improved safety and grip.
The general emergency number in Armenia is 112. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Armenia. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.
When driving in Armenia, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.
Driving in Armenia is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.
Get Driving Law Updates
Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.
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