Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Latvia

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Latvia — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.05

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

see note below

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

90 km/h

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: No motorway class.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Latvia

General limit: 0.05 g/dL · Novice/young drivers: 0.02 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Latvia can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Latvia on the Live Map

Latvia has a WHO-estimated 7.4 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Latvia.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Latvia's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Estonia Lithuania Belarus Sweden Finland Poland

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Latvia drive on?

Latvia drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Latvia?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC (novice/young drivers: 0.02). Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Latvia?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Latvia — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Latvia?

By the numbers, Latvia has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 7.4 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is safer than the global average — it ranks 150 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.