UK licence 
LatviaCan you drive in Latvia with a UK license?
Short answer: to drive in Latvia with a UK license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your UK license.
Yes — to drive in Latvia on a UK licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your UK licence. Latvia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
UK drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence; some countries recognise the 1949 version and others the 1968 version. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Latvia is like
The Baltic coastal drive through Jūrmala's pine forests and on to the Cape Kolka headland where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic is a classic Latvian route. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 90 km/h (110 on some roads in summer). Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your UK licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Latvia can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to UK licence holders in Latvia
| UK licence in Latvia | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna |
| Your UK licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| United Kingdom is party to | 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h (110 on some roads in summer) |
| Currency | EUR |
Driving rules in Latvia you should know
- Headlights on at all times.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Feb.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for new drivers.
- Reflective vest and triangle required.
Local driving facts in Latvia
Emergency number: 112 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 90 km/h (110 on some roads in summer). Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Latvia
Latvia has no toll motorways or general car vignette - passenger cars under 3.5t drive the road network free of charge; only heavy goods vehicles pay an electronic vignette (Eurovignette/Latvijas system).
Parking in Latvia
Riga uses six paid zones with meters and the Mobilly app, the central zones being most expensive and time-limited; pay-and-display is strictly enforced and illegally parked cars in the centre can be clamped or towed.
Penalties & enforcement in Latvia
Fines are issued as administrative reports - police cannot collect cash on the spot, you have 30 days to pay; speeding starts around EUR 20, no-seatbelt around EUR 30, and handheld phone use is prohibited. Rental firms pass camera fines to the renter with an admin fee.
If you have an accident in Latvia
Call 112 for injuries; for damage-only collisions where parties agree you can complete the European Accident Statement without police, but you must notify the rental company and obtain a report, and you must not move vehicles before documenting if there is injury or dispute.
City driving in Latvia
In central Riga watch for tram tracks and one-way streets in the medieval Old Town (Vecrīga), much of which is restricted to permit-holders and pedestrians, so park outside and walk in.
Winter driving in Latvia
Winter tyres are mandatory on vehicles up to 3.5t from 1 December to 1 March; studded tyres are permitted from 1 October to 30 April.
Fuel in Latvia
Stations sell unleaded petrol 95 and 98 plus diesel (dīzelis); most are self-service, pay-at-pump or pay-at-kiosk, cards widely accepted, with petrol roughly EUR 1.55-1.70 per litre. Major chains are Circle K, Neste and Viada.
Sources: rac.co.uk, csdd.lv, tolls.eu, theaa.ie