Guide to Driving In Russia - Drive Safe in Russia

With our Drive Smart guide you're fully prepared to hire a car in Russia and stay safe on unfamiliar roads.

URBAN SPEED LIMIT

60 kph

urban
More info  

RURAL SPEED LIMIT

90-110 kph

rural
More info  

motorway speed limit

110 kph

speed limit
More info  

Drink Drive Limit

 30mg

drink and drive limit
More info  
urban
You drive in Russia on the Right side  
urban
The currency in Russia is RUB
urban
To rent a car is  25 years and to drive is 18 years of age
urban
Current fuel price in Russia 0.57 €/Ltr

Driving Laws in Russia

Driving in Russia
Pocket guide to driving in Russia
Profile:
Russia
Moscow
RUB
Driving in Russia
SPEED: (kph)
60
90-110
110
Speed limit in Russia
Holiday:
Rush hour in Russia
Cameras:
YES
YES
Speed cameras in Russia
FUEL:
0.57
0.66
EUR/Litre
Fuel prices in Russia
See World Fuel Prices for full statistics
MIN AGE:
18
25
Min driving age in Russia
DRINK:
30mg
Blood alcohol content
Drink driving in Russia
EMERGENCY:
112
Emergency phone number in Russia
DOCUMENT:
Driving documents in Russia
PHONES:
Yes
Hands free only
Mobile phone driving in Russia
SEATBELTS:
Yes
Yes
Seat belt in Russia
See here for current child seats law in Russia

Are there any special requirements for driving or hiring a car in Russia?

There are two difficulties with renting a car in Russia. One is that it is particularly expensive compared to other parts of the world and the other is that the traffic can be horrendous, especially in Moscow where entire motorways can come to a standstill. Avoiding the rush hour is a must. Outside of the main cities the rural areas present their own difficulties and roads there are often poorly maintained with few road markings. Russia hopes to invest a lot of money into building roads and it needs it; they started the build on Moscow–Saint Petersburg motorway (M11) with the first sections being completed in 2014-2015, the whole Motorway is planned to be opened in 2018. The road will run parallel to the M10 highway. If you do not speak Russian then it is advisable to have a guide as the countryside can be quite dangerous.

If you plan to enter Russia from one of the many surrounding countries discuss this with your rental agents and make sure that you have applied for the appropriate visas well in advance. Driving in Russia takes plenty of forward planning. If you are driving in some of the more out-of-the-way parts of Russia it is usual for highway patrol police (GAI) at regular roadblocks to ask for a bribe from drivers with an international licence plate. In fact there are so many driving rules that you will probably have broken one of them and it saves a lot of time just to pay up. Police also have the power to issue on the spot fines at all times.

Rules of the road

Send to friend
Click here to enter an extra message...
 
Emergency Services Numbers

Police Police: 112

Police Fire: 112

Police Ambulance: 112

Notes: The new number 112 began operating in 2011

DieselUnleaded
Feb , 2024

€ 0.66

€ 0.57

Jan , 2024

€ 0.65

€ 0.55

Dec , 2023

€ 0.66

€ 0.56

Nov , 2023

€ 0.66

€ 0.56

Parking Information

Parking regulations

Parking regulations
 
Stopping and parking are permitted on the right side of the road - the vehicle must face in the direction of the traffic. Car parks and parking metres are accessible in towns.
 
Stopping and parking are permitted on the left side of the road in urban areas and in one-way streets, if there are no tram lines.

Parking on the pavement can be allowed if it does not endanger pedestrians.

Outside urban areas, parking for a long period, for example spending the night in the vehicle, is only permitted in the specially allocated parking places situated off the roads. Parking close by national roadways is not permitted.

Stopping and parking are not allowed within 5m of a pedestrian crossing or an intersection, as well as places where visibility is reduced. Parking is also prohibited within 50m of a level crossing. 

Disabled Parking

There are parking spaces reserved for disabled drivers, they are usually indicated by the letter P and the universal symbol of the wheelchair.
 
 

Emergency Information

Emergency Information

Police Police: 112

Police Fire: 112

Police Ambulance: 112

The fire service is on 01, the police are on 02 and the medical services are on 03. Or you can call the European number 112

What to do in an emergency

If you are involved in an accident or your car breaks down, you must contact the police as well as a break down organisation. Do not move the vehicle in the meantime unless it is dangerous to keep it where it is. Take a photograph of the scene if it is safe to do so. Your car hire company should give you free breakdown cover. 

Handy Guides

World Driving Guides

Road Signs

Handy Phrases

  • Good Morning - Dobraye utra
  • Goodbye - Paka
  • How are you? -  Kak dila?
  • Pleased to meet you - Ochen priyatna
  • Yes - Da
  • No - Net
  • I have broken down -  Ya razbil
  • Where is the police station? - Gde politseyskiy uchastok ?
  • I have a flat tyre - U menya yest' spustilo koleso
  • I have been in an accident - Ya byl v avarii
  • Where is? -  Gde nakhoditsya?
  • Where can I buy petrol? - Gde ya mogu kupit' benzin ?

Russia Fuel Price History

DieselUnleaded
Feb , 2024

€ 0.66

€ 0.57

Jan , 2024

€ 0.65

€ 0.55

Dec , 2023

€ 0.66

€ 0.56

Nov , 2023

€ 0.66

€ 0.56

Oct , 2023

€ 0.63

€ 0.54

Sep , 2023

€ 0.60

€ 0.54

Aug , 2023

€ 0.56

€ 0.51

Jul , 2023

€ 0.60

€ 0.53

Jun , 2023

€ 0.68

€ 0.60

May , 2023

€ 0.67

€ 0.58

Apr , 2023

€ 0.68

€ 0.59

Mar , 2023

€ 0.72

€ 0.65

Month, YearDiesel €/ltrUnleaded €/ltr
Feb , 2024 0.66 0.57
Jan , 2024 0.65 0.55
Dec , 2023 0.66 0.56
Nov , 2023 0.66 0.56
Oct , 2023 0.63 0.54
Sep , 2023 0.60 0.54
Aug , 2023 0.56 0.51
Jul , 2023 0.60 0.53
Jun , 2023 0.68 0.60
May , 2023 0.67 0.58
Apr , 2023 0.68 0.59
Mar , 2023 0.72 0.65

Hiring a Car

With our Drive Smart guide you're fully prepared to hire a car in Russia and stay safe on unfamiliar roads.
Chloe Demaret
Posted by Chloe Demaret
About the Author -

Travel writer, social media guru, Chloe keeps our readers and customers up to speed with all the car rental and travel trends on our blog. Favourite destination: Dubai.

Visitor Comments

  • 30/10/2018

    Vlad Putin

    Lots of made up facts. You can turn left anywhere, there is no 70 km/h speed cap for unexperienced drivers, free car parking in Moscow is almost not existant from 2010 and etc...
  • 30/10/2018

    Rob Sheridan

    Basically all mentioned above is true. But the situation with cash bribes is extremely rare. It has changed within last 4-5 years. You will not see many GAI officers on the streets nowadays. But speed cameras are almost everywhere (in Moscow, rural areas, etc). So don't violate a speed limit! Besides, rural roads are pretty bad in some areas, so watch the road signs and again watch the speed limits (usually it would be 40 km/h). In case of emergency you can lift your hand and most drivers are going to help you with advice, telephone dialing, etc.
Enter security code:
 Security code