Rules for traveling to Latvia by car. What documents are needed to travel to Latvia by car?

The capital of Latvia is close enough to Russia, so traveling by car from Moscow to Riga will not be tiring. Traveling by car is less expensive than flying or taking a bus.

Having your own car gives you freedom of movement, independence from the routes of other tourists and the ability to independently plan your time during the trip. For it to be successful, you need to familiarize yourself with the route in advance, think through stops for rest and meals, prepare your car and take everything with you Required documents.

List of required documents

To travel to Latvia, the following documents are required:

Foreign passport with a valid Schengen visa.
Child's birth certificate.
A driver's license that meets international standards.
Vehicle registration certificate.
Diagnostic card for the car.
Medical insurance.
Car owner's civil liability insurance policy (“Green Card”).

A Green Card can be purchased from an insurance company no earlier than a month before the start date of the trip. The minimum period for which insurance is issued is 15 days, while its cost for a passenger car will be 1,670 rubles.

From January 2015, the price of the policy will increase by 23%.

Travel routes

You can get from Moscow to Riga by car along the M9 (Baltic) or M1 (Belarus) highway. The first route is a direct road to Riga; choosing the second route, you will have to enter Latvia through Belarus.

The length of the route to Riga along the M9 highway (its other name is Novorizhskoe highway) is 919 km, without stopping this distance can be covered in 11-12 hours. The road passes through Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Velikiye Luki to the Burachki-Terekhovo border crossing. The advantages of this route include: a large number of populated areas, when passing through which you will have to reduce speed. Among the shortcomings, drivers note:

Insufficient density of roadside cafes and gas stations.
The congestion of the checkpoint on the border between Russia and Latvia.
Queue for border control on weekends and holidays which reaches several hours. Reason: flow increases Russian tourists to Latvia.

Driving along the M1 highway allows 2 options:

You can move from Moscow along M1 (Minsk Highway), before reaching Smolensk, turn towards Velezh-Nevel. In the Pustoshka area you need to return to the M9 highway and continue in the direction of the Russian-Latvian border.
Another option involves driving along the Minsk Highway to Smolensk, after which you need to turn onto the road to Vitebsk. The rest of the route passes through the territory of Belarus to the Grigorovshchina-Paternieki checkpoint. The queue at the border here is usually shorter than at the Burachki-Terekhovo crossing.

The distance from Moscow to Riga in this case will be just over 1000 km, travel time – 13-14 hours. Along the entire length of the M1 highway you can find a sufficient number of cafes and gas stations. The last gas station in Belarus will be near Polotsk. Considering the high cost of gasoline in Latvia, it is better to fill it with a full tank. The average cost of 1 liter of gasoline in Latvia is 1.2 €.

Features of traveling around Latvia by car

When planning a road trip to Latvia, you need to take into account local rules:

IN populated areas the maximum permissible speed is 50 km/h, beyond them – 90 km/h. For speeding you can pay from 7 to 570 €.
At any time of the day, while the car is moving, low beam headlights must be turned on.
The permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ppm, that is, the driver can drink 1 glass of beer or glass of wine. For drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience, the maximum permissible level is reduced to 0.2 ppm.
Studded tires are allowed only from October 1 to May 1.
The use of seat belts is mandatory for all vehicle passengers. The fine for this violation is 30 €.
Children under 14 years of age and less than 150 cm tall must be transported in special restraints. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a fine of 15 €.
The car must have: a warning triangle, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a reflective vest. For the absence of any item from this list, a fine of 7 € is imposed.
The use of radar detectors is prohibited within the country. Otherwise, the device is confiscated and the car owner is issued a fine of 55 €.

The import of meat and meat products, dairy products (except for baby food), and animal feed containing meat or milk is prohibited into the territory of Latvia.

Without paying customs duties, you are allowed to import into the territory of Latvia:

2 packs of cigarettes or 10 cigars.
1 liter of strong alcohol, or 2 liters of alcohol with a strength of no more than 22%, or 4 liters of non-sparkling wine and 16 liters of beer.
A full tank of gasoline and 1 canister of fuel with a capacity of no more than 10 liters.

Travelers who carry excise goods with them to more, must pay customs duties. To do this, they need to fill out a declaration, select the “Red Corridor” at the customs post and present their luggage for inspection. Cash in amounts exceeding €10,000 is also subject to mandatory declaration.

There are several routes by which you can get to Latvia from Russia. However, not all routes - good quality. And at the border it would be nice to know what the fastest checkpoints are.

Moscow-Riga. Which route to choose?

Many people prefer to travel to Latvia by their own car. It’s cheaper, more comfortable, and faster, the main thing is that you’ll have time to see more (you’ll be able to plan trips and excursions without being tied to public transport). Practice shows that it is quite convenient to get to Latvia through Belarus, but the busiest and most popular route from Moscow is along the M9 Baltic highway.

Checkpoints at the border. Which points have the least queues?

It contains one of the most popular checkpoints - Burachki - Terekhovo. Quite a lot of transport gathers here. Cars and trucks stand in different queues.

What documents are needed at the border between Russia and Latvia?

When crossing the state border you will need to present the following documents:

Foreign passports with visas, medical policies for each traveler (for the period specified in the visa or the period of first entry if the visa is multiple-entry). Insurance, as a rule, is taken out even before the visa is issued - the main thing is not to leave it at home;

A driver's license issued according to an international model (for Russia this is an international license);

Car registration documents, maintenance and power of attorney (if you are not driving your own car);

When entering Latvia you also need a Green Card - green map per car (for the entire stay in Latvia).

What and how much can you import into Latvia?

The list of things that are prohibited for import into Latvia is very strict. You will be checked/questioned especially closely at the border (when entering Latvia).

There are 4 official checkpoints on the Russian-Latvian border. And each of them can be overcome by personal vehicle. However, traveling to Latvia by car may have a number of peculiarities. Some of them relate to the border crossing procedure, others – to the requirements for the vehicle itself.

Entering the republic with your own car means convenience and independence of movement, the opportunity to save (on renting vehicles in the country and even on fuel - if you fill the tank before the border). To do this, you will need a valid visa, completion of the procedure customs control and compliance with the requirements for transport in the Schengen countries.

Travelers should not stock up on food and medicine. Import into the state is strictly limited. But don’t let anyone be afraid of traveling to Riga lightly – everything you need is easy to buy there. At the first stage, the main thing is to cross the borders freely and legally.

Car checkpoints on the Russia-Latvia border

Since the Russian Federation is not part of the European Union, you can enter Latvia through four existing checkpoints:

For those departing from St. Petersburg, the Brunishevo-Pededze checkpoint will be the most convenient.
You can quickly go through the checkpoint Ludonka - Vientule. People come here from Nosovo, and the highway is not overloaded with traffic.
A queue is what awaits you at the Terekhovo-Burachki checkpoint at any time of the year. The M9 Baltic highway is almost always loaded with cars, including heavy vehicles.
The Ubylinka-Grebneva point is a little less busy, since it is the most convenient way to enter Latvia by car from Moscow: the Moscow highway runs nearby. And tourists from Pskov, located nearby, are quite active. In winter when there is ice and in summer when it is hot, staying here ceases to seem comfortable.

Waiting time

If you are lucky, if fuel trucks and heavy trucks do not pull up to the entry-exit points, you can bypass the checkpoint within 30-40 minutes. However, be prepared to stay there longer. It happens that the wait lasts from 12 hours to a day.

The electronic queue using the EVIS system allows you to prevent these unpleasant moments. For 1.15 € for a passenger car and 5 € for a truck, you can reserve your place in the queue online. The main thing is to accurately indicate the make, number, characteristics of the car, and not to confuse the data. You can do this here: https://www.lithuanianborder.eu/yphis/index.action?request_locale=ru Traffic has already learned to monitor and warn motorists about traffic congestion. Now the movement of the queue at the Latvia-Russia border can be monitored online thanks to the customs service: https://www.vid.gov.lv/ru/kravas_auto_rindas However, the appearance of offenders or the occurrence of an accident on the road cannot be predicted. If the waiting time is prolonged, dry toilets are available, but the situation with catering and recreational facilities is worse; such a situation must be foreseen. But do not overdo it, so that you do not have to get rid of excess cargo that is prohibited for transportation in such quantities.

Passing customs control

The main purpose of the inspection is to determine whether you are carrying dangerous or prohibited goods. This does not always fit into the formula “weapons, currency, drugs.” Crossing the border with Latvia in 2019 will pass without problems, if no perishable products are found in your luggage, and the amount of medicines, tobacco, perfumes, and alcohol allowed for transportation is not exceeded.

To speed up the border crossing process, travelers are sorted along the following corridors:

Green - for travelers without cargo that needs to be declared.
Red - if money, goods, souvenirs, or valuables that need to be registered are transported.

There are also features of passing customs by car related to the regulations of the procedure itself:

When approaching the checkpoint, prepare all the necessary documents (both personal and for the car and cargo), place them so that you can present them without delay.
2. During the customs inspection, the vehicle is stopped and inspected. To do this, stop, turn off the engine and let the service personnel work.
If successful, travelers will receive official border crossing marks and wishes for a safe journey.

Technical requirements for the vehicle

To smoothly and quickly cross the border with the Republic of Latvia, you will have to prepare your car in accordance with European standards:

Window tinting of more than 20% is considered unacceptable.
Studded tires in the summer can become an obstacle - you will be asked to “change the shoes” of the car.
Be sure to have a child seat if you are traveling with a child, as well as a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and emergency stop kit (sign, vest with reflectors, tools).
Good general technical condition of the vehicle, documented.

And, of course, the car must be “clean” in terms of design.

Package of necessary documentation

A complete set of papers should be collected in advance and without haste. Here are the documents you will need to enter Latvia by car:

Regarding passengers:

correctly issued passports;
children under 14 years of age are included in their parents’ passports, and their birth certificate is presented at customs;
for a minor traveling in a group with an accompanying person, a power of attorney from guardians or parents is required; permission from the second, if one is lucky;
health insurance policies.

Regarding vehicles:

car registration certificate;
inspection certificate;
green card.

What determines the cost of a green card:

From the validity period of the document: from 15 days to 1 year.
From type Vehicle: passenger car, truck, agricultural car, motorcycle, etc.
Coverage area of the insurance agreement:

for all treaty states;
for a limited list of countries.

Don’t be alarmed if, instead of the usual “Inspection Card,” you suddenly hear “Diagnostic Card.” Essentially, it's the same thing, the main thing is that she is okay. Previously, for cars with less than three years of use, concessions were made, but now the requirements have become more stringent.

If all documents are in order, your visa to Latvia was not wasted, entry is allowed.

What can you carry?

Once again, let us draw your attention in more detail to what can be imported to Latvia from Russia and in what quantities:

Money - no more than 300 € in cash (420 € is allowed to be imported by air or by river-sea transport).
Tobacco products – up to 40 pcs. cigarettes and 50 g of tobacco (you can import more by plane - up to 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco).
Alcohol – 4 liters of wine; 16 liters of beer, 4 liters of alcohol up to 22% by volume; 1 liter of strong alcohol over 22%.
Medicines - within the limits of personal needs for the period of stay (with prescriptions).

Standard for import of goods

Comprehensive information on this matter is available on the website of the Latvian Embassy:

How much does gasoline cost in Riga? This worries many, but the answer is not consoling. As of the spring of this year, the cost of grade 95 gasoline was 1,272 € per liter, and the price of diesel fuel was 1,182 € per liter. Naturally, most people stock up to save money.

So, you can bring with you for free:

Full standard capacity (tank) for the fuel of the existing vehicle;
no more than 10 liters per unit of transport in canisters or other portable containers.

Alcohol

Those arriving under 18 years of age are not granted concessions in paying taxes and duties or exemption from them when importing tobacco or alcohol products. So the import of alcoholic beverages to minors is prohibited; adults can import in the following quantities:

from 0.3 to 1 liter of strong alcohol (over 22%),
from 1 to 2 liters of sparkling wine (champagne, brut, cider); ;
4 liters of wine;
16 liters of beer.

Combinations vary, but the most popular looks like this: 0.3 liters of strong alcohol, 1.4 liters of aperitif, 4 liters of wine, 16 liters of beer.

What is prohibited

As in other EU countries, some products cannot be imported into Latvia. Even if you are going to consume or use them yourself. The ban applies:
for all kinds of meat products, lard, fish, culinary products containing these products, baked goods, canned food;

for raw, condensed and processed milk, dairy products, desserts;
for animal feed containing meat or milk.

How to declare cash

Each guest of the country must have financial support of at least 900 € for a month. When traveling with your entire large family, avoid the other extreme: it is important not to exceed the permissible amount of imported cash and register it correctly.

Latvian rules in this regard are identical to EU requirements. So, the amount of €10,000 or more is mandatory to declare. Forms for depositing cash are available at border crossings. You can also download them from the website of the State Revenue Service. You need to fill out in Latvian, Russian and English languages. The declaration in 2019 is submitted along with other papers.

Procedure for crossing the Latvian border by car

We have already looked at what the rules for entering Latvia by car look like, what package of documents is needed and what requirements apply to a car.

Let us remind you what you will need:

calm, even, polite behavior at the border;
timely presentation of all passports and travel policies;
provision of a full package of documents for the car during inspection.

According to the State Road Traffic Law, the absence of the mentioned documents entails a denial of the right to cross the border and enter the republic. An attempt to circumvent the conditions and requirements of customs control may result in a fine, denial of entry into its territory, or even arrest.

Expenses

For traveling to Latvia, the average budget per month is from 1000 € per person. This amount will include the following costs:

for visas and documents,
to pay duties;
for fuel;
for food and drink;
for accommodation;
for entertainment and souvenirs.

For everything you need to provide a certain amount and soberly assess your tourist appetites.

Popular routes

The most common direction of travel when it comes to traveling to Latvia is a trip to Jurmala. This resort with a mild climate seduces many. But from April until mid-autumn you can get here only by paying for a pass. Entry to Jurmala by car in 2019 costs approximately 2 € per day. With a discount, this right is provided for 31 € per month, and the entire season will cost 107 €.

For those who decide to go to Riga on their own and get acquainted with the architecture of the capital, visit its museums, theaters, parks and cafes, we recommend extending the road trip to Jurmala. You will see old fortresses, ethnographic settlements, the Jelgava and Rundāle palaces designed by Rastrelli, and, of course, the forest and the sea.

Traffic rules in Latvia

Don't forget about the differences in local traffic regulations. Firstly, you can only drive with the low beams on. Secondly, the speed limit in the city is up to 50 km/h, and outside it – 80 km/h. A violation of up to plus 10 km/h is considered excusable - patrol officers will get by with a verbal warning.

All parking in Latvia is paid. In the country you cannot park closer than:

25 m from the stop public transport, transition,
100 m from the intersection,
50 m from the railway crossing.

The permissible level of alcohol in the driver's blood is 0.5 ppm. If it is higher by even one hundredth, a fine of 300 lats (almost 300 €) cannot be avoided, as well as deprivation of the right to drive a car in the country for a year. Drinking alcohol, smoking, or indecent behavior in public can result in heavy penalties.

Punishment for violating customs rules

In accordance with the Latvian Code of Administrative Crimes, an attempt to smuggle something prohibited, to hide exceeding the transportation limit, or the presence of undeclared valuables and excisable goods entails administrative liability. Individuals may be subject to sanctions from 70 to 700 €, and a legal entity - from 700 to 7,100 € with confiscation of everything mentioned above. In special cases, the car may also be seized.

Conclusion

When going on a trip to such a calm and measured country as Latvia, you need to remember two things:

By preserving someone else's dignity, you protect your own: do not argue or argue with the employee, be patient and kind.
You don’t go to a foreign monastery with your own rules: learn to follow the rules of the country you are visiting, and only then will you feel its spirit.

Everything else depends on your responsible preparation for the holiday. If you have not lost sight of the paperwork and clearly planned your actions, then everything will work out for you.

We got ready for a trip. We bought a car and decided to test drive it over long distances. Romantic trip to Latvia.

If such thoughts come to you, then this is perfect for you. travel by car to Riga.

Riga is the capital of Latvia, which is the most big city Baltic states. The population of Riga is approximately 700,000 people. In 1921, after the signing of the Soviet-Polish peace treaty, a “golden age” for the development of the city began. However, Latvian society was never formed, and the population continued to be divided into Russian, German, Jewish and Latvian communities.

Then, in 1990, the Latvian parliament nevertheless declared its independence from Soviet Union. Riga again became the capital of the sovereign Latvian state.

Riga welcomes tourists with some inexplicable warmth, cozy streets, kind smiles, Russian speech and attractive architecture of the old city.

Old city- This historical Center Riga, which is located on the right bank of the Daugava. It has preserved the fortress-like features of the structure, the curves of the structures and defense ramparts. The city canal separates Old city from the new, and the demolition of the city wall opens up views of squares and parks.

The center of the old town is bustling with evening life. Music flows from many cozy cafes with gentle lighting, courteous waiters bring delicious dishes and drinks, pedicabs are ready to travel through architectural monuments. Everywhere there is laughter, music, lights in the eyes and from the candles on the cafe tables.

The center of the Old Town is Town Hall Square, which is famous for its Town Hall and the House of the Blackheads. There is a statue of Roland in the square.

So, to see and feel all this romance and beauty, you need to drive 950 km along highway M9 – Moscow (Russia) – Riga (Latvia). The road to the Republic of Latvia is quite good. There are several areas closer to the Tver region that are constantly being renovated. There, about an hour is lost in dismantled sections, passage with traffic lights, ceilings and holes. The road to these sections can be called “without major flaws.”

Our journey has begun on Friday at 5 a.m. Moscow time. Such an early departure is explained by the desire to avoid traffic jams when leaving Moscow. And we succeeded. We quickly jumped onto the Moscow Ring Road, in about 40 minutes, and rushed off!

At approximately 1 p.m. we reached the border. The first thing that caught my eye was the endless line of trucks and vans. Fortunately, passenger cars pass in a separate lane. There was a queue of about 5-6 cars in front of us. However, she moved very slowly. The border guards were busy with everything but the cars waiting patiently for their turn.

We finally, after about 30 minutes, approached the long-awaited document verification window. We were given a declaration form for imported goods that needed to be filled out. For what? We do not import anything, we have romantic trip. Well, we only had to fill in our data and the car’s data, and put a dash in all the other columns relating to imported goods. This document is, of course, necessary!? All that was left of the romantic mood were notes of calm.

Hurray, after 1 hour there was only one car left in front of us. The ignition is on, our foot reaches for the gas pedal, and it’s our turn for inspection. But it was not there!

We don’t know what was wrong with the car and the driver in front of us, but for another 30 minutes the border officers walked back and forth, chatted with each other, approached the car, walked away, came back again, and so on for about 40 minutes. Finally, our predecessor moved away, and we took the honorable inspection pedestal.

We were lucky, they let us through quite quickly, after checking our car documents and passports. The car itself was examined inside, in the trunk, and the hood was lifted.

Not even 2 hours had passed since we “crept” through the border!!! The long-awaited romantic Riga is just 300 km away.

Riga really greeted us with kindness, warmth and comfort. Two romantic day flew under live music in the cafe; with walks through the narrow streets of the Old Town; with delicious home-cooked food at the Lido Mill; with acquaintance with architecture and simply with pleasant fresh Latvian air.

There was a way home. We immediately remembered the procedure for crossing the border, we winced, but what other options!?

We left for Moscow at 5 a.m. local time. By 9 o'clock we were already at the border. We thought that in the morning we would pass it quickly, without delays or overlaps.

When we arrived at our border, all the corridors were lined with queues of 5-7 cars with Latvian license plates. One corridor “for Russian citizens” was blocked. We didn’t bother to find out why, and parked next to everyone in line. A border guard approached us and sent our car to the same blocked lane. He proudly pulled back some kind of barrier and left us waiting.

The document checkpoint on our lane was empty. Moreover, right in front of our noses, a border guard came out and left. I had to go to the general queue at a point in another lane. A flaw, but a fact.

They checked passports, documents for the car, and the car itself everywhere, and gave the green light for passage, which was literally a couple of meters before the next blockade. We stopped again. They assumed that if we had just undergone a thorough inspection, the barrier would now be raised and the road to the house would be clear. But it was not there!

We are standing, the barrier is not moving, the person at the checkpoint is sitting and does not blink an eye. Strange!?

We got out of the car and headed to the house where the customs officer was now sitting imposingly.

“Check again? We were just thoroughly checked a meter earlier,” our nerves began to fail.

The customs officer brazenly asked: “Who checked you?”

“That checkpoint is over there,” we answered in unison and pointed to the border guard, who was in too easy visibility.

“Who is he?” - said the inspector. From his look we realized that he was not expecting an answer from us. They gave him documents for the car and passports. I checked and went to the car. We simply couldn’t believe our ears when he said: “Open all the doors of the car, the hood, the trunk, the glove compartment. What are we bringing? Where are we going from? ..." A meter ago there were the same questions and the same inspection!!! Now it’s clear where all these lines of cars come from!

We were checked again, the barrier opened and we, tired, a little angry, “humiliated tourists,” rushed forward.

Oh my God, after 100 meters a barrier, a “booth with a big aunt”, and a traffic light with a red light again appeared in front of us. I wanted to howl. They got out of the car again, went to the window, checked our documents again, asked questions, and only then, after a total of 2 hours, they were allowed to go home.

Why do border workers allow themselves to treat tourists so humiliatingly? It feels like they had a competition among themselves: “Who can let the next car pass the slowest?”

Documents at checkpoints are slowly checked by a border guard or customs officer, both from the Russian and Latvian sides, sitting imposingly on a chair, while simultaneously discussing his personal life with another employee, barely turning the page of the inspector’s passport. The queue of cars is created artificially. It seemed that this was a deliberate accumulation of cars to make the border control work more labor-intensive.

It's a shame! It's a shame! Where is the order?! Why is it allowed to mock people like this?

Always with you, Katerina La Grande!