Driving in Latvia
💡 Local Driving Tips
- →Headlights must be on year-round — day and night.
- →Road quality outside Riga and major national roads can be poor — potholes are common on regional routes.
- →Riga's old town (Vecrīga) has restricted vehicle access — park outside and walk.
- →Wildlife crossings are common, particularly moose and deer at dawn and dusk.
- →When emergency vehicles approach, pull to the right and stop. On dual carriageways, form a central emergency corridor.
🗣️ Key Driving Words in Latvian
You may not speak the language, but knowing these words on road signs and at toll booths can save you from confusion — or a fine.
🚦 Speed Limits
Headlights required year-round. Some roads 70 km/h outside urban areas. Winter speed limits may apply.
💳 Toll Roads & Vignettes
No motorway tolls. Free road network throughout Latvia.
🪧 Road Signs to Know
While most European road signs follow international standards, these are the signs you are most likely to encounter — and the ones that catch tourists off guard.
Must-Know Signs
Country-Specific Signs
📷 Speed Cameras
Camera Types in Latvia
- 📷Fixed cameras on A-roads (national highways) and motorway approaches
- 📷Mobile units operated by Latvian State Police (Valsts policija)
- 📷Section control cameras on the Via Baltica (A1)
From €30 for minor excess up to €700 and licence suspension for serious speeding.
Latvia has increased enforcement on Via Baltica. Police conduct regular checks. Fines are issued to rental companies and forwarded to drivers.
🅿️ Parking Signs & Zones
Understanding parking zones and road markings can save you a fine or a tow. Here is what each colour and sign means in Latvia.
Parking Zones Explained
Pay via Mobilly or EasyPark app, or at the machine. Common in Riga city centre.
Standard no-parking sign. Yellow road markings indicate no parking zones.
Road Line Colours
🗺️ Scenic Routes
- 🛣️ Via Baltica (E67)
- 🛣️ Gauja National Park Drive
- 🛣️ Cape Kolka Coastal Route