Can I drive a rental in Russia (without high risk)
Of course I can technically rent a car, and I can drive it. My point is - is it secure/recommended for non-Russians? What are unexpected risks?
I have extended driving experience in Paris, Rome, Delhi, Mexico, and some other places, so I assume technically, not much would bother me.
But what about accident risk? Police? does anyone speak English? (I don't speak Russian at all).
Basically, from someone living there and having some international experience - What are the non-obvious risks, if any? What is different than other countries?
I will be in the St. Petersburg area, if that makes a difference, and in May.
Best Answer
I've provided some answers in your other question, so here I'll try to explain the road-specific risks.
If you're going to use a rental car in Russia, you probably need this sign to be put on the car:
This is a warning sign for telling other drivers that there is a novice driver in the car.
I suggest you use this sign because the Russian driving style is quite unusual. Drivers from Rome I know about came here and said that they never seen such crazy drivers. Right now the situation has changed, but you still can meet very strange driver behavior on the roads.
As for the English, I suggest you find a Russian speaker as a partner for your trips for police interaction, as they, probably, wouldn't understand you (outside of St. Petersburg; inside the city, I think, you'll be understood by them).
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Can I drive a rental car into Russia?
Most companies don't allow you to cross the border with a rented car. There are two types of insurance: mandatory insurance (already included in the rental price) and voluntary insurance, which has higher coverage that they will offer to you when renting the car (or during the online booking process).Can I drive a car in Russia?
Foreigners can drive in Russia using their license from home for up to six months, however, all foreign drivers need to additionally carry an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is a translation of your license into nine languages, which must accompany your national license.Do you need insurance to drive in Russia?
Since 2003, every car owner in Russia must have an insurance policy covering third-party liability at the very minimum. However, the coverage from the mandatory, basic auto insurance in Russia is not very comprehensive.Is it hard to drive in Russia?
If you're not used to local road conditions and driving culture and don't understand Russian, independent car travel can be challenging and even dangerous. Roads may be poorly marked, if marked at all, and poorly maintained, especially outside the cities and towns.CBC News: The National | Rogers outage, Health-care funding, Enemy of Putin
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