International Driver's License for Lithuania

Lithuania may accept a foreign license for short stays, but an International Driver's License is recommended for all visitors. As a Baltic EU country where police and rental staff work in Lithuanian, an IDL provides a recognised translation of your home license and reassures insurers and rental agencies. You can apply online through E-ITA and receive your digital copy in minutes.

An International Driver's License (or International Driving Permit) is a multilingual translation of your existing national license. In Lithuania you always carry it alongside your original license — it does not replace it. It exists so that Lithuanian traffic police and rental counters can read the details of the valid license you already hold.

Lithuania drives on the right side of the road and overtakes on the left, consistent with the rest of continental Europe. Dipped headlights are commonly required at all times, so keep them on when driving.

* People drive on the right side of the road.

* The minimum age to drive a car is 18. The minimum age to rent a car is 18.

* Seat belts are required by law — always wear one when available.

* Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited; hands-free is permitted.

* Helmets are mandatory for motorcycle and scooter riders and passengers; child passengers under 12 are not allowed on them.

* Legal blood alcohol limit: 0.04%. Do not drink and drive.

* Speed limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas and 90 km/h (55 mph) on rural roads.

The legal blood alcohol limit in Lithuania is 0.04%, which is lower than in many countries. Newer drivers and professional drivers can face even tighter limits, so the safest choice is not to drink before driving.

The minimum age to drive a car in Lithuania is 18, and rental companies also set their minimum at 18, though many add a young-driver surcharge for those under 21 or 25. Your International Driver's License does not lower these ages — it only translates your existing license.

Rental agencies in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda and at the airports frequently ask non-EU visitors for an International Driver's License when the home license is not in the Latin alphabet or a familiar language. Presenting one at the counter avoids questions and speeds up collection of your car.

There is no walk-in service issuing IDLs to tourists once you are in Lithuania, so it is best to arrange one before you travel. If you are already there and left it late, you can still apply online through E-ITA and download your digital copy within minutes.

Visitors may generally drive on a valid foreign license, ideally paired with an International Driver's License, for the length of a normal tourist stay. If you become a resident of Lithuania, you will eventually need to exchange your license under EU and national rules. For holidays and short trips, the foreign license plus IDL combination is standard.

Keep the physical International Driver's License booklet with your home license when driving in Lithuania, as it is the document police expect to see at a roadside check. A digital copy is a handy backup and is accepted in practice by many rental desks, particularly for last-minute bookings, but the printed booklet is preferred.