Driving Rules in Armenia: What Tourists Need to Know

Checked and up to date as of August 2026.

If you’re planning to drive in Armenia for the first time, some of the driving rules may be familiar, while others may be different from what you’re used to. Travelers tend to trip up on the same handful of things: different speed-camera thresholds, local insurance instead of the Green Card, and mountain passes that simply close in winter.

We’ve covered these differences point by point, with specific figures and important details to know before your trip. This guide can also be useful if you’re already comparing car rental options in Yerevan for specific dates.

Quick summary: 7 differences to Armenia’s driving rules you won’t usually find written down

What documents you need behind the wheel in Armenia

Driver’s license: do you need an International Driving Permit?

In most cases, Armenia accepts foreign national driver’s licenses without an International Driving Permit, though requirements vary by country of issue and are worth checking in advance, since they’re not universal. What matters more: your first and last name must also be written in Latin script on the license, or the rental company may refuse to hand over the car. It’s worth confirming this at the booking stage rather than sorting it out at the pickup counter — Naniko, for example, checks this with clients before confirming a booking.

Compulsory insurance and APPA: what gets issued at the border

Here’s the point that trips up almost everyone: the Green Card doesn’t work in Armenia, even though compulsory third-party liability insurance has been mandatory in the country since 2011. The system is overseen by the Armenian Motor Insurers’ Bureau, known locally by its acronym APPA, which issues policies for foreign-registered vehicles at the border. Driving on public roads without a valid policy is a separate offense, carrying a fine of 100,000 AMD. When you rent from a local company, this insurance is usually already included in the price, but it’s worth confirming as a separate line item in the rental terms rather than finding out at pickup. If you’re crossing the border in your own car, an environmental fee is also charged.

Vehicle registration certificate and what police may check

You should carry three documents at all times: your license, the vehicle’s registration certificate, and the insurance policy. Nothing unusual here, except that police tend to ask for the full set at once rather than checking documents selectively.

Speed limits and how the cameras work

Limits by road type

The tolerance is 10 km/h above the limit, and it’s a fairly strict one: doing 70 km/h in the city isn’t “a bit over” — it’s a formal, camera-recorded violation.

How the cameras work and when the fine arrives

Speed and traffic cameras are widespread throughout Yerevan: mounted along highways, at intersections, and at city entrances. A single camera can catch several violations at once — speed, lane markings, running a red light, illegal stopping. When it’s triggered, a flash goes off right by the camera post, so you know immediately that you’ve been caught rather than finding out later. The actual notice, though, takes two to four weeks to arrive, either by mail or through your personal account on roadpolice.am.

Fines: amounts and how to pay them

Main fines

For speeding by 11 km/h or more, fines range from 20,000 to 29,000 AMD depending on how far over the limit you are, plus penalty points. Speeding by 81 km/h or more results in a one-year license suspension.

The legal threshold for alcohol-related liability is over 0.2 g/l of blood alcohol. In practice, “just one glass of wine” isn’t a safe assumption.

The points system: how points add up

Since January 1, 2020, Armenia has run a points system alongside fines: every driver is credited with a set number of points at the start of the year, and points are deducted for violations. As of May 1, 2025, the annual limit was raised from 9 to 13 points. Speeding by 31–50 km/h costs 3 points, speeding by 51–80 km/h costs 4 points, and driving under the influence costs 5 points. Once the 13-point limit is used up, your license is suspended for 6 months. This matters in practice for renters: a handful of technically minor violations over a week-long trip can quickly add up to a significant number of penalty points, even if each one looks trivial on its own.

Paying and appealing a fine

You can check and pay fines through your personal account on roadpolice.am, Armenian payment apps (MobiDram, Idram, Telcell, Easypay), or online banking, using the vehicle’s registration number and license plate. Paying within 15 days of receiving the notice usually qualifies for a discount, though the exact terms change from time to time and are worth confirming at the time of payment. For drivers without a registered address in Armenia, unpaid fines often surface at the border on the way out, so it’s worth checking in advance rather than assuming a notice will reach you.

Roadside checks: how the police handle them

Patrol cars are white and blue and easy to spot from a distance. Travelers report that officers sometimes let minor violations go with a verbal warning if the driver is polite, but this isn’t an official policy anywhere. It’s safer to assume that any violation will result in a formal citation.

Parking in Yerevan and other cities

Paid zones are marked with red lines along the road. The first 15 minutes are free, and the meter doesn’t run between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. An hour of parking in the central zone (Zone A) costs 300 AMD, and 200 AMD in the outer zone (Zone B); daily, weekly, monthly, and annual passes are also available. Parking in Zones A and B is free on Sundays. Parking without payment within the red lines carries a 5,000 AMD fine.

Mountain roads and seasonality

Here’s something guidebooks usually skip: some routes in Armenia become physically impassable in winter, and that’s the rule rather than the exception. The Vardenyats Pass is regularly closed to vehicles with trailers and can become difficult or unsafe for other vehicles as well; similar restrictions can affect the Selim Pass and the Dilijan mountain road. From November 15 to March 31, winter tires are required by law. Winter tires must be installed on all four wheels, and studded tires are allowed. If you’re planning a route through the mountain regions — Sisian, Goris, Jermuk — build a backup plan into your winter itinerary.

Checking whether a road is open before you set out

Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations Rescue Service publishes current road conditions at rescue.mia.gov.am, showing which sections are closed, where there’s ice, and where winter tires are recommended. Checking this five minutes before you leave beats relying on three-year-old traveler reviews.

Right of way at intersections and roundabouts

Many of the large roundabouts in central Yerevan have no traffic lights at all; instead, priority-to-the-right applies — you yield to pedestrians and to vehicles approaching from your right. Drivers used to traffic-light-controlled roundabouts may find the first few roundabouts disorienting.

What’s allowed and what isn’t

• Daytime running lights aren’t mandatory; headlights are required in poor visibility and after dark.
• Talking on the phone without a headset or hands-free system is prohibited.
• Children under 7 must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system for their height and weight; children aged 7–12 riding in the front seat must also use an appropriate child restraint system.
• Windshield tint is allowed if light transmission is at least 75%, and front side windows at least 70%.
• Dash cams are permitted — there’s no specific ban on them.
• A warning triangle, first-aid kit, and fire extinguisher are all required to be carried in the car, and their absence is checked at stops just like documents.

Fuel stations and fuel types: gasoline, diesel, gas

One detail rarely mentioned outright: a large share of Armenia’s vehicle fleet runs on methane or propane. Stations offering gas fuel are common alongside conventional gasoline and diesel stations, and gas is noticeably cheaper than gasoline or diesel. If you’re renting a car, Naniko can tell you at pickup which fuel the vehicle uses; on long mountain routes, that difference in fuel cost adds up quickly.

How Armenian Traffic Rules Differ from Those in Georgia and Russia

If you’ve already driven in Georgia and are planning an Armenia–Georgia road trip, insurance is usually where people get tripped up: a policy valid in one country simply doesn’t carry over to the other, and you’ll need to arrange a new one.

Quick answers to common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Armenia?

In most cases, no — national licenses are accepted, but requirements depend on the country that issued your license and its format. It’s best to confirm this with the rental company before booking.

Can I have a glass of wine and drive?

Better not to count on it. For liability purposes, the legal threshold is over 0.2 g/l blood alcohol. Driving under the influence carries a fine of 29,000 AMD plus 5 penalty points. At over 1.0 g/l blood alcohol, the penalty is a one-year license suspension.

What if a mountain pass is closed due to weather?

Check current road conditions in advance and have a backup route ready, rather than counting on getting lucky at the checkpoint.

Is insurance included in the rental price?

Most rental companies in Armenia already include MTPL (APPA) insurance in the rental price, so there’s no need to arrange it separately at the border — but it’s worth double-checking this before booking. When renting a car from Naniko, basic insurance is included in the rental price, and you can also add full insurance coverage to your booking if needed.