Before you collect the car
Licences from the EU and EEA are valid in Lithuania. Go Vilnius says licences from other countries are accepted if they comply with the Geneva or Vienna road traffic conventions. If yours does not, you need an International Driving Permit.
Avis Lithuania's terms show what a rental company adds on top:
| Condition | Avis Lithuania | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 21 in general; 19 for group B; 25 for larger groups | Younger drivers are limited to small cars |
| Young driver fee | EUR 10 a day under 25, at most 10 days charged | EUR 70 on a one-week rental |
| Licence | Held for at least 1 year; IDP for non-Roman alphabets | Bring both documents to the desk |
| Fine handling | EUR 35 for each fine or charge | Applies to camera fines, parking and entry fees |
| Winter tyres | Terms describe them as mandatory from 1 November to 15 April | Wider than the legal period, which suggests shoulder-season rentals are on winter tyres; confirm at pickup |
| Cross-border | Latvia and Estonia allowed; Belarus, Ukraine, Kaliningrad and Russia banned | Rules out the southern end of the Curonian Spit |
What are the speed limits in Lithuania?
The EU's Lithuania road rules page lists these limits and requirements:
| Road | April–October | November–March |
|---|---|---|
| Motorway | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highway | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Other asphalt or concrete roads | 90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Other roads | 70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Built-up areas | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Residential and parking areas | 20 km/h | 20 km/h |
Drivers with under two years' experience have lower limits: 100 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on highways and 80 km/h on other asphalt roads. They must also keep to 0.0 alcohol. Everyone else has a limit of 0.4 mg/ml.
Other rules:
- Daytime running lights or dipped headlights are compulsory in daylight.
- Winter or M+S tyres are compulsory from 10 November to 31 March.
- The car must carry a fire extinguisher, warning triangle, first-aid kit and reflective vest.
The seasonal motorway limit catches people out. Cruise at 130 km/h on the A1 to Klaipėda on 2 November and you are 20 km/h over.
How do speed cameras work in Lithuania?
Via Lietuva (the state road operator) lists 70 instant speed cameras on state roads and 50 average-speed cameras covering 25 sections. A further 106 average-speed sections (212 devices) are to be installed gradually. The page was last updated in May 2024. Cameras measure traffic in both directions and also check technical inspection, liability insurance and road-charge payment. Point cameras are placed where crashes are more likely, such as near schools, pedestrian crossings and junctions. Average-speed sections were chosen by traffic volume and crash history, according to the Road Administration's tender notice.
The fines
Article 416 of the Code of Administrative Offences (version in force from 1 August 2026) sets the ranges:
| Over the limit | Fine | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 km/h | Warning | — |
| More than 10, up to 20 km/h | EUR 12–30 | — |
| More than 20, up to 30 km/h | EUR 30–90 | — |
| More than 30, up to 40 km/h | EUR 120–170 | Suspension of 3–6 months is mandatory for novice drivers |
| More than 40, up to 50 km/h | EUR 170–230 | Suspension of 6–12 months is mandatory for novice drivers |
| More than 50 km/h | EUR 450–550 | Suspension of 1–6 months for all drivers |
Half the minimum if you do not dispute it
Article 610 creates the administrative order. When the offence is recorded without the driver present, as with a camera, you may pay half the minimum fine within 30 calendar days of the notice being sent. Repeat offences within the listed articles lose the discount and pay the full minimum. The discount is not offered where a licence suspension is mandatory.
Worked example: an average-speed section
A section records you at 15 km/h over the limit.
| Route | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Accept the administrative order: half of the EUR 12 minimum | EUR 6 |
| Add the Avis handling fee if the company forwards it | EUR 35 |
| Total | EUR 41 |
| Let the order lapse and the case is decided | Up to EUR 30, plus the same EUR 35 |
In this case the rental company's fee is almost six times the discounted fine. Settling fast saves little money. The real saving is not being flashed at all, especially in November when motorway limits fall.
How the notice reaches a renter
Camera notices go to the vehicle's owner or keeper. Under Article 431 of the code, a keeper who fails to tell officers who was driving can be fined EUR 600–900 in the most serious cases. That covers speeding more than 50 km/h over and dangerous driving. That gives rental companies every reason to pass your details on. Their terms let them charge you the fine and their fee, as Avis does. Keep your rental contract and card statement for several months after the trip.
How much does parking cost in Vilnius?
Vilnius street parking is run through JUDU, the municipal transport company. Its zone table sets these charges as of September 2026:
| Zone | Price | Hours listed for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | EUR 3.50 an hour; EUR 4.00 from the third hour | 0–24 |
| Red | EUR 2.50 an hour | 8–22 |
| Yellow | EUR 1.00 an hour | 8–20 |
| Green | EUR 0.50 an hour | 8–18 |
| White | EUR 0.20 an hour | 0–24 |
The same page also says fees are charged Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00, with daily charging on some lakeside streets from May to September. Read the sign at your space before assuming a weekend is free. Pay in the JUDU app or self-service portal. The page also mentions the m.Parking app. An unpaid stay leads to a parking notice payable within 168 hours (7 days). Breaking the municipal parking fee rules is an offence under Article 418, with a fine of EUR 20–40.
How much is the Neringa fee on the Curonian Spit?
The road down the spit to Juodkrantė and Nida starts on the Smiltynė side of the Klaipėda strait. Cars cross on the Smiltynės perkėla ferry from the New Ferry Terminal at Nemuno g. 8 in Klaipėda, according to Visit Neringa. Ferry fares were not published on the pages checked, so confirm the current car fare with the operator.
About 10 km along the Smiltynė–Nida road, the Alksnynė control post collects Neringa's local fee. The municipality's fee page sets these rates for cars:
| Period | Passenger car, single entry |
|---|---|
| 21 August to 19 June | EUR 10 |
| 20 June to 20 August | EUR 50 |
| Annual permit | EUR 500 |
Visit Neringa's page still says electric vehicles are exempt, but LRT reported that from 1 January 2025 fully electric cars pay EUR 25 in the peak season, half the car rate. The municipality's page lists EUR 25 for fully electric vehicles. If your rental is electric, check the rate for your dates when you pay.
Vans and the road charge
Lithuania's time-based road user charge does not apply to an ordinary rental car. Via Lietuva requires an e-vignette before buses (M2–M3) and goods vehicles (N1–N3) use toll roads. A rented cargo van is an N1 vehicle, and cameras check road-charge payment, so ask the company whether a valid e-vignette is on the plate.
For the legs north, see renting a car in Riga and Latvia's speed cameras and renting a car in Tallinn and winter driving.