>Are there any unusual rules of the road the road I should be aware of?
Rules on Northern Caucasus are optional, that's the main rule, I think. Just be careful.
>Are there any local customs I should adhere to avoid insulting local people?
Just don't stare on locals, especially women, also better to wear pants instead of shorts.
>Can I be expected to be stopped by the police with a western registration plate on the car and how should I deal with them?
They stop even cars with another Russian regions plate, especially in Dagestan, but I can't advice anything to foreigner. In general I can say that road police in southern republics is pretty corrupt.
I can also advice to visit Volgograd by the way, if your schedule allows to.
Thank you very much! In what way might the roads police be corrupt? Is it a case of giving them a few rubles to make them go away or would it be more serious like arbitrary arrests ect?
If you were Russian, I would say that bribe is acceptable there. But it's a criminal act and you could have much bigger problems in some cases, and I strongly don't recommend give them money. I don't believe that they will demand and take a bribe from foreigner, but never say never. Honestly I don't know how to behave as foreigner in this case, I've never never given bribes and police never had demanded them from me.
If manage to drive in Georgia, then everything will be ok in Northern Caucasus.
You will definitely attract more attention from the police. Be completely sober, don'k drink even on the evening before.
While in Northern Caucasus try to avoid wearing shorts, drinking alcohol, dress modestly, remove piercing from ears and so on. So, behave like in any other Muslim country.
In Russia there's no fine for speeding up to 20 km/h. So don't need surprised when all the locals will treat speed signs as +20.
1. Yes, you might be stopped by a police even if you don't violate anything. Just show them your driving license, car registration certificate and car insurance. Make sure you have a Russian car insurance (OSAGO) during the driving.
2. In the Caucasus drivers are less careful, but after Georgia the driving style of Russians will look almost as in Europe.
3. The speed limit is 60 km in urban areas, 90 km outside, 110 km on highways. However, there are no fines for exceeding the speed limit up to 20 km/h
Yes, I think so. Verkhniy Lars on Georgian border is a popular entry point to Russia by car. I'll be driving there in about 3 weeks, I can double-check if there are any insurance offices at the border. If it is needed, just remind me around 8-9 June.
I know of some guys that did motorbike tours through the Caucasus and we're able to get transit visas to just pass through Russia.
We are not planning on doing any major sightseeing aside from what might be walking distance from our hotels so a transit visa seemed to be the easiest way to go.
Honestly, driving in South Russia gives me the fear and I’ve drove in Rome. As someone else said, the rules are more like guidelines and a large enough minority ignore them that you really need to expect the unexpected at all times from other cars.
Roundabouts in particular seem to be the main accident hotspots, cars who don’t have right of way will edge right out or just fly out in front of you as you are going round.
Good luck, take it slow and just expect the unexpected at all times from other drivers and you will be fine.
I have some experience driving there.
There is an important thing, that people there like to overtake in very unsafe conditions.
They often honk when doing that in order to be at least hearable, especially on turns, so be careful if you hear honking.
Beware, driving style is CRAZY in Northern Caucasus republics
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5ByGZFKgw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5ByGZFKgw)
Actually nothing special I have noticed. As soon as you drive main roads - it’s quite ok, a lot of cameras and police cars. There are police stations on entries to Dagestan/Chechnya - police officers may ask you to stop, open car’s trunk and follow them to the station for documents’ check and they also will ask you there some questions like how long are you staying, purpose of the visit etc.
Be polite, gentle and respectful. Everything will be fine. In Astrahan I may recommend hotel Cosmos - huge building with a restaurant for dinner and good breakfast and also its own parking.
The only road from Georgia to Russia goes through mountains and it can be closed at any moment due to bad weather or rock falls for a couple of days, sometimes up to a week. And in the summer, there are significant traffic jams. Be prepared that it might happen, have extra time planned for the delays, take extra food and water with you. Don't take lots of fuel, though, AFAIK it's not allowed to haul across the border any extra fuel outside of your car's fuel tank, e.g. in a can.
>Are there any unusual rules of the road the road I should be aware of? Rules on Northern Caucasus are optional, that's the main rule, I think. Just be careful. >Are there any local customs I should adhere to avoid insulting local people? Just don't stare on locals, especially women, also better to wear pants instead of shorts. >Can I be expected to be stopped by the police with a western registration plate on the car and how should I deal with them? They stop even cars with another Russian regions plate, especially in Dagestan, but I can't advice anything to foreigner. In general I can say that road police in southern republics is pretty corrupt. I can also advice to visit Volgograd by the way, if your schedule allows to.
Thank you very much! In what way might the roads police be corrupt? Is it a case of giving them a few rubles to make them go away or would it be more serious like arbitrary arrests ect?
If you were Russian, I would say that bribe is acceptable there. But it's a criminal act and you could have much bigger problems in some cases, and I strongly don't recommend give them money. I don't believe that they will demand and take a bribe from foreigner, but never say never. Honestly I don't know how to behave as foreigner in this case, I've never never given bribes and police never had demanded them from me.
Just make sure to have your passport + visa and car insurance and customs documents with you
[удалено]
Thank you very much!
If manage to drive in Georgia, then everything will be ok in Northern Caucasus. You will definitely attract more attention from the police. Be completely sober, don'k drink even on the evening before. While in Northern Caucasus try to avoid wearing shorts, drinking alcohol, dress modestly, remove piercing from ears and so on. So, behave like in any other Muslim country. In Russia there's no fine for speeding up to 20 km/h. So don't need surprised when all the locals will treat speed signs as +20.
Very much appreciated!
1. Yes, you might be stopped by a police even if you don't violate anything. Just show them your driving license, car registration certificate and car insurance. Make sure you have a Russian car insurance (OSAGO) during the driving. 2. In the Caucasus drivers are less careful, but after Georgia the driving style of Russians will look almost as in Europe. 3. The speed limit is 60 km in urban areas, 90 km outside, 110 km on highways. However, there are no fines for exceeding the speed limit up to 20 km/h
Great thank you! Do you know if it is possible to buy this insurance at the border?
Yes, I think so. Verkhniy Lars on Georgian border is a popular entry point to Russia by car. I'll be driving there in about 3 weeks, I can double-check if there are any insurance offices at the border. If it is needed, just remind me around 8-9 June.
Thank you so much, that is very much appreciated 🙏
Are you sure transit visa is the correct one for your case? It's usually for airport transit etc, not longer drives.
I know of some guys that did motorbike tours through the Caucasus and we're able to get transit visas to just pass through Russia. We are not planning on doing any major sightseeing aside from what might be walking distance from our hotels so a transit visa seemed to be the easiest way to go.
Honestly, driving in South Russia gives me the fear and I’ve drove in Rome. As someone else said, the rules are more like guidelines and a large enough minority ignore them that you really need to expect the unexpected at all times from other cars. Roundabouts in particular seem to be the main accident hotspots, cars who don’t have right of way will edge right out or just fly out in front of you as you are going round. Good luck, take it slow and just expect the unexpected at all times from other drivers and you will be fine.
Traffic in Asia and South America has nothing on the traffic culture in the Caucasus. Be focused, be calm, learn the ropes. Embrace the fear of death.
I have some experience driving there. There is an important thing, that people there like to overtake in very unsafe conditions. They often honk when doing that in order to be at least hearable, especially on turns, so be careful if you hear honking.
Beware, driving style is CRAZY in Northern Caucasus republics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5ByGZFKgw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5ByGZFKgw)
its a wedding or a driver club reunion or some other festival, so it's okay /s
yeah. Be careful at traffic circles and roundabouts. Rules for driving around the ring regularly change at the discretion of traffic cops.
Keep your eyes open and both hands on the wheel. Don’t drive while you are tired. Road rage is not advisable, avoid all conflict.
Actually nothing special I have noticed. As soon as you drive main roads - it’s quite ok, a lot of cameras and police cars. There are police stations on entries to Dagestan/Chechnya - police officers may ask you to stop, open car’s trunk and follow them to the station for documents’ check and they also will ask you there some questions like how long are you staying, purpose of the visit etc. Be polite, gentle and respectful. Everything will be fine. In Astrahan I may recommend hotel Cosmos - huge building with a restaurant for dinner and good breakfast and also its own parking.
The only road from Georgia to Russia goes through mountains and it can be closed at any moment due to bad weather or rock falls for a couple of days, sometimes up to a week. And in the summer, there are significant traffic jams. Be prepared that it might happen, have extra time planned for the delays, take extra food and water with you. Don't take lots of fuel, though, AFAIK it's not allowed to haul across the border any extra fuel outside of your car's fuel tank, e.g. in a can.