Renting a car at Moscow airport / Driving to the Golden Ring towns

[MatryoshkaMan]

Hey all I am going for 2 weeks to Moscow October 1-14. My #1 will fly in from Novo to meet me and I am trying to cook up an interesting plan. I am thinking of spending the 1st week in Moscow (will rent an apartment) and the 2nd week I am thinking of renting a car (downtown or maybe back at the airport) and going for 5-6 days out to the Golden Ring towns of Vladimir & Suzdal (and maybe other towns too depending on time and pace). I have rented cars internationally many times. This past winter I did a 5 day car tour of Puerto Rico including driving the sometimes intimidating "Ruta Panoramica" through the mountains (1.5 lanes wide) and have driven perhaps 10,000 miles all through western Europe.

So what are the ins and outs of driving in Russia?

Anyone have experience driving from Moscow out to the Golden Ring?

I have a Garmin Nuvi GPS - any way to get Russia maps inexpensively (have seen a few ultra expensive ones)?

Is it better to rent from a Russian car rental company or one of the big international ones?

I have an expired International Drivers Permit - can I use it or do I have to pay the $20 to get a new one?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

[BillyB]

So what are the ins and outs of driving in Russia?

My ex wife's cousin went back to Ukraine to visit her boyfriend. They were in an auto accident where her boyfriend died. My ex wife's uncles told me when there's a fatality in an auto accident, someone must go to jail. Sometimes the cops will choose the driver at fault, other times they will choose the driver than offers them the least amount of bribe money.

Is Russian different? Hope so for your sake. Maybe someone like Lily can confirm.

[GoodOlBoy]

Hey MM.

My intel is over 5 years old.

I rented a car at SVO II (int'l airport).

There was an AVIS there at that time?

I had my International drivers license and yes Avis asked for it and checked to make sure it wasn't expired.

My memory is a little fuzzy because like yourself I have rented cars around Europe, BUT...From what I remember I paid about $75. per day back then for an Opel and that included the Collision Insurance (strongly suggested).

Also check with the hotel you are staying at because you need to have parking available.

I stayed at the Hotel Rossiya (now demolished ) and they had VALET parking there.

A little warning, back then they had absolutely NO turning on RED, also as you probably know already, Moscow streets consists of a series of "rings" as you drive towards the city center.

The cars inside of these rings have the right of way, so pay very close attention as you enter into them.

BB suggests checking with "Lily" for current intel, this would be an excellent idea.

Good Luck.


GOB
 

FWIW....My wife was VERY impressed with my driving skills in Moscow, BUT...I only did it one time and It was a white-knuckle experience for me (ice).

[BillyB]

Do not drive on these roads unless you're driving a rental car.

http://englishrussia.com/?p=315

[MatryoshkaMan]

WOW BillyB those are amazing photos, they remind me of the Russian Front of WWII when the Germans were bogged down just before the gates of Moscow in 1941! What an epic experience for those there...Makes me wonder just how much today's Russia is a strange mix of the hyper modern and the early 20th century primitive..

Oh and the note about the ramifications (pardon the pun) of serious traffic accidents has me wondering if taking a private taxi or train might be a little more sane..

[Vaughn]

the ramifications (pardon the pun) of serious traffic accidents has me wondering...

I've driven in England, Wales, Spain, Andorra and Germany.....  no problems. My Russian
brother-in-law suggested to me that I never rent a car there. Even in a minor scrape the
foreigner will almost always be at fault, regardless of coverage. Why add this unknown to
your "interesting plan" when public transportation is so affordable and available?

[acrzybear]

When I was in Tver visiting my friend this last March he let me drive his Russian federal police car (well jeep/gaz actually). I had no problem driving the stick shift and was concentrating on the muddy roads (hey I didn't want to crash a Russian police vehicle and have to leave town in a hurry) and everyone was passing me like I wasn't even there.   Well he decided to have some fun and switched on the blue light and siren and still people ignored me    I  can only imagine how people react to "unofficial" vehicles. 

 I would suggest taking public transit or renting a driver so you can relax and enjoy the scenery instead of having to worry about all of the hassles that are involved with driving in Russia.

[MatryoshkaMan]

The reasons I usually like to rent cars is the same reason I drive one at home - freedom to go where I want when I want. When travelling in Europe a car lets you escape the big cities and the tourist traps and get out in the "real" country. But with Russia I really have to weigh the pros and cons. Russia is obviously not Germany...

[Sculpto]

I can relate to your wanting to rent a car for the freedom it will give.  I am going to do the same in Mexico in October.  Bt, I have to admit, I am pretty nervous about it.  Bad roads, drunk drivers, potentially corrupt local police, the possibility of vandals and highway bandits etc etc etc.  But, I know Mexico real well, have done it before, and speak the language fluently.  I would not try it in Russia at this point.

[acrzybear]

The reasons I usually like to rent cars is the same reason I drive one at home - freedom to go where I want when I want. When travelling in Europe a car lets you escape the big cities and the tourist traps and get out in the "real" country. But with Russia I really have to weigh the pros and cons. Russia is obviously not Germany...

I have rented cars and driven all over Europe and I can tell you it is totally different then driving in Russia.  Most of the roads in Europe are better, the drivers usually obey most of the traffic laws and alot of the traffic signs are easier to spot.  I do not do well sitting in the passenger seat of cars (that type a personality thing), but while vacationing in any of the FSU countries I would prefer to sit in the passenger seat over driving.   

[MatryoshkaMan]

On the other hand....

On his very first trip to Ukraine last summer a friend of mine rented a car in Simferopal and drove around the Crimea..

I am not leaving for 2 months so I still have time to look further into it. If I was to rent a car it sure would spice things up.

One thing I have been told my my ex and others is that when there is an accident there is usually no insurance so its worked out between the 2 parties. God forbid a poor person hits a New Russian in his shiny car. Could be the last mistake a person ever makes!!

[MatryoshkaMan]

Check this out! 

[Aloe]

On the other hand....

On his very first trip to Ukraine last summer a friend of mine rented a car in Simferopal and drove around the Crimea..

I am not leaving for 2 months so I still have time to look further into it. If I was to rent a car it sure would spice things up.

One thing I have been told my my ex and others is that when there is an accident there is usually no insurance so its worked out between the 2 parties. God forbid a poor person hits a New Russian in his shiny car. Could be the last mistake a person ever makes!!

that "federal highway" is a road somewhere far FAR out in siberia. Moscow roads are better. Driving can be a little stressful though, because nobody ever lets you pass anywhere, so you have to "push them with elbows" figuratively speaking otherwise it will take you all day to get somewhere. I noticed in belgium drivers are so much more polite, they actually let you pass, while in Moscow you might need to make your way risking collision to make them stop and let you out.
Also no insurance part is not true, in Russia everyone MUST have insurance