Riga - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
You will see every kind of car here, and the streets/parking isn't so narrow that a mid-size SUV can't navigate it. All major car brands are here, though some spare parts are more expensive. Winter tires are required by law (the three-peak EU standard), and they are cheaper to buy outside the country. - Mar 2022
Anything is fine, though larger vehicles may be harder to park. - Jul 2017
In Riga, you will see cars of all kinds - beat-up old Ladas, as well as huge, shiny Range Rovers, and even Jaguars and Rolls Royces on occasion. The roads are generally good throughout the country. We brought our Honda Civic and have had no problems at all. In the winter months, snow tires are required in Latvia, although all-weather tires meet this requirement. We used our all-weather tires last winter and had no problems. There are dealerships for many different car makes throughout the city. - Sep 2016
I would bring something smaller for city parking purposes. But they don't really plow the roads in the winter, so 4-wheel-drive isn't a bad idea. - Jul 2010
You will see some of the nicest cars in Riga. You don't need a 4x4. Repair shops for U.S. and foreign cars are available. Streets can be hard on the suspension. - Aug 2008
