Surely a task for committed road friends and their indestructible cars, driving in Russia is a feat not to be compared with driving in other countries.Don't forget your national and international driving permit, registration and insurance documents for your car and of course your passport with visa. At the border, ask for an Immigration Card and make sure it is stamped!

Traffic police (recognisable by ДПС, ГИБДД or ГАИ) may fine you for not having a fire extinguisher or for speeding. On highways this varies between 80 - 110 km/h.Once you arrive in Moscow though, things are looking up with streets and highways befitting a capital city. The MKAD (Moscow Automobile Ring Road) will be one of the first things encountered, it circles the city at a distance of 109km. The speed limit is 100km/hr on the MKAD, although don't be surprised to see people well exceeding that.

Other road tips:
- Watch out for drivers overtaking from both right and left on large roads - in Russia apparently that is perfectly normal.

- Be very attentive when driving on the highways between cities. Potholes are a frequent hazard and not all road markings have stood up to the test of time.

- In some rural areas (particularly on the road between Moscow and St. Petersburg for example) you will find the highway becomes a three-lane road and that every few kilometres the middle lane becomes an overtaking lane for different streams of traffic. If you don't pay attention it can mean you are driving into incoming traffic so keep your eyes open!

- Oncoming cars may occasionally flash their headlights at you. Usually it is to warn you that there is a speed camera or police car ahead.

- Be very careful at zebra crossings, particularly in villages where locals are prone to spring suddenly from the shadows.