FAQ
Questions and answers
Here are the questions that come up most often before and during a long trip. The answers are short and general; for details on the rules see the official text of the Russian traffic rules, and for details on your car see its owner's manual.
A good trip plan always leaves room for whatever doesn't go to plan.
About this guide
Is this a continuation of the site that used to be here?
No. This domain used to carry unrelated pages; their content hasn't been kept and we don't reproduce it. The guide has no connection to them; all that's left of them is the domain name.
Do you sell tours or services?
No. We don't organize trips, book places to stay or sell services. Avtorrabot is an independent guide with general advice on long drives in your own car.
Why don't you name specific places and cars?
We write about what works for most trips and most passenger cars. Everyone picks their route, lodging and vehicle for themselves, and recommendations for specific places go out of date quickly.
Can your advice be treated as the law?
No. We cite requirements of the Russian traffic rules with clause numbers, and everything else is a recommendation. If a rule matters for your decision, check the official text.
Preparation
How do I plan a long trip day by day?
Split the drive into legs you can cover with breaks and without rushing, and pick places to stay overnight in advance. Add a generous buffer to your estimated time for traffic, roadwork and weather.
How do I prepare for losing signal?
Save offline maps of the areas you need on your phone ahead of time, write important addresses and phone numbers on paper, and bring a car charger. Coverage on stretches out of town can be patchy.
What documents should I take on the road?
Your driver's license, the car's registration and your insurance: check the day before that you have everything and nothing has expired. For the exact list of what a driver must carry, check the official text of the Russian traffic rules, or the traffic code wherever you drive.
What food and water should I bring?
Enough drinking water for everyone, pets included, and simple food that won't spoil or leave crumbs all over the car. Swap a heavy lunch before a long leg for something light: a big meal makes you drowsier.
On the road
When should I refuel on a long drive?
Don't wait for the low-fuel light: on sparsely populated stretches gas stations can be few and far between. It's easier to fill up ahead of time, for example during one of your rest stops.
How do I know it's time to rest?
Frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, missed signs and not remembering the last few minutes of driving are clear signs of fatigue. Clause 2.7 of the Russian traffic rules bans driving while fatigued to a degree that endangers traffic safety.
How should I travel with a dog or cat?
A pet is safer in a secured carrier or in a car safety harness than loose in the cabin. Make stops so it can stretch and drink, and never leave it in a closed car in the heat.
What if the weather suddenly turns bad?
Slow down, increase your following distance and turn on your lights. If visibility is gone or the road has become slippery, wait it out in a safe place, such as a parking area, not on the shoulder.
Read next
- Safety
Fatigue, seat belts, cargo, kids, weather and night driving: the rules and habits that help you reach the end of the trip without incident.
- Preparation
What to check yourself before a long drive and what to have a shop look at ahead of time: pressure, tread, fluids, lights, wipers and the spare.
- Faults
Overheating, a flat tire, a dead battery and warning lights on a long drive: the signs that tell you it's not safe to keep going.
Sources
- Russian traffic rules (official text)
- Your car's owner's manual (in general terms)
- Road safety materials (in general terms)
The Russian traffic rules are summarized from the official text in force when this page was prepared, and rules change from time to time. Cars differ too, so before a trip check the current version of the rules and your own car's owner's manual.