Right to drive

A driver is a person who drives a vehicle or guides saddle or draught animals on a road. A person who guides cattle on a road is also deemed to be a driver. Driving instructors are deemed to be drivers during driving lessons and driving practice.

Driving cycle or moped
A person of at least 10 years of age may cycle on a carriageway.

A person of at least 14 years of age may drive a moped.

Cyclists between 10 and 15 years of age and moped drivers between 14 and 15 years of age shall hold a corresponding driving licence when cycling or driving on a carriageway respectively.

Persons of at least 16 years of age are not required to hold a driving licence in order to drive cycles, mopeds or vehicles deemed to be equal thereto.

Driving a motor vehicle
A person shall not drive a power-driven vehicle in road traffic if he or she does not have the right to drive power-driven vehicles of the corresponding category.
Pursuant to the Traffic Act the right to drive shall be granted to Estonian citizens who reside permanently in Estonia.

A vehicles' driver, when he or she is not the owner of the vehicle or his or her name is not indicated on the registration certificate as a user of the vehicle, shall have an authorisation document for using the vehicle.

The authorization document is not necessary if the owner or a person named on the registration certificate as a user is a passenger in the vehicle.

The authorization document shall be written by the owner of the vehicle or the representative of a legal person named on the registration certificate or a self-proprietor.

The authorization document of vehicle usage shall include the following data:
1) the place and date of issue;
2) the name and address of the owner of the vehicle;
3) the make and model of the vehicle, manufacturer's vehicle identification number (VIN-code);
4) registration certificate number and state registration plate number;
5) the name and address of the operator and driving licence number.

The authorisation document shall bear the signature of the person authorising the operation of the vehicle.

Driving licence

In Estonia driving licence can be applied for in the Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre (ARK). All necessary links are provided on ARK's website.

As the application for driving licence is closely related to testing, the website also provides information about the theory test and the practical driving test. Sample exam questions are also provided.

A driving licence issued in a foreign state is valid in Estonia if it is issued and prepared pursuant to the principles of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and subsequent agreements and amendments to the Conventions attached thereto.
If a citizen of Estonia or a person who holds a residence permit in Estonia settles in Estonia, his or her driving licence issued in a foreign state shall be valid during 12 months as of the date on which the person settled in Estonia or on which the residence permit was issued to the person.

A driver's license issued abroad is replaced with an Estonian driver's license after successfully passing the examination of traffic theory and practical driving skills, if:

The owner of the driver's license has been convicted for repeated violation of the Traffic Act or a legal act issued on the basis of the Traffic Act, within past 12 months in Estonia;
The owner of the driver's license has been convicted for such a violation of the Traffic Act or a legal act issued on the basis of the Traffic Act that brings about a suspension of right to drive, within past 12 months in Estonia;
The owner of the driver's license has not replaced the driver's license issued abroad with an Estonian driver's license within 12 months after the owner of the driver's license settled in Estonia or received the Estonian residential permit;
The driver's license issued abroad has not been issued and formulated according to the principles of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic from the year of 1949 or the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic from 1968 and the later agreements and convention supplements related to these Conventions.

A driver's license issued in a Member State of the European Union for a person settling in Estonia does not have to be replaced with an Estonian driver's license.

In order to replace the driver's license, the following documents must be presented to ARK office by the owner of the driver's license:

A driver's license application formulated properly, to be filled in the ARK office;
A valid health certificate (if more than two years have passed after the last health inspection, then a new health inspection has to be conducted before replacing the driver's license);
A passport or other identification and residence document;
The driver's license to be replaced;
A document proving the payment of the relevant state fee;
A formal photograph of the owner of the driver's license that can be made in automatic photo-booths located in all ARK offices. A digital photograph made in such a photo-booth ensures a better print quality of the driver's license and taking the picture is free-of-charge for the customer.

Applying for and changing of a certificate of a skipper of a recreational craft

All the ARK offices issue and change certificates of skippers of recreational crafts. The certificate can be applied by a person who has passed a corresponding exam and is at least 15 years old and who meet medical standards for B-category motor vehicle drivers. The necessary preparation, including practical skills, can be acquired in the courses held by persons approved by the Estonian Maritime Administration, or independently. The exam of a skipper of a recreational craft consists of the theoretical and practical test. The practical test takes place on a recreational craft or a simulator that is certified and approved by the Estonian Maritime Administration.

The certificate is issued on the basis of the examination protocol.

The certificate of a skipper of a recreational craft issued according to the new format is valid for 10 years.

The certificates of skippers of recreational crafts issued prior to April 12th, 1999 are valid with the restrictions specified until 31 December, 2006.

The certificates of skippers of recreational crafts issued by the Estonian Maritime Administration from 12 April, 1999 to 1 July, 2005 are valid with the restrictions imposed on them.

Last modified:

23.04.2008 13:36