Right to drive a bicycle
A child of at least 10 years of age who has a bicycle driving licence with them may ride a bicycle on the road independently. Cyclists aged between 10 and 15 who wish to ride unaccompanied on the road (including on cycle tracks) are required to have a licence.
A child of at least 8 years of age may ride a bicycle on the road under the supervision of a parent. In this case, the child does not need a driving licence.
A child of at least 14 years of age who has the right to drive a bicycle can also drive a mini moped. A cyclist or mini-moped driver of the age of at least 16 is not required to have a driving licence.
Without the right to ride a bicycle, a child may ride a bicycle on a cycle track, cycle and pedestrian track, or in a calm traffic area, in which case the child must always cross the road as a pedestrian by dismounting the bicycle and pushing it by hand. A child may not drive independently on a cycle lane marked on the road without a driving licence – this is suitable for a bicycle, mini moped, or 2-wheeled moped driver who knows the traffic rules. Basic schools, upper secondary schools, hobby schools, driving schools, the Police and Border Guard Board, and the Transport Administration have the right to issue bicycle driving licences.
Wearing a bike helmet while riding a bicycle or driving a mini moped is mandatory for children under the age of 16.
Right to drive a personal light electric vehicle
A child aged 10 to 15 years old may drive a light motor vehicle on the road independently if he or she has a licence to ride a bicycle. A driver of a light motor vehicle of 16 years of age is not required to have a licence to ride a bicycle on the road.
Personal light electric vehicle means a battery-driven vehicle designed for carrying one individual, e.g. an electric scooter, electric skateboard, self-balancing scooter, self-balancing unicycle, or a similar vehicle without a seat. The maximum design speed of a personal light electric vehicle must not exceed 25 km/h and the maximum power of the motor of a personal light electric vehicle (except for a self-balancing vehicle) must not exceed 1 kW.
It is not permitted to ride a personal light electric vehicle with a design speed of more than 25 km/h in public traffic. Such vehicles may be ridden in closed areas or areas which are closed for other traffic.
A driver of a light motor vehicle under the age of 16 is required to wear a bike helmet when driving, while older drivers are strongly advised to wear a helmet.
A child under the age of 8 may ride a personal light electric vehicle (preferably under adult supervision) in a calm traffic area or on a pavement, footpath, cycle and pedestrian track, or cycle track without endangering other road users. It is not permitted to ride a personal light electric vehicle on a carriageway (even under adult supervision).
A child aged 8–9 may ride a personal light electric vehicle (preferably under adult supervision) in a calm traffic area or on a pavement, footpath, cycle and pedestrian track, or cycle track. In exceptional cases, a personal light electric vehicle may be ridden on a cycle track or on the right side of a carriageway under adult supervision.
A child aged 10–15 may ride a personal light electric vehicle in a calm traffic area or on a pavement, footpath, cycle and pedestrian track, or cycle track. A child aged 10–15 who has the right to ride a bicycle may ride unsupervised on a cycle track or on the right side of a carriageway if there is no pavement, cycle path, or cycle and pedestrian track.
Right to drive a moped
Mopeds are two- to four-wheel power-driven vehicles with a design speed not exceeding 45 km/h and a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm³ for an internal combustion engine or a maximum continuous rated power not exceeding 4 kW for an electric motor and an unladen mass not exceeding 350 kg.
A moped may be driven by a young person of at least 14 years of age who has the right to drive a power-driven vehicle in category AM or another category or who has a driving licence with a limited right to drive. In order to obtain a driving licence for category AM, the person must undergo appropriate training in a driving school and take a test. From 2 June 2020, the driving licence and the provisional driving licence will automatically include the right to drive vehicles of category AM, i.e. mopeds, without the necessary tests among those who already have the right to drive another category.
Vehicle equipment
Mopeds must be duly registered and have national registration plates. Mopeds are also required to have valid motor third party liability insurance.
Obligatory equipment for bicycles and mini mopeds includes the following:
- working brakes and a bell
- a white reflector in the front and a red one in the back
- at least one yellow or white reflector on each side of at least one wheel
- at night-time or in poor visibility, a white light in the front and red at the rear.
A personal light electric vehicle must be equipped with the following:
- working brakes or a system that enables braking
- a self-balancing vehicle must be equipped with a device that prevents accidental movement
- a bell, except in the case of a personal light electric vehicle not equipped with a handlebar
- a white light at the front and a red light at the rear and a yellow, red or white reflector or light on the sides, except in the case of a personal light electric vehicle not equipped with a handlebar
- at night-time or in poor visibility, a white light in the front and red at the rear.
Requirements for road use
The driver of a bicycle, mini moped, or a moped is not allowed to drive on the pavement, excluding:
- a cyclist who is less than 13 years old and has up to two escorts
- a cyclist transporting a child in a bicycle chair
- a cyclist, if riding on road is significantly impracticable due to road condition.
Cycle tracks, cycle and pedestrian tracks, and cycle lanes marked on the road are provided for cycling. A bicycle can be driven on the right edge of the road. This requirement presupposes riding in single file. Riding on the shoulder appropriate to the direction of traffic is also allowed. Riding on a road is allowed if there is an independent road for riding a bicycle parallel to the road but its condition is not good enough for riding a bicycle.
A personal light electric vehicle may be ridden in a calm traffic area or on a cycle lane, cycle track, cycle and pedestrian track, footpath, or pavement. Where the road or road part designated for riding a personal electric vehicle, i.e. a pavement, footpath, cycle track, cycle and pedestrian track, is missing, the personal light electric vehicle may be ridden on a carriageway.
A mini moped can be driven on the right edge of the road. To turn left or back, the mini moped driver go to the left side of the lane. A mini moped can also be driven on a cycle track and on a cycle lane marked on a road. It is also allowed to ride a mini moped in a calm traffic area without endangering or obstructing pedestrians. It is not allowed to ride a mini moped on pedestrian roads, pavements, footpaths, and cycle and pedestrian tracks.
Children under the age of 16 are required to wear a bicycle helmet when riding a bicycle or a mini moped both as a driver and as a passenger. Wearing a helmet is mandatory for children riding a bicycle, regardless of whether they are riding on a road, cycle track, footpath, or pavement. Children who ride in a bicycle seat or in a bicycle trailer are also required to wear a helmet. Moped drivers and moped passengers are required to wear a biker’s helmet.
Customer support
If you have any questions, call to the customer support of the Transport Administration at (+372) 620 1200 or write an e-mail to [email protected]. You can also contact them using the form on the website of the Transport Administration.
Before calling the customer support line, check the answers to the questions most frequently asked by callers.
References
- Travelling on Estonian Roads as a Cyclist
- Categories and conditions of right to drive
- Theory and driving tests
Services
- Check the traffic damage history of a vehicle
- Check the validity of motor insurance
- Claims representatives of Estonian insurance companies
- Determination of the indemnifier
- Driving licence check
- E-services of the Transport Administration
- Queries from Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund