A power-driven vehicle may be driven by a person who has the right to drive power-driven vehicles of the respective category.
The right to drive a power-driven vehicle is granted to a person whose permanent residence is in Estonia, whose age and state of health comply with the requirements in force, and who has obtained the qualification of a driver of a power-driven vehicle, i.e. has successfully passed the required tests. Permanent residence within the meaning of the Traffic Act is a place where a person usually resides for at least 185 days in each calendar year due to personal or professional ties. Permanent residence is proven by the data of the population register. Minimum age of a driver of applying for a permit to drive can you find an the web page of Estonian Transport Administration.
Categories of power-driven vehicles
From the point of view of the right to drive a power-driven vehicle, cars and motorcycles fall into the following main categories:
- A (motorcycles)
- B, C, D (cars)
- BE, CE, DE (road trains)
- and their subcategories A1, A2, B1, C1, D1, C1E, and D1E.
A power-driven vehicle of category AM (moped) may also be driven by a person who has the right to drive any power-driven vehicle or has a limited right to drive. A person born before 1 January 1993 is not required the right to drive or a limited right to drive a power-driven vehicle in category AM.
A person with the right to drive a power-driven vehicle in category B may drive both a power-driven vehicle in subcategory B1 and a power-driven vehicle with three symmetrical wheels, with an engine power not exceeding 15 kilowatts and belonging to subcategory A1.
More information about categories and conditions of right to drive can you find an the web page of Estonian Transport Administration.
Driving school activities
There is a large number of driving schools in Estonia for a candidate driver to choose from. Often, the choice of a driving school is based on the recommendations of friends, however, you should also check the statistics of the Transport Administration, including the percentages of passed examinations.
Limited right to drive
The limited right to drive may be issued to 16- and 17-year-olds to drive a category B power-driven vehicle. A person with a limited right to drive may drive a car provided that they are accompanied by a legal representative or a person with the written consent of the legal representative, who must have had a valid driving licence for a category B power-driven vehicle for at least two years and must not be intoxicated or in a state exceeding the alcohol limit. The limited right to drive gives the right to drive a power-driven vehicle only in Estonia.
Withdrawal of the right to drive
Withdrawal of the right to drive is the principal or a supplementary penalty imposed by a court or an extrajudicial body for an offence related to a violation of the requirements of the Traffic Act or legislation issued on the basis thereof, which entails prohibiting the driving of a vehicle. A penalty imposed on a person residing in Estonia by a court or an extrajudicial body of a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, which entails prohibiting the driving of a vehicle, is also considered the withdrawal of the right to drive.
Suspension of the right to drive
If the driving licence and/or medical certificate has expired, the right to drive will also be suspended and the person may not drive a vehicle.
In order to be able to drive again, they must obtain a new valid driving licence and/or medical certificate. Suspension of the right to drive is not a lack of a right to drive, but a temporary prohibition of driving.
The validity of a driving licence can be checked from the document or in the e-service of the Transport Administration, using the service Request for validity of a driving licence. The validity of the medical certificate can be checked from your family doctor or in the e-service of the Transport Administration.
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.
Related articles
- Driving licence
- Right to drive a bicycle, moped and small moped
- Recreational craft, skipper or jet bike driver certificate
- Applying for a vehicle card
- Applying for a service provider card
- Taxi licence
References
- About tests
- Medical certificate
- Granting of the right to drive
- Foreign driving licence
- International driving permit
- Driving licence
- State fees for the activities of Transport Administration
Services
- Different queries from the motor insurance register
- Driving licence check
- E-services of the Transport Administration
- Health Portal
- Reservation system of the Transport Administration