How can I apply for a provisional driving licence?
The right to drive a motor vehicle and the driving licence are granted to a person:
- whose permanent residence is in Estonia or who can prove that they have studied in Estonia for at least six months;
- whose age and health condition meet the current requirements;
- who have obtained the qualification to drive a motor vehicle (who have completed a driving school, including first aid training, according to the curriculum and passed the traffic theory and driving test).
You can apply for a driving licence at the e-service of the Transport Administration or at a service bureau. The documents that must be submitted when applying can be found in the article on the state portal ‘Driving licence’.
How can I change or replace a driving licence?
In order to change a driving licence, for example when it expires, an application must be submitted in the e-service of the Transport Administration or at the offices of the Transport Administration.
You can submit an application to change your provisional driving licence to the Transport Administration one month before the provisional driving licence expires. The provisional driving licence is issued for up to two years, and at the end of the term, it must be exchanged for a driving licence. This requires the completion of the final stage of training and, if necessary, tests.
In case of loss, theft, destruction, etc. of a driving licence, an application for a new driving licence must be submitted to the Transport Administration at the offices of the Transport Administration. In the case of loss of a driving licence, an application for a new driving licence can also be submitted in the e-service of the Transport Administration.
To change or replace a driving licence, the following must be submitted to the office of the Transport Administration:
- a valid medical certificate if there is no data regarding a valid medical certificate in the traffic register database;
- an identity document or a residence permit;
- the driving licence you want to replace. In the case of theft or destruction of a driving licence, an explanatory letter or a certificate from a police authority, rescue service agency, or other competent authority must be submitted;
- a photo, which can be taken in one of the photo booths available in all of the offices of the Transport Administration. Taking a photo is free for the customer;
- pay the state fee.
You will receive a reminder about the expiration of your driving licence to your email address. You will be notified by text message if you have activated your mobile phone number in the state portal. A driving licence is generally valid for 10 years.
The office issues a driving licence within ten working days from the day following the submission of the application to change the driving licence.
You can change a driving licence issued in Estonia under expedited procedure by filling out an application at any office of the Transport Administration or in the e-service of the Transport Administration, but a driving licence issued under expedited procedure can be picked up by the afternoon of the next working day only from the office in Tallinn (address: 6 Heli Street). The state fee for a driving licence issued under expedited procedure is cheaper if you apply for the driving licence in the e-service of the Transport Administration.
You can find more detailed information about changing and replacing a driving licence on the website of the Transport Administration.
Where can I check the validity of my driving licence?
The validity of your driving licence is marked on the document and you can also use the service of the State Portal Query About Driving Licence.
Generally, a driving licence is valid for 10 years.
A provisional driving licence is valid for 2 years.
How to get a medical certificate
The driver of a power-driven vehicle must have a valid medical certificate. Only an e-health certificate is issued in Estonia. To obtain an e-health certificate, you must first fill out your declaration of health at the Health Portal terviseportaal.ee (you can log in using your ID-card or mobile ID) and then go to an appointment of your family physician or occupational health doctor. An electronic health certificate issued by a doctor is automatically sent to the Traffic Register.
The validity of a health certificate can be checked at the Health Portal terviseportaal.ee.
If you do not receive a valid medical certificate at your next medical check-up, your driving licence will be suspended.
How often does a driver of a power-driven vehicle have to undergo medical examination?
Generally, a driver of a power-driven vehicle shall undergo medical examination every 10 years or at a time appointed by a doctor.
The following persons shall undergo medical examination every 5 years:
- persons who are over 65 years old who drive category A, AM, B, and BE vehicles and their subcategory vehicles, and drivers of category T tractors and non-road mobile machinery;
- drivers of category C, CE, D, and DE vehicles and their subcategory vehicles, category B taxi and category A, B, and C emergency vehicles, and teachers of driving licence applicants and drivers of a power-driven vehicle.
Is an Estonian driving licence valid in another country?
A driving licence issued in Estonia is recognised in the entire European Union. An international driving licence may be required in states outside the European Economic Area.
More information on this can be found on the website of the Transport Administration.
I have a driving licence issued in another country
Driving licences issued in foreign countries are valid in Estonia pursuant to international agreements.
Read the website of the Transport Administration to find out which countries’ driving licences are valid in Estonia and what the requirements for their validity and changing are.
What requirements apply to a cyclist and driver of a moped or small moped?
A child who is at least 10 years old and carries a bicycle driving licence can drive a bicycle on a road on their own. Children who are at least 8 years old can ride a bicycle on the road under their parent’s supervision. In that case, they do not have to have a driving licence.
A basic school, upper secondary school, hobby school, driving school, the Police and Border Guard Board, and the Estonian Transport Administration are authorised to issue a right to drive a bicycle.
A driver who is under 16 years of age and is riding a bicycle, Segway, or a small moped must wear a fastened helmet on a road.
A driver of a small moped must be at least 14 years old. Drivers of small mopeds who are 14–15 years old must have a bicycle driving licence; a licence is not mandatory for persons who are at least 16 years of age.
A driver of a moped must be at least 14 years old and have a right to drive the respective power-driven vehicle. Undergoing training in a driving school and passing an exam are required to obtain a right to drive a moped.
More information regarding traffic with a bicycle, moped and small moped can be found from the article Right to Drive a Bicycle, Moped and Small Moped at the State Portal.
Where can I see the data of vehicles registered in my name?
You must log in to view data of vehicles registered in your name. You can see it in the ‘My eesti.ee’ view and when using the Personal Vehicles Query service. The service also displays vehicles that have been transferred, if the new owner has not amended the information on persons related to the vehicle.
Information on vehicles registered in your name can also be viewed in the E-Service of the Transport Administration.
Where can I check the validity of a vehicle’s roadworthiness test and motor third party liability insurance?
A vehicle’s roadworthiness test and motor third party liability insurance can be checked in the E-Service of the Estonian Transport Administration, using the service Vehicle Background Check.
Motor third party liability insurance can also be checked on the website of the LKF.
What should I know when purchasing a used car
You should be careful when purchasing a used car. If the car originates from Estonia, you can check whether the vehicle has been in a traffic accident or another event that falls under motor third party liability insurance, on the website of the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund using the Check the traffic damage history of a vehicle option by entering the registration number or VIN code (in Estonian).
The technical data and user history of a vehicle can be viewed in the service Vehicle Background Check of the Transport Administration.
What documents are submitted upon registration of a vehicle?
A vehicle to be used in traffic shall be registered within five business days as from putting the vehicle into service in Estonia. A vehicle is registered after it passes the roadworthiness test. The data of persons related to the vehicle (owners, users) is also entered into the registry with the vehicle.
More information regarding information of vehicle registration can be found on the website of the Transport Administration under subsection Vehicle Registration.
What do I do in case of a traffic accident?
After being in a traffic accident, you must stop the vehicle and switch on hazard warning lights as quickly as possible. You must then assess the danger the vehicles that were involved in the accident might pose on other road users.
After ensuring safety on the scene of the accident, you must check whether anyone was hurt or needs assistance. If someone is injured, you must immediately call the emergency phone number 112 and follow their instructions.
More information regarding documentation of a traffic accident on the scene can be found in the State Portal article A Traffic Accident Took Place.
Why do I need motor third party liability insurance
Motor third party liability insurance is a mandatory liability insurance. Vehicles without a motor third party liability insurance cannot be used in traffic. An insurer, i.e. insurance company compensates damages caused by the person responsible for a traffic accident to the damaged party. Therefore, motor third party liability insurance gives you the peace of mind that the person responsible for a traffic accident does not have to compensate the damage and all damages caused to the damaged party are compensated.
Which vehicles have to be insured?
A motor third party liability insurance agreement must be entered into regarding power-driven vehicles such as automobiles, lorries, buses, mopeds, motorcycles, and tractors that have been registered in the Traffic Register. In addition, an agreement shall be entered into regarding trailers of such vehicles.
A more comprehensive list can be found on the website of the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund.
How much does motor third party liability insurance cost?
Different insurance companies offer different motor third party liability insurance costs. You can conveniently choose the insurance company best suited for you by using the motor insurance calculator (in Estonian). The calculator includes motor third party liability insurance prices of eight insurance companies. The payment is made upon entering into an agreement on the website of an insurance company. Motor third party liability insurance can also be purchased in the offices of insurance companies.
What damages are compensated?
In the case of an insured event, the insurer will compensate the following, for example:
- destruction of or damages to the vehicle of the damaged party
- cost of restoration or replacement of a damaged building, fence, traffic sign, etc.
- costs for preventing or reducing damages
- costs for receiving compensation or ascertaining damages
- medical costs of the damaged party, including nursing care and costs of medicinal products
- decrease in income caused by the damaged party’s incapacity for work
An insurer is obligated to compensate traffic damage to the damaged party to the extent provided in the motor third party liability insurance agreement and the Motor Insurance Act.
More information regarding damages compensated can be found on the website of the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund.
What happens when I do not have motor third party liability insurance?
If you drive a vehicle without motor third party liability insurance, the police may impose a fine on the driver. You can check whether a vehicle owned by you is uninsured using the State Portal service Searching for a vehicle without insurance contract.
If you cause an accident with an uninsured vehicle, the damages will be compensated by the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund or your last insurance provider who will reclaim the compensation paid from the owner, responsible user or driver of the uninsured vehicle.
You do not have to enter into a motor third party liability insurance agreement within the first 12 calendar months following the end of validity of the agreement if you do not use the vehicle in traffic or in any other way that might result in an insured event. If you do not enter into a motor third party liability insurance agreement after 12 months, mandatory insurance, i.e. automatic motor third party liability insurance will take effect.
If you do not enter into a motor third party liability insurance agreement, mandatory insurance will also take effect when a vehicle is registered in the Traffic Register or a vehicle’s temporary deletion from the Traffic Register ends.
You should avoid the mandatory insurance, as its insurance premium is considerably higher than for motor third party liability insurance and the party who has mandatory insurance and caused damages shall pay a deductible of 640 euros per each insured event.
If you are not using a vehicle, the vehicle must be deleted from the Traffic Register.
Where can I see traffic damage caused by me or caused to insured vehicles belonging to me?
Information on your insurance history and traffic damages can be viewed using the State Portal’s service Traffic insurance history. Insurance companies in Estonia take this information into account when determining payments.
What is the difference between motor third party liability insurance and optional motor vehicle insurance?
In addition to motor third party liability insurance, you can also choose an optional motor vehicle insurance that insures your vehicle e.g. against theft, vandalism, traffic accidents, and natural disasters. If you cause a traffic accident and have motor third party liability insurance, the insurance company compensates damages to the damaged party; however, optional motor vehicle insurance compensates damages to a car irrespective of who caused the accident.
How to solve a dispute with an insurer?
As in other areas, disputes occur in insurance. In most cases, parties to an insurance relationship resolve disputes by negotiations. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, you can turn to the motor insurance conciliator.
Temporary removal of vehicle from traffic register
If you do not wish to use the vehicle during a specific period, you are required to fulfil the obligations of registered vehicles (e.g. third party liability insurance, heavy goods vehicle tax). In the event of that it is possible to temporarily remove a vehicle from the traffic register.
The vehicle is temporarily removed from register on the basis of an application of the owner of the vehicle or their representative. The period of the temporary removal can last from one month to 24 months. When the period stated in the application of temporary removal has passed, the vehicle is considered registered.
A vehicle can be temporarily deleted through Transport Administration’s e-service.
Temporary removal of a vehicle is free.
How do I receive the fine notification?
You will receive the fine notification via mail with a registered letter to the address provided in the Population Register. If you do not live at the address provided in the register, the fine notification is published in the official publication Ametlikud Teadaanded. The fine notification will be considered officially received after 30 days have passed since being published in Ametlikud Teadaanded.
If you have redirected your @eesti.ee address to your personal e-mail address, you will first receive the fine notification via e-mail.
A warning fine for exceeding the permitted speed limit will not be entered into the criminal records database.
Can I contest a warning fine?
If you want to contest a fine, you have to fill out the previously filled-out contestation form. A warning fine can be contested if the vehicle or licence plate was stolen (confirmation of the theft from a competent authority is required) or another circumstance excluding the unlawfulness of exceeding the speed limit becomes evident.
More information on contesting a fine notification can be found on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board.
How quickly do I have to pay the warning fine and what happens if I do not pay?
A warning fine shall be paid via bank transfer within 30 days as from receipt of the fine notification. The fine notification includes the payment order and instructions for proper payment of the warning fine to the account of the Ministry of Finance.
If you did not contest the fine notification but did not pay the warning fine on time or the warning fine was not received due to an incorrectly executed transaction, the Police and Border Guard Board shall submit the fine notification to a bailiff for compulsory enforcement.
Can I see the picture taken by a traffic enforcement camera?
A copy of the photo is not added to the fine notification. Based on a signed application, you will receive a copy of the photo that was used to ascertain the act. However, when you submit a request to receive the photo, the 30-day term for fine payment will not be seized.
Forms
- Application for vehicle registration ( in Estonian)
- Traffic Accident Notification Form (in Estonian)
Related articles
References
- State fees for activities of the Transport Administration
- Information on driving licences from the Transport Administration
- Registration of a moped
- State Fees
- Changing the information of persons related to a vehicle
- Service bureaus of the Transport Administration
- State fees for vehicle registration
- Vehicle registration
- In what cases are damages compensated?
- Mandatory insurance of uninsured vehicles
Services
- Changing a driving licence at the E-Service of the Transport Administration
- Checking the traffic damage history of a vehicle (in Estonian)
- Check the validity of a driving licence (in Estonian)
- Check the validity of your health certificate
- Driving Licence Query
- Fill out a declaration of health to obtain a health certificate
- My vehicles without insurance
- Queries about personal vehicles
- Temporary removal of vehicle from traffic register
- Traffic insurance history
- Vehicle background check (in Estonian)