How to get around in Estonia? The ‘Transport’ section offers an overview of car registration and how to obtain a driving licence in Estonia, which can be done through the transfer of a foreign driving licence or going to a driving school and applying for a provisional licence here. You can also find out more about the public transport system and where to buy tickets.
Whether a foreign driving licence is valid in Estonia and whether and under what conditions it can be exchanged for an Estonian driving licence depends on the country in which it was issued. A comprehensive overview of the conditions of exchanging driving licences issued in different countries can be found on the website of the Transport Administration.
EU, EEA, and Swiss driving licences are valid until the expiry date indicated on them, but licences valid for more than 15 years should be exchanged for Estonian licences by 2033 at the latest.
Driving licences from other countries are generally valid for 12 months from the date when the holder takes up permanent residence in Estonia. For a driving licence to be valid, its entries must be in Latin characters or handwritten or transliterated into Latin script. In addition, the licence must contain information on the category of motor vehicle the person is authorised to drive.
You can find out more about whether driving licences are exchanged for Estonian licences without a test or whether you have to pass a theory and driving test to obtain an Estonian licence on the website of the Transport Administration.
The theory test consists of 30–50 questions, depending on the category of driving licence applied for. Its questions are based on the Traffic Act and Regulation No.12 established on the basis thereof. Textbooks and workbooks to prepare for the theory test can be found in major bookstores; many driving schools also have online learning environments to practice theory questions.
To obtain a provisional driving licence, you need to successfully graduate from a driving school and then pass a theory and driving test.
A green maple leaf on the window of the car indicates that a junior driver with less than two years driving experience who has not yet completed the final level of training is driving the vehicle.
You can check the statistics of all driving schools licensed in Estonia, their area of operation, and the test results of their graduates on the Estonian website of the Estonian Transport Administration. You can then search for the website of the driving school and see if they teach in a language that suits you.
You have to pass both theory and driving courses in driving school. Category B initial training consists of at least 28 theory and 30 driving lessons. It is then possible to take the school tests. After passing the school tests, you can register for the national theory test at the Transport Administration.
All foreign vehicles must be registered in Estonia – this involves entering the details of the vehicle and the persons connected with it in the vehicle register as well as getting an Estonian licence plate.
You can register the vehicle in your own name after you have obtained an Estonian residence permit or right of residence. The vehicle must be registered within five days of first using it in Estonia. Further information on the vehicle registration process, the documents required, and the state fee can be found on the website of the Transport Administration.
If the vehicle is brought from outside the European Union, customs documents must also be submitted to register the vehicle. When moving to Estonia from outside the European Union, it is possible to apply for an exemption from customs duties as a migrant for many personal effects brought to Estonia, including vehicles that belonged to the person before moving to Estonia. As the list of documents required to apply is long, please check the terms and conditions in advance and, if necessary, consult the Tax and Customs Board.
As of 1 January 2025, Estonia will apply a motor vehicle tax, under which a tax will be payable on the first registration or transfer of ownership of a vehicle and an annual tax will also apply to motor vehicles.
Local public transport is organised by local governments and information about local transport systems and tickets can be found on local government websites (for example, in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu and Narva).
National public transport in Estonia includes bus, train, sea, and air transport. For information on bus transport around Estonia, see the peatus.ee website. Tickets can be purchased centrally on the tpilet portal or directly from the websites of bus companies (for example Lux Express). Train services are operated by Elron. Ferry tickets to the major islands can be bought from TS Laevad and to the smaller ones from Kihnu Veeteed. Plane tickets to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa can be bought from NyxAir and to Ruhnu from Eestilennud.
On buses and trains in many regions, as an alternative to buying a single ticket, you can also load money onto a public transport card and use it as needed. Be sure to check out various public transport discounts and their conditions – public transport is free or discounted for certain passengers, and in some local governments, such as Tallinn, public transport is free for all residents.
When travelling in Estonia, it is important to be aware of local traffic rules and to obey the speed limits (usually up to 50 km/h in settlements; 90 to 120 km/h outside settlements, depending on the road and road conditions).
For a live overview of national roads and their conditions, visit the Tark Tee portal.