Provisional driving licence

Issuing of a provisional driving licence

Driving rights for motor vehicles and the provisional driving licence are issued when a person's permanent residence is in Estonia, their age and health condition meet the current requirements, and the individual has acquired the qualifications for driving a motor vehicle (completed a driving school). To obtain a provisional driving licence, one must pass both the theory and driving exams.

The right to drive a power-driven vehicle is granted and a provisional driving licence is issued to a person who:

• has not previously held the right to drive a power-driven vehicle or motorcycle or
• who holds the right to drive a motorcycle or tractor and also wishes to additionally obtain the right to drive a power-driven vehicle;
• has not been convicted of the misdemeanours specified in § 201, 223, 224, 226, subsections (2) to (4) of § 227, § 234, 236 or 237 of the Traffic Act;
• has not been convicted of a traffic offence specified in Chapter 23 of the Penal Code;
• and has not been repeatedly convicted of the misdemeanours specified in Chapter 15 of the Traffic Act, except the offences specified in clause 3 of this subsection.

Therefore, an applicant for the provisional driving licence must not have a serious traffic penalty or multiple minor traffic penalties. To apply for the provisional driving licence, one must wait until the penalty register is clear. Pre-checks for applying for the provisional driving licence occur automatically in the e-service. In addition, it is convenient, fast, and easy to register for exams there.

In order to apply for a provisional driving licence at a  service bureau, the following documents must be submitted:

• an identity card or another document proving identity and permission to reside;
• a valid medical certificate of the driver in case there is no information in the traffic registry database regarding the validity of the current medical certificate for drivers or if the state of health of the driver has changed (the validity of the medical certificate can be checked in the e-service).
• the learner’s certificate of the driver if the data of the certificate has not been entered in the traffic registry database;
• a photo that meets the requirements for a photo of an identity document. Estonian Transport Administration uses a photo from the database of identity documents or the Traffic Register. If the photo is older than five years in the databases, then the photo can be taken at the service bureau of Transport Administration. Other photos will not be accepted;
• If the applicant for the provisional driving licence is a minor, a written consent from a parent (legal representative) must be provided, which should be sent to the bureau in digitally signed form via email or submitted in writing.
• has paid the state fee.

At the time of formalising a provisional driving licence, but no later than 10 working days after passing the test, you may, upon the existence of a valid right to drive, drive a power-driven vehicle without a document certifying the right to drive in Estonia. The right to drive a power-driven vehicle is proven based on the data of the traffic register.

If a person does not collect the provisional driving licence from the service bureau within 12 months from the beginning of its validity, the Transport Administration declares the document invalid. A new provisional driving licence is issued only if the individual successfully completes the required theory and driving exam.

Replacement of a provisional driving licence

A provisional driving licence is valid for up to two years and cannot be replaced with a new provisional driving licence once its term has expired.

If you have completed the final stage of training after the term of the provisional driving licence has expired and you have not been penalised for a violation of the traffic rules in the last 12 months, you will be issued with a driving licence without having to take the tests. Completion of the final stage of training is required of all holders of a provisional driving licence applying for the driving licence, as well as from drivers who completed initial training several years previously.

The holder of the provisional driving licence may submit an application for the replacement of the provisional driving licence in the e-service environment or at a service bureau of the Estonian Transport Administration no earlier than one month before the expiry of the provisional driving licence.

If you intend to replace your provisional driving licence and have a penalty in force for a violation of the traffic rules, you will obtain the driving licence once you have successfully passed a theory test.

If you do not obtain a full driving licence for the respective category of power-driven vehicle within 12 months of the expiry of the provisional driving licence, you must re-apply for a provisional driving licence and pass the theory and driving tests required in order to obtain a new provisional driving licence.

If you have not collected your driving licence within 12 months of the validity date marked on the driving licence, the service bureau will revoke the driving licence and you will have to apply for a new driving licence.

A provisional driving licence can be replaced with a driving licence via the e-service or at a service bureau of the Estonian Transport Administration.

To replace a provisional driving licence with a driving licence, the service bureau of the Estonian Transport Administration must be provided with the following documents:

• an identity card or another document proving identity and permission to reside;
• a valid medical certificate of the driver in case there is no information in the traffic registry database regarding the validity of the current medical certificate for drivers or if the state of health of the driver has changed (the validity of the medical certificate can be checked in the e-service).
• the learner’s certificate of the driver if the data of the certificate has not been entered in the traffic registry database (when replacing the provisional driving licence with the driving licence, the applicant for a driving licence must submit a leaner’s certificate with a note of having completed the final stage of training if this data is not available in the motor registry);
• a photo that meets the requirements for a photo of an identity document. Estonian Transport Administration uses a photo from the database of identity documents or the Traffic Register. If the photo is older than five years in the databases, then the photo can be taken at the service bureau of Transport Administration. Other photos will not be accepted;
• has paid the state fee.

A service bureau issues a driving licence within 10 working days of the day after which an application for replacement of the driving licence was submitted.