Do I need to have a car in Estonia?
“Probably not…” Before moving to Estonia, I had to decide whether to take my car with me or not. Finally, I decided to leave it in my home city. It is a vast metropolis, where the way from home to work used to take up to two hours. On the other hand, living in Tartu, you get used to reaching any part of the city in 15 minutes on foot or at least by bicycle. I was quite convinced the car would be covered in dust in the backyard of the house. As my experience later proved, I was totally wrong.
When you live in a big city, all the entertainment tends to be concentrated in the city centre. In a small town, there are obviously fewer places for distraction, but still, lots of regular events take place all around Estonia. Festivals, concerts, exhibitions, rallies and event points are scattered all over the country. So yes, if your everyday routine is to walk from home to the university campus and back, a bicycle will suffice. If you wish to distract yourself in some unusual way, go out for an exciting walk, see something new and extraordinary, or just want to socialize, a car is a necessity because public transport is limited in many places. I ended up changing my driving license to an Estonian one and started to drive actively. Below, I want to share the details with you and answer some basic questions.
How do I get a car in Estonia if I don’t have my own one?
Aside from domestic and foreign car rental companies, Estonia offers car sharing.
Currently, it is basically provided by two companies:
- Bolt.Drive — available only in Tallinn
- CityBee — covers all of Estonia, including Tartu. Nice bonus: traveling to all Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) without prior arrangement.
The cars are rented via mobile apps.
What if I do decide to buy?
Any foreigner with TRP can buy a car in Estonia. At first, I was astonished at how many young people drive their own cars here. Later, I learned that purchasing a second-hand car, whose prices are affordable for a young and inexperienced driver, is very common. Obviously, all the possible risks should be taken into account when buying a used car, but the buying process is extremely simple and quick. The main web portal to search for cars (both new and second-hand) in Estonia is www.auto24.ee. The important thing is that if you buy a car and start using it, it must be registered within 5 days in the Transport Administration office. See the link with instructions here.
Can I use a driving licence obtained in another country?
It depends on the country, where you got your licence. You are lucky if you have a driving licence from an EEA country or Switzerland because you can use it in Estonia without any limits. If you come from another country, your licence must be exchanged for an Estonian licence after 12 months, and for some countries, there is also a requirement to retake the driving exam! See the list of countries and find your own.
How do I exchange my driving licence?
1) You need a valid driver’s health certificate. You can get one from your general practitioner. Happily, you don’t need to get a hard copy as the certificate will be sent electronically directly to the Transport Administration by your doctor.
2) You arrange an appointment at the Transport Administration office.
3) You bring your ID-card, foreign driving licence to the TA office. You take the photograph, pay the fee and fill in an application for a new licence.
4) You receive your Estonian driving licence within two weeks.
What do I do with my old driving licence?
This will be taken away when you exchange your licence.
How do I learn to drive in Estonia?
If you don’t have a driving licence and can’t drive a car, you have to choose a driving school, take the course and pass the exam. A list of driving schools can be found here: https://autokoolid.ee/en/driving-schools. It could be a little difficult to find an instructor who speaks English, some of the instructors speak Russian.
Where to find official information about driving in Estonia?
Everything about driving and servicing cars is regulated by the Estonian Transport Administration, so you can find all the official information on their website. https://transpordiamet.ee/
Traffic rules in Estonia are reflected in the Traffic Act.
Due to the low number of drivers on the road, driving through Estonia is safer than in many other countries. I hope this blog has persuaded you that having a car gives you the independence and opportunity to explore the country much more deeply.
