Driving advice for every country in Europe
From required documents to European breakdown cover and vehicle accessories, find all the up-to-date driving laws and advice for every country in Europe in our travel guides.
Driving in Estonia
![Estonia](https://d1gymyavdvyjgt.cloudfront.net/drive/images/uploads/countries/800px-Flag_of_Estonia_svg.png)
But if you’re planning a road trip, it’s important to read up on traffic laws ahead of time as rules and essential requirements in Estonia are different from the UK.
To make your journey to Estonia as safe and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.
Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Estonia section.
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Things to take when driving in Estonia
Documents for driving in Estonia
- A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
- Your motor insurance certificate
- The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental
Do I need a GB or UK sticker for driving in Estonia?
From 28th September 2021, the distinguishing mark (or national identifier) displayed on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are driven abroad will change from GB to UK.
This means that vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters “UK” when driven in Estonia.
The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Note that vehicles featuring the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars are no longer valid for driving abroad.
If your vehicle does not have the UK identifier within the number plate, you will require a UK sticker when driving in Estonia. GB stickers will no longer be valid from the end of September.
Do I need an insurance green card?
From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Estonia.
ETIAS – 2025
ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.
Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.
This will be launching in 2025. Learn more about ETIAS here.
Driving in Estonia packing checklist
Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Estonia.
Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).
A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.
It's also recommended to have:
- Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
- A fire extinguisher
- First aid kit (compulsory for a company car)
- A reflective jacket
- Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
- A tow rope
- Jump leads
- Two wheel chocks (if you’re driving a truck, you’ll need blocks of wood or plastic to put under your vehicle’s wheels when parked to prevent it from rolling)
You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.
Is there anything that I shouldn’t take with me?
Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Estonia:
- meat or products containing meat
- milk or dairy products
You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:
- fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
- vegetables
- plants
- plant products
Rules of the road in Estonia
- Between 1 December and 1 March you must use winter tyres when driving in Estonia
- Drive with headlights on during the day and at night
- Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times
- Motorcyclists are required to wear a safety helmet at all times
- In Estonia, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles coming from the right have priority at junctions
- It is illegal to overtake a tram that has stopped to let passengers off or on
- Horns should never be used when the vehicle is stationary, except at time of immediate danger
- Some rural roads may be unpaved
- There are three main petrol station branches in Estonia: Lukoil, Statoil and Neste. Most service stations accept Visa and Mastercard
- The police can issue on-the-spot fines and demand immediate payment even for minor traffic offences. The maximum for a cautioning fine is €190
- Seat belts must be worn in all seats where a belt is available
- Children under the age of 12 and not tall enough to use an adult seatbelt must be secured by an appropriate child restraint. Rear-facing child seats must not be used in seats fitted with an airbag
- It is forbidden for children younger than 12 to ride as a passenger on a moped or motorcycle
- The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.02%. Random breath tests can be carried out and drivers must always submit to a test at the request of the police, even if there are no grounds for suspicion
Estonian speed limit
There are no motorways in Estonia, but there are four main expressways with a speed limit of 90km/h – although this can be increased to 110km/h during warmer summer months.
Speed limits are generally based on the type of road. However, you should always check the signs for maximum speeds. In built-up areas, the maximum speed allowed is 50km/h and on normal roads and expressways it’s 90km/h, rising to 110/km/h.
Other things you should know when driving in Estonia
- Motorists must pay a toll to enter the city of Tallinn. There are no other tolls in Estonia
- Major towns and cities have designated parking areas with pay metres. Illegally parked cars will be clamped. Motorists must take care not to park on tram lines.
- Large animals such as wild moose can wander on to major roads. There are signs to indicate roads where animals are likely to cause an issue
In an emergency
112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.
Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.
Breaking down in Estonia
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Instant Cover Available
• 24/7 rescue at the roadside
• Help to get home if your vehicle can't be fixed
• Five star Defaqto rated cover
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Driving a hire car in Estonia
Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Estonia.
Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:
Rental information
- The minimum age to hire a car is 20, although drivers under the age of 22 may face a fee
- You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
- Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
- Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
- You may not be able to drive outside of Estonia unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
- Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance
Hire car driving tips
- Estonians drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
- Speed limits are generally based on the type of road. However, you should always check the signs for maximum speeds. In built-up areas, the maximum speed allowed is 50km/h and on normal roads and expressways it’s 90km/h, rising to 110/km/h.
- Dial 112 in an emergency
- It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
- The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.02%. That's lower than the whole of the UK
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Driving in Estonia FAQs
- Is it safe to drive in Estonia?
Estonia is very safe for motorists - they have very strict laws concerning traffic safety including the use of headlights at all times. However, it is important to consider the time of year you are travelling and taking the necessary precautions. Estonia has very harsh winters so travelling between December and March could cause additional hazards for motorists.
When driving at night, be sure to watch out for the presence of wild moose on the roads. Road signs are used to indicate where animals are frequently on the roads.
- Can you drive in Estonia with a UK licence?
Yes. If you are over the age of 18, you can drive in Estonia with a full and valid UK driving licence. You don’t need an International Driving Permit, although it could provide extra peace of mind if you have one.
- Do I need a green card to drive in Estonia?
Estonia is a member of the Green Card System, a Europe-wide scheme that allows countries to recognise foreign vehicle insurance policies of visiting motorists.
UK motorists are no longer required to carry a green card to drive in Estonia, but you should check that this is the case for all the countries you plan to visit before setting off.
- What side of the road do they drive on in Estonia?
As in most European countries, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road in Estonia.
- Can I drive my car in Estonia?
Yes, with the correct documentation you can safely drive your own car in Estonia. Make sure you have all the essential documents, including a valid UK licence, V5 document and sufficient insurance for your trip.
As with any foreign country, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the laws around driving in Estonia as they differ from UK driving laws. You should also ensure you have all the required items you need for your journey (such as a warning triangle and a set of headlamp converters).
- How do I drive to Estonia?
The drive to the Baltic state of Estonia isn’t quick, but it’ll take you through some of the best scenery northern Europe has to offer – and all you have to do to start your journey is cross the English Channel, either by ferry or Eurotunnel.
The easiest route once you are across the Channel is then to drive through Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. A non-stop journey from Calais to Estonia would take you 25 hours.
It is important to make sure you familiarise yourself with the driving laws in all the countries you are passing through on your journey to Estonia.
- What age can you start driving in Estonia?
Motorists must pay a toll to enter the city of Tallinn, though there are no other tolls in Estonia.
- Do you need winter tyres to drive in Estonia?
Between 1 December and 1 March it is compulsory to use winter tyres when driving in Estonia. This is the time of year when winter is harshest and roads are likely to be wet or covered with ice or snow. Winter tyres should have a minimum tread depth of 3mm.
- When do my lights need to be switched on in Estonia?
Headlights set to dipped beam must be used whatever time of day you’re driving and regardless of whether it’s sunny or not. This is to make sure you’re always visible to other drivers so you stay safe.
UK Government travel advice
Fuel
Fuel prices in Estonia can be found in our up-to-date European fuel prices page.
British Embassy Tallinn
Wismari 6
10136
Tallinn
Estonia
Telephone: (+372) 6674700
Fax: (+372) 6674755
Email: [email protected]