The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.
Are there any differences in traffic rules in this country compared to Ukrainian ones?Speed limits in Estonia Standard speed limits in Estonia (unless otherwise stated on signs). Cars and motorcycles:
Cars with trailers:
The maximum speed in a residential area is 20 km/h. Permissible level of alcohol
Muted headlights Low beam is needed 24/7 all year round. Daytime running lights can be turned on instead of dipped beam during daylight hours. Daytime running lights can be turned on without turning on the side and license plate lights. Fog lights can be used when driving together with lights when visibility is poor due to fog or rain. Transportation of children It is forbidden to transport children under the age of three in one place without a seat belt. A child can only be transported in the front seat if it is properly secured by a seat belt or restraint. It is forbidden to transport children under the age of 12 on the back seat of mopeds and motorcycles. A fine of up to 400 euros. Safety belts The use of seat belts is mandatory for the driver, front passenger and rear seat passengers. When riding motorcycles and mopeds, drivers and passengers must wear motorcycle helmets with buttons. Fine - 200 euros. It is forbidden to use the phone while the car is moving without an auxiliary device that allows you to use it hands-free while the car is moving. The fine is 16 euros. |
Is it possible to drive a car with a Ukrainian driver's license?A Ukrainian driver's license is valid in Estonia for one year after the permanent residence of its owner here (registration of a permanent address in the Population Register). Entries in driver's licenses must be made in letters of the Latin alphabet in printed or handwritten form or transliterated in the Latin alphabet. The driver's license must indicate the category of the mechanical vehicle, road train or machine train and describe exactly what the relevant person is entitled to drive. The description must include the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle, in the case of a bus - the number of passengers. A driver's license that does not meet these requirements is valid only with an international driver's license. A driver's license together with its translation is valid only if the translated driver's license indicates the category of mechanical vehicle, road train or machine train and a description of what exactly the person in question is entitled to drive. A driver's license is not valid in Estonia if it was issued to a person who was a permanent resident of Estonia at the time of obtaining the license. Such a driver's license can be exchanged for an Estonian one after successfully passing the theory and driving tests required to obtain the right to drive a vehicle. More information here |
Is it necessary to register the car in the new country of residence?If you came to Estonia with a Ukrainian car before 03.03.2023 War refugees who arrived in Estonia before March 2023 can move around Estonia in a vehicle with Ukrainian license plates without registering it for one year after arriving in Estonia. The one-year period is counted from the day you received primary temporary or primary supplementary protection in Estonia. A vehicle registered in Ukraine must have a green card issued in Ukraine or border insurance issued in a country of the European Union or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein: more details about border insurance To drive in Estonia, a vehicle with Ukrainian license plates does not need to undergo a local inspection in Estonia. If desired, a technical inspection of a Ukrainian vehicle can be carried out in Estonia, but it has no legal significance and cannot be recorded in the central information system at the inspection point. If you came to Estonia with a Ukrainian car, starting from 03.03.2023 If you are the owner of a Ukrainian vehicle and received temporary protection in Estonia or were issued a residence permit card on or after 03.03.2023, you must start registering your vehicle within five working days! WARNING! If you intend to use your vehicle only to return to Ukraine after the end of the war, and at the same time you do not drive this vehicle in Estonia, you do not need to register it in Estonia. You can use an unregistered Ukrainian car to return to Ukraine. Source |
Is it possible to drive a car that has Ukrainian registration, but is registered not to the driver, but to another person? What documents are needed for this?
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Is it necessary to insure the car in the host country? Is Ukrainian insurance enough?According to the current regulations in Estonia, every car or other vehicle (such as a motorcycle) must have valid road insurance. Since Ukraine is not a member of the European Economic Area, Ukrainian road insurance is not valid in Estonia. When traveling through Estonia, a Ukrainian vehicle must have a green card of Ukraine or border insurance of one of the contracting countries of the European Economic Area, for example, border insurance of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia. Estonian border insurance is quite expensive. Therefore, to enter Estonia for a Ukrainian vehicle, we recommend obtaining a green card from a Ukrainian insurance company. Another option is to conclude a border insurance contract, you can read more about it here |
What is a vignette? Do Ukrainian drivers need to buy it? How and where can they buy it?There are no tolls in Estonia. |
What are the parking rules?Parking in the center of large cities is paid. Payment for parking is made using a special parking card (parking meter), which can be purchased at shops, kiosks and from parking staff. There are parking meters in some places. The allowed parking time is indicated in the ticket issued by the machine. In Tallinn, you can pay for parking with scratch cards, which are sold at prices of 0.26, 0.51, 1.15 and 2.30 euros. The parking start time must be marked (scratched) on the ticket in the following fields: year, month, day, hours, minutes. The marked parking ticket must be attached behind the windshield of the car. Unless otherwise noted, parking is charged on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Parking is free on Sundays and public holidays. Parking costs 1-2 euros per hour. Incorrectly parked vehicles may be towed, and violations are punishable by a fine of up to €70. Parking in Tallinn Parking in the city center is paid. Where indicated on the signs, the first 15 minutes of parking are free. Parking time must be registered using a parking meter It is recommended to either use a two-handed parking meter or write down the time on paper. The parking meter with the initial parking time must be installed under the windshield of the vehicle so that it can be easily read from the outside. When setting the start time of parking on a two-handed parking meter, it is necessary to follow the principles of a mechanical clock, that is, when reading the time, the position of both arrows is taken into account. Motorcycles can be parked for free in Tallinn's paid parking area. Parking in the old city is prohibited (the rule entered into force on December 15, 2013):
If the parking fee is not paid or the paid parking time is exceeded, the flight attendant will decide on an "exceeding parking time fee". The amount of overdue payment is 31 euros. If the parking fee is paid at a lower rate, late payment will be €15. Parking payment via SMS You can also pay for parking using a mobile phone by sending an SMS to the short number 1902. In the SMS message, you need to enter the vehicle registration number and the parking zone. To stop parking, call the short number 1903. Unfortunately, this service can only be used by owners of Estonian SIM cards. Example: To leave a car with license plate o123oo178 in the Kesklinn parking area to Tallinn Park, you need to send an SMS with the following content: o123oo178 Kesklinn. To end the parking of a car with registration number o123oo178, regardless of the parking zone, it is necessary to send an SMS with the following content: STOP o123oo178. More information here |
What are the most common fines? How and where can Ukrainians pay them?The police can impose a fine at the scene of the offense:
In the case of repeated violations, the fines for some violations can be many times higher. Speeding fines in Estonia:
A court or a body conducting extrajudicial proceedings may require the revocation of the right to drive for a period of 1 to 12 months as an additional penalty. |
What documents are required for registration of trailers/cargo (equipment, furniture, etc.)?
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Do Ukrainians need to declare what they bought in Europe?There are no restrictions on what you can buy and take with you when travelling within the EU provided that the bought products are for you own use and not for resale. Taxes on are already included in the retail price of the product. To determine if the products purchased are intended for your own use, customs authorities may verify the products, e.g. the packages or the quantity. In order to prove that goods are for your own use, authorities may ask to see the receipt or other proof of purchase. If you cannot provide sufficient evidence, you might have to pay duties or the products can be confiscated. If you carry 10,000 euros or more in cash, alcohol drinks, tobacco products, fuel or other goods including perfume, certain restrictions may apply regarding the quantity and value of the products. For more information please check this site |
