Your driving licence in Estonia: valid until the expiry date, and the health certificate when exchanging

No, you do not have to exchange your Dutch driving licence in Estonia as long as it is valid. The Estonian Transport Administration, Transpordiamet, says so without reservation: a licence from the EU or the EEA is valid in Estonia until its expiry date. Exchanging is allowed, once you live in Estonia. The finding in Transpordiamet's list: when exchanging you hand in a health certificate from a GP, an occupational health doctor or a traffic medicine committee, even if your licence comes from the EU. The pitfall is in the Netherlands: renewing with the RDW is no longer possible once you live in an EU country.

When do I have to exchange?

For a Dutch citizen, only when the licence expires. For licences from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland there is one exception: a licence valid for longer than fifteen years must be exchanged by 18 January 2033 at the latest. The Dutch licence does not fall under that.

Situation	What Transpordiamet says
Driving with a valid Dutch licence	allowed until the expiry date
Who may exchange	a permanent resident who lives in Estonia at least 185 days per calendar year
Exchange without an exam	the normal course of events
Exam required	if the licence expired more than five years ago
Fee at the counter (since 1 July 2024)	€ 33
Fee via the e-service	€ 23
Express issue, ready in two working days	€ 63 at the counter, € 50 online

Transpordiamet checks your permanent residence against the population register, so make sure your residence notice is done first; how that works is in staying in Estonia.

Why would I do it earlier?

Because of the RDW. It writes on its own site: if you live within the EU or EFTA, renewing from abroad is not possible; you exchange in the country where you live. If your Dutch licence expires, Transpordiamet is therefore your only option. And if it has then been expired for more than five years, a theory and practical test follows, in the highest category on your licence.

Do not let your licence expire unnoticed. Whoever leaves it too long is stuck with an exam at Transpordiamet instead of a form. Put the expiry date in your diary and exchange while it is still valid, or in any case within five years after.

What do I need to exchange it?

You go to a Transpordiamet service bureau with:

• a valid driver's health certificate, from a GP, an occupational health doctor or a traffic medicine committee; not needed if valid data are already in the traffic register and your health has not changed;
• a photograph and signature: Transpordiamet takes them from the identity documents database, as long as the photo is not older than five years;
• your Dutch driving licence;
• the state fee for an Estonian driving licence.

You hand in your Dutch licence; Transpordiamet sends it back to the authority that issued it. You can get a health certificate from your Estonian GP, so register with a GP first; how healthcare works is in healthcare in Estonia.

Which traffic rule surprises Dutch people most?

The winter tyres. From 15 October you may use them and from 1 December they are mandatory. Winter tyres without studs must then carry the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, and the tread must be deeper than 3 millimetres. Studded tyres are allowed from 15 October to 31 March, and in wintry conditions from 1 October to 30 April. Tyres without studs may be used all year.

Whoever arrives in autumn on summer tyres therefore needs a set of winter tyres within weeks. What needs to happen with the car itself is in the car to Estonia.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 5 of 5 of the journey, step 5.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Estonia or go straight to step 5.4 in the open plan.