The Transpordiamet driving test (formerly ARK): how it actually works

Booking, the exam car, 35 minutes in traffic, how you are assessed, the state fees, and what happens if you do not pass. The whole state driving test on one page, in plain English.

ARK, Maanteeamet or Transpordiamet: why three names?

Most people in Estonia still say “the test at ARK”. Officially, no such body exists any more:

ARK, the Estonian National Motor Vehicle Registration Centre, was merged into Maanteeamet in 2011.
Maanteeamet merged with the Aviation and Maritime Administrations on 1 January 2021, and became Transpordiamet.

Licences, theory tests and driving tests all run through Transpordiamet today. If you are searching for “ARK”, you are looking for the right thing under an old name.

One distinction worth remembering: the driving school teaches, Transpordiamet examines. No driving school issues licences or influences the result.

How to book the driving test

You are only admitted to the driving test once you have passed the theory test. There are three ways to book:

through the Transpordiamet e-service, the quickest route, open around the clock;
at a service office in person;
through your driving school, if you have authorised it to act for you.

The state fee must be paid before you book. If the time does not suit you, it can be changed without paying the fee again, provided you give at least three working days' notice.

Step by step. The four conditions, three ways to book, the route through the e-service and why any bureau will do: the booking guide.

Which car will you drive?

Some learners assume they will take the test in the same car they trained in: a familiar vehicle, a familiar seating position, a familiar clutch. That assumption is wrong, and it is where most of the surprises on test morning come from.

The test car depends on which driving school you attend. Some learners sit the test in a Transpordiamet vehicle, while some driving schools provide a car of their own for the test. Kindel Rool does not offer a test-car service, so our learners drive the Transpordiamet vehicle. Check this with your own school before you book, because it affects both how the car feels and which restriction ends up on your licence.

Automatic transmission. If you trained on a manual but want to sit the test in an automatic, you must apply in advance, not on the morning of the test. Passing in an automatic puts a restriction on your licence limiting you to automatic vehicles.
B96, the trailer test, is taken in your own car with an O2-category trailer, and you bring the registration certificates for both.
For categories A and AM you use a motorcycle from the school or your own, as Transpordiamet does not keep those vehicles.

This is why memorising one particular car is pointless. Plan your final lessons so that an unfamiliar car is not a surprise on test morning.

How the test runs

The in-traffic part of the category B test lasts at least 35 minutes. The examiner is assessing your decisions throughout, not individual movements.

1. Before driving

Documents, a vehicle safety check, and setting the seat, mirrors and seatbelt.

2. In traffic

City driving, junctions, lane changes, choice of speed, and awareness of other road users.

3. Manoeuvres

Parking, reversing and turns, carried out in real traffic rather than on a closed range.

4. The result

The examiner completes the exam card, and the result reaches the traffic register the same day.

There is a practical checklist of what to bring on a separate page: what to bring to your driving test.

How you are assessed

The examiner does not tally individual mistakes: the question is whether you can cope in traffic independently and safely. Among the things assessed are:

safe, smooth driving in changing traffic conditions;
correct reading of road signs and markings;
awareness of other road users, pedestrians and cyclists in particular;
the reasoning behind your decisions: why you chose that speed, lane or gap.

At the end of the test the examiner assesses your skills and behaviour in traffic and tells you the result straight away. In legal terms the result is either passed or not passed: there is no grade in between.

If the candidate breaches the rules of the examination, the test is stopped and counts as not passed. The examiner may also end the drive early if your driving becomes unsafe. That is a safety requirement, not a punishment.

From a former examiner. Igor conducted driving tests himself and explains what shows in the first two minutes, when one mistake ends the test, and why a third attempt is no easier than the first: read the interview.

If you do not pass

Failing at the first attempt is not an exception, it is the statistics. The rule most people do not know is this one:

After every third driving test, you can only book again once you have completed jätkuõpe, supplementary training, and the record of it has been sent to Transpordiamet. The minimum is two driving lessons.

The theory test can be retaken no earlier than the second day after an unsuccessful attempt.

Our continued training page explains how this works in practice: first a diagnosis of what actually went wrong, and only then the lessons. It is also worth reading what to do after failing your driving test.

State fees in 2026

A state fee is payable for the theory test and for the driving test, and it is separate from your driving school tuition. Issuing the licence itself is a further fee.

Service	At an office	Via e-teenindus
Theory test booking and administration	€30	€30
Driving test in a Transpordiamet category B car	€50	€50
Driving test in another exam vehicle	€50	–
Issuing a provisional or full licence	€33	€23
Express issuing of a licence	€63	€50

Source: Transpordiamet state fee table, as at August 2026. There is a fuller breakdown on the driving exam and licence fees page.

Our own prices are on the prices page.

What the pass rates say

Transpordiamet publishes the driving test pass rate for each driving school. It is the only figure that lets you compare schools honestly, instead of comparing advertising slogans.

See the Tallinn driving school pass rates for category B, or use the comparison tool.

Frequently asked questions

Are ARK and Transpordiamet the same body?

In substance, yes. ARK was merged into Maanteeamet in 2011, and Maanteeamet became Transpordiamet in 2021. Tests run through Transpordiamet today, but the name “ARK” has stuck in everyday speech.

How much does the driving test cost?

The theory test fee is €30 and the category B driving test in a Transpordiamet car is €50. Issuing the licence costs €33 at an office and €23 through the e-service.

Can I use the driving school's car for the test?

It depends on the school. Some driving schools provide a car of their own for the test; Kindel Rool does not offer that service, so our learners sit the test in a Transpordiamet vehicle. Check with your own school before you book.

How long does the driving test last?

The in-traffic part of the category B test lasts at least 35 minutes. Allow about an hour in total, including preparation and feedback.

How many times can I retake the driving test?

There is no limit on attempts, but after every third driving test you can only book again once jätkuõpe has been completed and the record sent to Transpordiamet. The minimum is two driving lessons.

Can I change the test time free of charge?

Yes, if you give at least three working days' notice. With later notice, the state fee has to be paid again.

Can I take the driving test without the theory test?

No. Passing the theory test is a precondition for booking the driving test.

Prepare so that the first attempt is the one that counts

Kindel Rool teaches you to drive, not to pass a test. The first lesson is free.

Book a free trial lesson See the category B course

Official information and booking: the Transpordiamet driving test page.