Driving in Estonia vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the roads of Estonia and Lithuania, understanding the nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol limits. While Estonia enforces a stricter approach to variable speed limits, Lithuania offers a more relaxed stance on certain driving practices, emphasizing the importance of awareness for travelers.

estonialithuania

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in estonia is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in estonia is 87

1.704 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for estonia is 1.704 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.	Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

estonia:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

lithuania:

Separation of opposing traffic directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

estonia:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

lithuania:

Passing permitted with caution.

Overtaking: On Right

estonia:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

lithuania:

Allowed on multi-lane roads

Bus Lanes: Usage

estonia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

lithuania:

Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.

Bus Lanes: Markings

estonia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

lithuania:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

estonia:

N/A

lithuania:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

estonia:

Yes

lithuania:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

estonia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

lithuania:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	110 km/h (summer period: May to October)	130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	110 km/h (summer period: May to October)	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-90 km/h	90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, issued by police.

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

estonia:

90 km/h

lithuania:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

estonia:

80 km/h

lithuania:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

estonia:

110 km/h (summer period: May to October)

lithuania:

130 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

estonia:

110 km/h (summer period: May to October)

lithuania:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

estonia:

80-90 km/h

lithuania:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

estonia:

Yes

lithuania:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

estonia:

Electronic signs display current limits

lithuania:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

estonia:

Yes

lithuania:

Yes, issued by police.

Signals

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]	Yellow	Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Estonia	Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language	Estonian; symbols are standard	Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangle-shaped with red border

Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]

estonia:

Yellow

lithuania:

Amber

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

estonia:

Not used in Estonia

lithuania:

Indicates prepared to start

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

estonia:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

lithuania:

Unnecessary use discouraged

Traffic Signs: Language

estonia:

Estonian; symbols are standard

lithuania:

Lithuanian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

estonia:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

lithuania:

Triangle-shaped with red border

Turns

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	Estonia		Lithuania
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited unless indicated by a sign		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

estonia:

Prohibited unless indicated by a sign

lithuania:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

estonia:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

lithuania:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required every year; proof must be carried	Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on license plate or windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

estonia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

lithuania:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

estonia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

lithuania:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

estonia:

Required every year; proof must be carried

lithuania:

Mandatory annual check

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

estonia:

Displayed on the windshield

lithuania:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

Road Etiquette

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	Estonia		Lithuania
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic		Common practice

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

estonia:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

lithuania:

Common practice

Alcohol

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Limits: General Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment	Possible for severe offenses	Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Results in penalties and license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

estonia:

0.02%

lithuania:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

estonia:

0.00%; zero tolerance

lithuania:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

estonia:

Common; checkpoints used

lithuania:

Common, particularly at night and weekends

Enforcement: Fines

estonia:

Varies; can be substantial

lithuania:

Substantial; varies based on BAC level

Enforcement: Imprisonment

estonia:

Possible for severe offenses

lithuania:

Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses

Test Refusal

estonia:

Can result in license suspension

lithuania:

Results in penalties and license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Estonia		Lithuania
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider		Contact your insurance provider

Contact: Roadside Assistance

estonia:

Check with your insurance provider

lithuania:

Contact your insurance provider

Penalties And Fines

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	Estonia	Lithuania
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines apply	Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, points on license	Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, points on license	Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Yes	Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

estonia:

Varies; substantial fines apply

lithuania:

Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit

Common Fines: Alcohol

estonia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

lithuania:

High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

estonia:

Fines apply, points on license

lithuania:

Mandatory, fines apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

estonia:

Fines apply, points on license

lithuania:

Fines apply, use of hands-free device required

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

estonia:

Fines apply, points on license

lithuania:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

estonia:

Yes

lithuania:

Yes, by police

Payment: Deadline

estonia:

Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties

lithuania:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay