Beginner Driver: License, Tips, Traffic Violations

How long is a beginner's driving license valid for?

The license issued to novice drivers is valid for 3 years , which they will have the right to exchange for a 10-year driver's license after 2 years from the date of issue , in accordance with the procedure established by the Minister of the Interior or an institution authorized by him.

How to exchange a beginner's driving license (rights)?

You can only order a new driver's license after its 2-year validity period has expired. For the convenience of drivers, an additional third year is provided for ordering a new document.

You can order a driver's license in two ways:

1. Online. When ordering online, you can choose the following terms and prices for the production of a new driver's license:

• 10 working days (14.19 EUR);

• 3 working days (22.88 EUR);

• 1 working day (37.36 EUR).

2. At the "Registry" branch. When ordering at the "Registry" branch, you can choose the following terms and prices for the production of a new driver's license:

• 10 working days (14.19 EUR);

• 3 working days (22.88 EUR);

• 1 working day (37.36 EUR).

Register in advance for a visit to the department and you will be served at a time convenient for you.

In the unit, please have with you:

• your identity card or passport;

• driver's medical certificate (it is obtained automatically);

• driver's license.

Your declared place of residence will be verified automatically. 

What documents must be carried with you while driving and presented to an inspection officer upon request?

If you are driving a vehicle registered in Lithuania and are its owner, you must provide the inspecting officer with the following:

• A document confirming personal identity. A driver's license is required only if it was issued outside Lithuania.
  

If you are driving a vehicle registered in Lithuania, but you are not its owner , you must provide the inspecting police officer with:

• a document confirming the person's identity. A driver's license must be presented only if it was issued outside Lithuania;

• vehicle registration certificate (original document). 

In both cases, you are not required to submit: 

• Registration certificate of a vehicle registered in Lithuania;

• compulsory civil liability insurance certificate (when the vehicle is insured in Lithuania);

• mandatory technical inspection documents (when the technical inspection was carried out in Lithuania).   

The officer will be able to check this data in police information systems.

Tips for novice drivers

• Always check the position of your mirrors before you start driving . If you own the car, just glance at the mirrors to make sure they haven't been folded down overnight. If you share or rent a car, check all three mirrors and adjust them so that you can clearly see the traffic behind you.

• Regularly check the fluids in your car's engine compartment : engine oil level, coolant, brake and power steering fluids. If the level is too low, top up.

• Use the pedals gently. Sudden, erratic acceleration and braking are bad for your fuel economy and are dangerous driving habits. They make it difficult for drivers in front and behind you to predict what you are doing. Always brake gently before stopping, as well as when accelerating or even maintaining speed on the road.

• Don't forget to use the parking brake. An unused parking brake will have a shorter service life.

• Park your car in different positions. Different situations in life force drivers to park their cars in different ways, so when you start driving, it's a good idea to practice parking your car in different ways: front, rear, side, and diagonal. This will help you constantly improve your parking skills.

• Before driving, make sure your car's dipped headlights are on . The likelihood of accidents increases by as much as 32 percent when driving with the headlights off.

• After driving through a large puddle, apply the brakes several times to clear the water.

• Even watch the traffic nearby. This will help you avoid a possible accident.

• If a car tire bursts while you are traveling , do not press the brake pedal hard. If a tire bursts, you should let the vehicle roll and brake gently.

• Practice if you feel unsure on the road. Take an extreme driving course, try out the tracks at job market training centers, or sign up for a slow slalom competition. These are places where you can improve your skills and get advice from experts in the field. If you feel unsure on the road even with a driver's license, you can take advantage of an additional driving instructor lesson at your chosen driving school.

If you smell an unusual odor while driving , stop and check where the odor is coming from. If you feel a suspicious vibration , stop and check whether your car's wheels are tightened and visually inspect the condition of the tires. Observe your surroundings, your car, and be alert.

What speeds can novice drivers drive?

Beginner drivers and those learning to drive with a family member may drive at a lower speed than normal on different roads. Below are the permitted driving speeds for beginner drivers ("maple"):

• On motorways – 100 km/h;

• On highways – 90 km/h;

• On roads with asphalt or concrete surface – 80 km/h;

• On other roads – 70 km/h;

• In built-up areas – 50 km/h;

• In parking lots – 20 km/h;

• In residential areas – 20 km/h.

What should a novice driver do if he loses his rights due to a traffic violation?

Novice drivers who have violated the requirement(s) of the Road Traffic Regulations and have lost their driver's license as a result must complete additional driver training to regain their rights. Read more about KET fines in the article " KET fines: for speeding, driving without technical inspection, etc. 2025 m. "

What is additional driver training?

Additional driver training is a training that must be completed by drivers who have lost their driving license due to road traffic violations. Novice drivers who have violated traffic rules are no exception.

Additional driver training is mandatory for novice drivers who have violated the requirement(s) of the Road Traffic Regulations related to:

• failure of drivers to comply with their duties towards pedestrians;

• violation(s) of overtaking rules;

• failure to enforce the ban on drivers using mobile communication devices;

• failure to comply with traffic control signals;

• failure to use warning signals in accordance with the established procedure;

• failure to comply with the rules of driving through intersections;

• violations of driver seatbelt use and motorcycle helmet use;

• exceeding the set speed;

• driving a vehicle while intoxicated (more than 0 per mille, but not more than 0.4 per mille);

• also - those who caused a traffic accident that damaged the health of the road user(s).

When is additional driver training mandatory?

Additional training must be completed within one year from the date of entry into force of the resolution (court verdict) by which you are found to have committed a violation of the law, or from the date of execution of the administrative order issued after committing an administrative offense.

In cases where a court judgment or criminal order imposes arrest or fixed-term imprisonment and the execution of the imposed sentence is not suspended, additional driver training must be completed within one year of serving the imposed sentence.

If you do not complete additional driver training within a year, you lose your right to drive and your license will not be replaced with a license valid for 10 years. In this case, you can regain your right to drive only by passing the driving exams (theory and practical), after which you will be issued a new driver's license valid for 3 years .

Where can I take additional driver training?

Additional training can be taken at any driving school that organizes such training.

How is additional driver training conducted?

The additional driver training course consists of:

• A theory course lasting at least 45 minutes ;

• A psychology course lasting at least 90 minutes ;

• Conduct practical safe, economical and environmentally friendly driving training in a category B vehicle lasting no less than 45 minutes ( optional for novice drivers , for whom additional driver training is mandatory for road traffic violations committed with A1, A2, A and B1 category vehicles and for drivers who have been deprived of the right to drive and wish to regain the right to drive AM, A1, A2, A and B1 category vehicles), the purpose of which is to emphasize that this driving method is the safest and most environmentally friendly;

• At least 45 minutes to individually analyze the traffic violation(s) committed , for which administrative liability was applied, with the psychologist of the educational institution. The purpose of this analysis is to understand the causes, circumstances and possible consequences of your unsafe driving and to understand how to avoid them;

• Knowledge test .

The duration of the training is determined by each driving school individually. Most often, the training lasts 1–2 days.

What documents are required during additional training?

During additional driver training courses, you must have with you:

• personal identification document;

• an administrative court ruling or a police ruling on the basis of which the right to drive was revoked;

• driver's license, if it has not been revoked;

• When arriving at the training course, the driver must have a completed description of the violation(s). If you do not have one, it will be given to you by the driving school.