National individual vehicle approval

Individual vehicle approval is made for:

• vehicles received as inheritance;
• vehicles of migrants;
• special purpose vehicles belonging to bodies administered by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice;
• vehicles used in traffic during a training or competition period that are used for participation in racing on the basis of an application by the Estonian Autosport Union;
• vehicles imported for exhibition purposes;
• vehicles imported for tests and presentations;
• vehicles owned or possessed by foreign diplomatic missions and their foreign staff;
• vehicles owned or possessed by foreign military personnel;
• vehicles owned or possessed by contract workers who are foreign nationals;
• vehicles of categories M1, N1, N2, O and L;
• vehicles manufactured as one of a kind.

NB! The individual vehicle approval is made for each vehicle separately. In the case of vehicles without a European Union type-approval, a individual vehicle approval must be obtained.

Obtaining the national individual vehicle approval

If a vehicle of category M, N or L does not have a European Union type-approval for the complete vehicle or a type-approval certificate for parts/components (see the table below for implementation periods), it is subject to type-approval.

Vehicles of category O (trailers) are subject to individual vehicle approval if they were first registered in 2001 or later and are imported from outside a member state of the European Union.

1. Bring the vehicle to a pre-registration check at the Transport Administration's service office to determine whether the vehicle needs an individual vehicle type-approval. Book a time for the pre-registration check via the Transport Administration’s website (without prior booking, the vehicle cannot be checked).
2. Bring your vehicle registration certificate and a document to prove vehicle ownership to the pre-registration check.
3. If the vehicle was referred for individual vehicle approval, an application for individual vehicle approval must be submitted (see form here);
4. An application for individual vehicle approval can be submitted before the vehicle is presented to the Transport Administration's service office, at the time of presentation of the vehicle or after the vehicle has been presented.
5. Attach a payment order confirming payment of the state fee for individual vehicle approval (EUR 205) to the application or enter the payment details on the application for individual vehicle approval. Make sure the payee and reference number are correct.

* Later, the initial registration (EUR 130 for categories M and N, EUR 63 for categories O1 and O2, EUR 130 for categories O3 and O4) and the issuing of a registration plate (EUR 65 for categories M and N, EUR 30 for category L, EUR 30 for category O) is added;

6. After the application is submitted, the Transport Administration checks whether the vehicle (for EU registered vehicles) has the documents proving compliance with the vehicle braking, noise and emission limit values. The Transport Administration will inform you of the need to submit additional documents after reviewing the application and examining the documents.

7. If the vehicle is found to be in conformity with the requirements, a individual vehicle approval is issued, which is notified via the contact details on the application.

8. Once you have received the individual vehicle approval, you can register the vehicle after paying the registration fee. More information can be found here.

Please send the application form with supporting documents to the Transport Administration by e-mail to [email protected].

Vehicle test reports and approvals

The following recognized test laboratories are accepted by the Transport Administration for issuing test reports or approvals:

• Directive-approved test laboratories

• E-rule compliant test laboratories

In Estonia, tests can also be carried out by TÜV Eesti OÜ, Autotest OÜ.

Compliance with vehicle braking, noise and emission limit values is determined during the individual vehicle approval procedure and the client is informed of the need for them.

Tests are not usually necessary if the vehicle is imported from an EU member state and these values are available to the Transport Administration (e.g. from Germany, 2001 and newer vehicles from Latvia). The Transport Administration also recognizes California's emissions requirements.

The requirements for individual vehicle approval are laid down in Annex 3 to Regulation No. 37 "Conditions, requirements and proceedings for car, motorcycle, moped and trailer type-approval, individual vehicle approval and remodelling". The roadworthiness requirements referred to in Annex 3 are the requirements in Annex 1 to Regulation No. 42 "Technical requirements and equipment requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers".

Table of EU implementation periods and individual certificates for individual vehicle approvals

NB!

• Vehicles of categories M and N must have type-approval certificates for parts/components from 01.01.1998 until the date of implementation of European Union type-approval (see table).
• Vehicles of category O must have type-approval certificates for parts/components from 01.01.2001 until the date of implementation of European Union type-approval (see vehicles previously registered in the EU).
• Vehicles of category L must have type-approval certificates for parts/components from 01.01.2004 until the date of implementation of European Union type-approval.
• In the absence of type-approval certificates for parts/components, the vehicle is subject to individual vehicle approval.