We offer a comparison of Einšteins Driving School and Presto Driving School, summarising CSDD statistical data and the most important information about each driving school so that you can choose the one that suits you best.

The article was updated on 2026-03-17 16:12:07.

	PRESTO Driving School		Einšteins Driving School
Year established	2012		2009

Training quality

Both driving schools provide training in 3 languages: LV, RU, EN. They are among the 4 schools out of 200 that also teach in English, but only these 2 actually form English-speaking groups in practice. Presto Driving School is the only driving school in Latvia offering Category B distance learning in English.

Only Einšteins and Presto teach in almost all regions of Latvia.

Out of the full range of categories, Einšteins does not offer only Category D, whereas Presto offers all categories.

In distance learning, Einšteins offers AM, A, B (LV, RU), BE, and Category C, while Presto offers the broadest range of distance learning products in Latvia (AM, A, A1, A2, B (LV, RU, EN), BE, C, CE, Code 95, C95, D95). The main difference lies in the training of professional drivers.

Einšteins Driving School creates its own distance learning products and sells them to other driving schools through the edrive.lv website, whereas Presto creates them but does not sell them to other driving schools, meaning they are exclusive.

Theory

In CSDD statistics, theory results combine both in-person and distance learning results. Einšteins Driving School students pass the state theory examination on the first attempt at 69,09%, whereas Presto Driving School students do so at 76,49%, which is the best result in Latvia.

Since 90% of you choose distance learning, you may be interested in this CSDD chart of distance learning platform results. Einšteins’ distance learning platform is edrive.lv. As can be seen from the e-environment results, there is also a significant difference there.

Presto is the only driving school in Latvia that offers extensive support for its video training product. Our students can receive assistance online as well as by email and telephone, making remote learning convenient for everyone.

Driving

In Category B, Einšteins Driving School students pass the state driving examination on the first attempt at 34,62%, while Presto Driving School students do so at 29,85%.

In Categories AM, A1, A2, and AM, students of Einšteins Driving School pass the state driving examination on the first attempt at 42,16%, while at Presto Driving School the figure is 29,63%. Einšteins Driving School has more students in the regions, whereas Presto Driving School has more in Riga. When comparing the examination results of Einšteins and Presto motorcycle instructors in Riga, we found that our instructors’ performance was significantly better, which means that this is offset by the regions (Vidzeme).

In Categories BE, C, and CE, Einšteins Driving School students pass the state driving examination on the first attempt at 46,59%, while for Presto Driving School (together with Category D) it is 66,67%. Presto Driving School’s result is better even though training in these categories mainly takes place only in Riga.

Conclusions.

What do the CSDD statistical data mean, and what difference do they make? A lower percentage means a greater likelihood that you will have to invest additional funds in your training for repeated state examination attempts, for example, the Category B theory examination — EUR 11.40, the driving examination — EUR 44.60. Since 2024, as examination conditions at CSDD have changed, examination results have started to decline significantly, therefore this will remain relevant to many of you in the years ahead.

Service

By service, we mean the level of service included in the price. Einšteins Driving School and Presto Driving School have virtually identical service levels — a call centre, fully digitised training supervision, and administration. Both schools have an electronic system for organising driving lessons: Presto since 2016, Einšteins since 2022 (after copying it from Presto). Both schools offer their services throughout Latvia.

Speaking of differences, Einšteins accepts theory examinations only remotely, whereas Presto also does so in person at its Riga office. One of the significant problems at Einšteins Driving School is waiting times for driving lessons of up to 2 weeks, which limits your opportunities for regular practice and means that more driving lessons will be required overall. This has a strong impact on total costs.

Presto Driving School and Einšteins have a roughly equal set of thematic exercises for knowledge training — 1,600 questions, which is 2x more than in the state examination. However, this training platform is available exclusively to Presto students, while Einšteins offers its test to everyone for EUR 10 per month. Despite the fact that knowledge assessment is part of the training, Einšteins charges extra for it.

Einšteins app

In its advertisements, Einšteins uses the slogan “Theory, documents and app — all in one price.” Einšteins is the only company in the world that seems to think a client should pay for the company’s app. Usually, it is the other way round. It is merely a technical way of allowing the user to use certain services a little more conveniently. Presto Driving School has a good mobile version of its website — it fully replaces the need for an app.

Promotions

Einšteins is one of the leaders in Latvia in terms of promotional offers. If someone has spent the last few years in a deep sleep, we can tell you that Einšteins runs promotions almost every day. “Theory for EUR 1”, “Free theory”, “Spin the wheel of fortune”, “The price matches the day” are only a small part of the hunt for lucky deals.

You may think that you have found an advantageous offer, but in reality that is not the case — this is the price at which Einšteins Driving School values its product on a daily basis.

If other driving schools raise the prices of some service items during advertising campaigns (dumping), Einšteins does not need to do so, because they are higher all the time.

What does this attitude of Einšteins Driving School towards a free theory course mean? Einšteins wants you not to pay attention to the quality of the theory training. Why? Because just 1 driving lesson costs as much as the entire theory course, yet in the end more lessons will be needed.

Einšteins Driving School advertises training at a driving school as a game. However, as a large driving school, it should be socially responsible. In Latvia, neither serious nor fatal road traffic accidents are decreasing. Responsibility must be assumed from the outset by the driving schools themselves, which should not promote unserious and poor-quality training for profit, and should not allow it even under customer pressure.

By contrast, Presto Driving School emphasises social responsibility and does not offer promotions at the expense of its training quality, costs, and safety. Support from the driving school is provided to large families in Latvia and educational institutions.

Contract analysis

Before signing, Presto allows you review contracts for all categories, whereas Einšteins provides such an opportunity only shortly before concluding the contract. You can review the Presto Driving School Category B contract before signing here, but in order to assess the Einšteins Driving School contract, you must formally fill in your details on their website einsteins.lv.

Introduction

A contract reflects the training and work organisation processes. As we have pointed out many times before, the choice of driving school would be different if consumers read contracts before making a decision. They usually contain terms that later turn out to be an unpleasant surprise. The balance of responsibility between the contracting parties is important.

Einšteins has managed to set out its processes in 3.5 pages of contract, whereas Presto Driving School’s contract is somewhat longer. We have analysed Einšteins Driving School’s contract and, at the end, have mentioned the main differences compared with Presto.

Short distance learning and overall theory course completion periods.

Clause 3.4.5 of the Einšteins contract stipulates that the distance learning part (8 lessons) must be completed within 2 months, while clause 3.4.6 states that the 3 in-person lessons must be completed within 6 months. Therefore, distance learning is given a very short period, while the total theory course completion time is limited to 6 months.

Regulations on Driver Training and Driver Training Programmes provide for completion of theory training within 1 year. By entering into such a contract, the contractual term takes precedence over the term laid down by law. In addition, Einšteins Driving School knows from industry statistics that most people do not read contracts, that they need on average 6 months to obtain a driving licence, and that they will not be able to pass within such a short period. The student then blames themselves for failing to comply with the contract and renews the contract for a higher fee, because they are dependent on the driving school in which they have already invested time and money.

Important — the Presto contract does not impose any restrictions on distance learning completion, and the entire theory course may be completed within the 1-year period laid down by law.

Low driving deposit.

Clause 3.5 of the Einšteins contract stipulates that you may take the driving school’s theory examination only after paying EUR 50 or using this amount for driving lessons. This is the lowest advance payment amount for driving lessons on the market. In our view, it is important for a driving school to ensure that a student is committed to allocating financial resources to achieve the result; otherwise, there is no point in starting the training.

There are currently 2 extremes on the market. While a large proportion of driving schools require a very large advance payment of EUR 225–400, Einšteins’ EUR 50 is the lowest financial burden; however, it does not achieve the purpose of this requirement — to verify the availability of funds. At Presto, this payment is the second lowest in Latvia — EUR 150 within 3 weeks of signing the contract.

How the price of driving lessons is presented.

Clause 4.10 of Einšteins Driving School’s contract states that the price of driving training on the driving school’s website einsteins.lv is shown for 45 minutes — 1 academic hour. Einšteins deliberately does not present the full price of a driving lesson (2 academic hours), but only half of it, in order to reduce the consumer’s perception. Such a system is beneficial to the driving school and its instructors, because it makes it easier to disguise a higher price.

The market has already determined that, taking into account the time spent by both parties, it is more beneficial for the client to devote 90 minutes to a lesson (2 academic hours x 45 min.); therefore, the correct approach would be to present the full lesson price. The current pricing policy for driving training is not transparent.

A unique penalty for cancelling a driving lesson.

Clause 4.12 of the contract stipulates that the driving school has the right to retain 10% of the cancelled driving lesson fee if it is cancelled more than 24 hours before the planned start of the lesson (if less than 24 hours, the entire payment is lost). The driving school may also excuse such conduct by the client, but in practice this forces you to engage in lengthy communication for EUR 3–5. Out of 200 driving schools in Latvia, such a penalty exists only at Einšteins Driving School, and many of you will encounter it.

The instructor is also the examiner.

Clause 4.14 of the Einšteins contract states that the fee for the driving school’s driving examination depends on the driving instructor chosen by the student.

Therefore, Einšteins instructors also conduct the driving examinations themselves. Presto was the first to introduce this system more than 5 years ago, but over time it found that instructors did not fully understand the cause-and-effect relationship between training quality and examination quality, therefore in 2025 it began transitioning to professional examiners (for now in Riga). This has produced good results in improving driving examination statistics.

Differences.

There are 2 unique contract-based benefits available only at Presto Driving School — Presto assumes responsibility for cancellation of a lesson by the instructor in the amount of EUR 20, and it also refunds money for a training stage in the event of a justified complaint (Western practice). In our opinion, balanced responsibility between the parties is very important.

Costs

We invite you to review the main cost items at both driving schools and calculate the approximate overall difference in costs. First we indicate the Presto price, then, for comparison, the Einšteins price.

1. Contract registration fee (EUR 20), at times when Einšteins Driving School does not have a promotion, is EUR 10 or EUR 20 higher than Presto (EUR 30–40), depending on the category chosen and the language of instruction. It is evident that this item is a popular tool for manipulating total costs — it has no fixed value and is changed whenever necessary.

2. The theory course at Einšteins Driving School usually has a promotional price ranging from EUR 0 to 10. Presto distance learning costs EUR 25, while in-person training costs EUR 60. Since 90% of you choose distance learning, for this group theory will cost about EUR 20 more, but for the remaining 10% — EUR 50 more. You will receive a weaker, less engaging product with weaker examination results, with a potential need for many repeated examination attempts.

3. The first aid course (EUR 55) is EUR 5 more expensive — EUR 60.

4. Medical certificate (in Riga — EUR 38, in Ventspils — EUR 28.50), including the medical commission visit, in Riga is EUR 22 more expensive, in Ventspils EUR 31.50 more expensive — EUR 60. Einšteins currently has a broader offer of this service in Latvia.

5. Road Traffic Regulations books (EUR 23) are EUR 2.45 more expensive — EUR 25.45. Both driving schools offer to send the books for an additional fee where necessary, or to collect them from the office free of charge.

If you add up only the first aid course, the medical certificate, and the purchase of the book, the overpayment at Einšteins Driving School becomes such that the free theory course on offer no longer interests you.

6. Driving lessons make up 90% of the total costs at a driving school. At Einšteins Driving School they are the most expensive in Latvia (competing with DBS (Riga)). The highest prices are in the evenings and on weekends — exactly when you really have time for training.

On the einsteins.lv website, Einšteins deliberately does not show the full price of a driving lesson (2 academic hours) (see the Contract analysis section).

Cancellation of driving lessons, even in the event of a mistake (up to 24h before the start) — 10% for each one (under 24h the payment is lost).

The waiting times for driving lessons at Einšteins Driving School mentioned in the Service section increase from 2 weeks to 4 weeks in summer. Less frequent practice increases the number of driving lessons required, which in turn increases costs.

7. Taking theory examinations (EUR 15) — at Einšteins you pay EUR 4.95 more for a repeat theory examination — EUR 19.95.

8. A collection of thematic tasks for knowledge assessment. You are pressured to complete theory training quickly, but the knowledge assessment costs EUR 10 per month. Speed is never linked to quality. Expect a forced subscription for 3–6 months, because without it, passing the examination will in practice be impossible — an additional EUR 30–60.

9. Taking driving examinations — the price depends on the chosen “instructor”. Since Einšteins Driving School has the most expensive driving lessons in Latvia, all driving examinations become more expensive as well.

Overall, taking into account the overpayment for almost every service, the subscription for thematic tasks, the higher number of driving lessons required, and the higher number of theory and driving examinations, you will overpay by up to EUR 400 more in Category B than at Presto Driving School. This is the largest difference when compared with other driving schools. In the other categories, where there are correspondingly fewer theory and driving lessons, the difference is proportionally smaller.

Reviews

The reviews section on Einšteins Driving School’s website is located here. There is an option to submit unauthorised reviews there, and most of the reviews are exactly that. Their reliability is lower, because they can be written by the school itself.

Einšteins Facebook reviews can be viewed here, and the Google reviews can be found here.

By contrast, reviews for Presto Driving School can be read on the website here, and they can be left only after authorisation. This is where the largest number of genuine and verifiable reviews in Latvia can be found. They can be filtered by instructor, lecturer, and driving school. Presto reviews can also be read on Instagram, Facebook and Google.

Conclusions

Both Einšteins Driving School and Presto Driving School are among the largest and most experienced market participants in Latvia. However, there are significant differences between the two driving schools.

Presto Driving School stands out with higher theory examination results in Latvia, the broadest range of distance learning products, and more flexible training conditions. A particularly important advantage is the possibility to study theory without artificial time limits, as well as the support available for video training. Presto also offers a more balanced contract model with greater responsibility on the part of the driving school and a more transparent pricing policy.

Einšteins Driving School, on the other hand, demonstrates better results in certain driving categories and actively uses promotional and pricing marketing, which may initially create the impression of a more advantageous offer. However, a more detailed analysis shows that these offers are often offset by more expensive driving lessons, additional service charges, and a greater number of lessons required.

Overall, the choice between driving schools depends on the student’s priorities. If lower initial prices and wide physical availability are more important, Einšteins Driving School may be considered, but if overall cost control, flexibility, and transparent conditions are more important, then Presto Driving School has the advantage.

Taking all factors into account — quality, costs, contract terms, and long-term results — Presto Driving School offers a more balanced and financially more advantageous solution for students.

Sources:

presto.lv
einsteins.lv
www.csdd.lv
autoskolas.com

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