Presto is one of the largest and oldest driving schools in Riga.

The central office is located in the city centre, while branches in Purvciems and Ķīpsala ensure convenient access to in-person classes throughout the city.

The school stands out with training programmes that combine the experience of the most developed European countries. Methodological examples and exam tips included in the training make the learning process more effective.

Presto offers an exclusive distance learning platform with the widest range of courses in Latvia. According to CSDD data for 2025, Presto students achieved the best state theory exam results. For the past 10 years, the school has been a stable leader in theory training both in-person and remotely.

The school's internal system features a 2-level referral programme that generously rewards you for recommending the school to your friends and acquaintances.

Presto is one of the few driving schools where you can receive a refund of up to EUR 360 from the State Revenue Service (VID) for training costs. Read more here.

The school is among the few that allows potential students to review the training contract before signing it. It is one of the most consumer-friendly contracts on the market. Combined with the electronic driving lesson scheduling system, this results in the lowest total costs and the least time spent obtaining a driving licence. On average, you can expect to save at least EUR 500 and 1 month compared to any other driving school in Riga, if you take full advantage of everything the school offers. At Presto, you will need significantly fewer driving lessons, which is the main basis for this calculation.

Riga is home to approximately half of Latvia's 200 driving schools, meaning around 100. The majority are small schools with 1-2 teachers and instructors.

Driving schools in Riga offer training for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C, CE and D, as well as Code 95 for professional drivers. Presto is one of the few driving schools where almost all of these categories can be obtained. Most driving schools offer a limited range of categories, usually only the most popular ones — A, B and BE.

Driving schools in Riga may differ in several important factors: the business model of training organisation (for example, a commission system for client referrals or a digital driving lesson scheduling platform), total costs, time required for training, theory training format, quality of teachers and instructors, curricula, training organisational structure, contract terms, payment procedures, available categories, and students' results in CSDD exams.

Therefore, when choosing a driving school, it is important to assess not only popularity and price, but also the level of training, process transparency and overall efficiency. Total costs should be evaluated in direct relation to the time spent at the driving school.

The Presto Driving School website also offers detailed comparisons with various driving schools, which can be useful for prospective students to explore the available options and find the most suitable one: https://presto.lv/en/driving-school-comparisons.

No. The lowest price for a theory course or driving lesson will usually lead to higher total costs. A promotional offer may not be advantageous if the prices of other services are raised during the promotion, the contract accelerates the theory training timeline, and theory learning is pushed into the practical driving period. If discounts are not examined in the context of the driving school's business model for driving lessons, the result may be a significantly higher number of driving lessons required. It is safer to assess the driving school's business model, contract terms, state exam results, and total time and costs spent.

The costs of a driving school in Riga consist of several services: document processing (client registration and service during the contract period), theory courses, first aid courses, medical certificate, driving lessons, as well as theory and driving exams. Driving lessons make up by far the largest portion of costs, reaching up to 90% of total costs for many students. Additional CSDD expenses must not be forgotten: theory and state exams, and driving licence production.

Driving lesson prices in Riga are higher than in the regions. The price of a lesson is influenced by the technical condition of the vehicle, the instructor's experience and qualifications, and the balance of supply and demand.

If the training process is organised efficiently and exams do not need to be retaken, the theoretical minimum cost of obtaining a category B licence at a driving school could be approximately EUR 490. In practice, however, average costs in Riga are around EUR 1,200 (EUR 1,000 in Latvia), and in some cases costs can reach as much as EUR 3,000.

A cost calculator is available on the Presto Driving School website to help you understand how the potential total costs of driving school are formed. You can expect costs to be 20% lower, even if you do not make use of all the opportunities the school provides.

The real cost of a driving school can only be understood when all costs up to receiving the driving licence are assessed, not just the theory course fee. To objectively evaluate total costs, the following must be taken into account: document processing, theory training, driving lessons, driving school exams, CSDD exams, potential retakes, and the driving licence issuance fee.

Presto Driving School places special emphasis on a transparent training process and a clearly understandable cost structure. It is also important to note that discounts offered by driving schools are often a long-term practice, so students are advised to evaluate not the initial entry price, but the total costs throughout the entire training process. In many cases, a price with a regular discount is effectively the driving school's permanent price, reflecting the true value of the service.

The duration of training depends on the theory course format, the student's availability of time and finances, the intensity of driving lessons and individual skills. Some students complete training faster if they attend classes regularly, study the theory actively and plan and practise driving lessons in a timely manner. The easiest, fastest and most cost-effective approach is to complete the training as a sprint.

Presto's approach provides a structured learning process so that the student can progress towards CSDD exams without unnecessary delay. For category B, the market median average for obtaining a driving licence is 6 months, while at Presto it is 5 months. The maximum training period is 3 years, provided that the theory is completed within the first year.

CSDD permits the CSN portion of category theory training to be completed via distance learning, allowing students to plan their learning process more flexibly. The proportion of distance and in-person classes for each training category can be viewed here: https://presto.lv/en/video-training. Distance learning takes the form of video training, during which the student watches video recordings prepared by the driving school.

Since in-person visits are usually only required 1-4 times during remote theory training, students can choose a driving school that is not necessarily close to their home or workplace. Since everything in Riga is relatively close, the better choice is often a driving school whose theory course has better reviews, CSDD exam results and more engaging learning material, and which itself offers a digital service for training organisation.

Presto Driving School meets all of these criteria and provides the widest range of distance learning products.

In Riga, not only remote theory training is available, but also full-time in-person theory classes, which take place comparatively frequently.

Unlike driving schools in the regions, driving training in Riga takes place in more intensive traffic, which provides a more comprehensive and varied driving experience. This helps to develop practical skills faster and prepare for real road situations. The widest choice of instructors is also available in Riga.

At the same time, it should be noted that more driving lessons will be required. As a result, such training may also be more expensive compared to the regions, but it provides broader experience and better preparation for exams and independent driving.

For Presto Driving School specifically, in-person consultations, in-person theory exams, and cash payments for services are only available at the Presto Centre branch, at Gertrudes iela 19/21, Riga.

To start studying at a driving school, you need to sign a contract, have a valid identity document, have reached the required age, and have a declared address in Latvia.

You can enrol and sign the contract in person at the Presto Driving School office in Riga, Centre branch, at Gertrudes iela 19/21, or remotely by signing the training contract on the Presto website: https://presto.lv/en/.

The best driving schools in Riga are Presto, Einstein, BAVA, Mustangs, Gross, and Autoskola Galvenais Cels, based on the number of people who have taken CSDD exams — the only factual measure of a driving school's popularity. At the same time, best is a subjective category, so each person should choose a school that suits them based on the key evaluation criteria: a consumer-friendly contract, state exam results, graduate statistics 2 years after completing the school, total time and costs spent, service quality, and the driving school's business model for driving lessons.

The starting point for driving lessons is determined individually by instructors. The most popular starting points are the Academy of Sciences (Riepnieku iela, Karla Milenbaha iela, Elijas iela and Vilhelma Purvisa iela) and Uzvaras bulvaris 16 (Virsi-A fuel station).

Driving lesson routes in Riga are usually chosen according to the student's level of preparedness. Initially, the basics are covered in a safer environment or on a driving ground, and later driving continues in city traffic, at intersections, on busier streets and on routes that help prepare for the CSDD exam and independent driving.

According to Cabinet Regulation No. 358, a student is free to choose a driving instructor and change them if necessary, should they be dissatisfied with the teaching methods, communication, etc. There is a very wide choice of driving instructors in Riga, allowing students to find the training approach that suits them best.

Please note that many schools may contractually tie a student to the instructors of the chosen driving school — either entirely or only for the first 10 lessons — citing a discount, promotion or other special terms at the time of signing.

Presto Driving School offers a team-based approach to organising driving training, where each instructor is ready to assist at a specific stage of the student's training. Freedom of instructor choice and transparency of the training process are essential components of quality training. Presto recommends that students in Riga try several instructors, as this helps develop skills with different vehicles, build psychological resilience, get used to different teaching methods, and save time during the training process. Choosing multiple instructors allows you to drive more frequently, reduce the number of driving sessions and thereby lower your costs. A good instructor can only be found through comparison.

Here is how you can distinguish a good instructor from an average one:

An excellent educator — able to explain complex things simply and in the right order.
A good communicator — easy and engaging to talk to.
Systematic — guiding the student towards the goal in a planned manner.
Ethical — will not belittle the work of other specialists.
Patient and calm — no reproaches, shouting, etc.
Tactful and respectful — will respect your personal space.

Such an instructor will usually be more expensive than an average instructor, but will prepare you for the driving school and CSDD exam in fewer driving sessions. As a result, the total cost of driving training will be lower.

Yes, Presto Driving School is well suited for people with a busy schedule. In this case, we recommend distance learning, as it can be planned flexibly. Thanks to the electronic driving lesson scheduling system and a large choice of instructors, driving lessons can be booked on any day and at any time. This is especially important in Riga, where many students combine driving school with work, studies or hobbies.

Many driving schools in Riga offer training in Russian as well. However, driving school and CSDD exams can only be taken in the state language by Latvian citizens and non-citizens, while Russian may only be used by persons with a residence permit. As a result, the availability of study materials and services in Russian has decreased significantly.

Presto Driving School offers both theory training and driving lessons in Russian. At the same time, for those whose exam must be taken in Latvian, it is recommended to additionally practise tests in Latvian and study from the Latvian road traffic regulations book. This helps to better prepare for the CSDD exam and feel more confident during it.

Riga is one of the 3-4 CSDD regional centres where some options related to training and services in Russian are still available.

Training in English is practically only available in Riga. For category B, in-person training is provided by Presto and Einstein driving schools, while distance learning (8 video lessons and 3 in-person sessions) is offered exclusively by Presto. With the exception of certain cases (group requests), other training categories in English can be completed through individual training.

To finish driving school quickly in Riga, it is important to complete the theory as a sprint, attend driving lessons very regularly in parallel with theory classes, and avoid long breaks in the learning process. If you approach your studies responsibly and consistently cover the required material, you can also pass the exams quickly and successfully. For category B, the theoretical minimum is 28 days.

In Riga, it can be observed that discounts are offered by only a certain group of driving schools. They are available almost every day, which raises questions about the true value and price of the service. In reality, there is a clear pattern — a discount can cost at least 10 times more in the long run if the driving school's business model generates a higher number of driving lessons, the contract sets an accelerated theory learning pace, and theory training is pushed into driving lesson time. Therefore, discount offers should be assessed critically and carefully. You should be confident that discounts are exceptional rather than everyday occurrences.

Reviews can be useful, but it is important to understand whether reviews of Riga driving schools are verified or can be submitted anonymously, as this affects their credibility. It also matters whether the reviews are structured and whether specific aspects are highlighted separately, such as training categories, types of specialists (teacher, instructor) and the driving school's organisational quality. A good example is the Presto Driving School reviews page: https://presto.lv/en/driving-school-reviews.

A single negative or positive review does not in itself reflect the overall situation. It is far more valuable to look at the overall trend — whether students repeatedly emphasise clear training organisation, good instructors, understandable terms and good preparation for exams.

Small driving schools advertise a more individual (personal) approach to training and service — for example, answering calls and emails faster, resolving specific issues more quickly. In reality, large driving schools typically have a more extensive organisational infrastructure — call centres, client management systems, various IT solutions — that allows them to serve a large volume of clients in an automated way without compromising service quality. The difference is especially noticeable in digital services: digital training monitoring and electronic payments. A small school will also lack the resources to develop its own distance learning programme and will always act as an intermediary for the platforms of larger schools. Overall, there is no clear reason to choose a small driving school. It is also worth noting that there are enormous differences in quality even among Riga's driving schools.

A student is ready for the CSDD driving exam when they can drive independently, notice road signs and markings in a timely manner, confidently choose an appropriate speed, observe right-of-way rules, perform manoeuvres correctly, and make safe decisions even in unfamiliar traffic situations.

The instructor's role is to objectively assess the student's readiness, not simply to send them to the exam. This means the decision to sit the exam is based on actual driving skills and safety level.

At Presto Driving School, instructors provide an assessment after each driving lesson and record the student's progress, including indicating when the student is ready for both the driving school and CSDD exam. This helps ensure a structured training process and a clear understanding of the student's readiness for the next step.

Presto Driving School has also introduced specialist examiners for category B training, who objectively evaluate the student's driving skills before they go to the state exam. The requirements of the driving school exam and the CSDD driving exam are exactly the same.