White Licenses – Driving Learning Permit
White Licenses – Driving Learning Permit
“White licenses” is a colloquial term for a driving learning permit. This permit gives you the right to learn to drive a vehicle of the specified category under the supervision of an instructor. The instructor is a qualified driving school teacher with a specially equipped training car.
A driving learning permit is a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining a driver’s license, but it is not required to start lessons at a driving school. You will need it to begin practical driving lessons.
For vehicles in categories A, A1, A2, B, and B1, you can also learn to drive without an instructor, but only under the supervision of an experienced driver who has held a license for at least 3 years. You may use any car that matches the category specified in the white license. When driving with this permit, the same road traffic rules (e.g., speed limits, etc.) apply as for a person who already has a driver’s license.
You are not allowed to drive independently with a driving learning permit – this is equivalent to driving without a license and is subject to a fine of 280–570 EUR (from 56 to 114 penalty units).
White licenses may only be used within the territory of Latvia.
Do you need a medical certificate for a white license?
Yes, to obtain a driving learning permit, you must undergo an initial health check to confirm your fitness to drive. This same medical certificate is also valid for obtaining a driver’s license. Note that the certificate has an expiration date, and after obtaining your license, it must be renewed periodically.
Presto Driving School has the largest network of medical commissions in Riga, including VCA medical centers, the Latvian Samaritan Association (in the CSDD building), and Consilium Medicum. Paying for the medical certificate on the Presto website is cheaper (from 38 EUR) and faster, as the payment confirmation received by email allows you to skip the queue at the cashier.
Where to get a white license?
White licenses are issued by the CSDD (Road Traffic Safety Directorate). To obtain one, you need an identity document and a completed medical commission. The initial issuance of the permit costs 12.86 EUR, and a replacement (in case of loss) is twice as expensive. Usually, it is made within 30 minutes on a first-come, first-served basis.
When can you get a white license?
You can obtain a driving learning permit two years before the age at which you are allowed to become a fully licensed driver of the relevant category:
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AM category – from age 12,
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A1 and B1 categories – from age 14,
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A2, B, and C1 categories – from age 16,
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A category – from age 22.
Does an AM category license replace the white license?
Yes. You just need to make sure you have a valid medical certificate (with the relevant category mentioned). You must also have reached the appropriate age (for example, you can only learn to drive a category B vehicle from age 16).
How long is a white license valid?
The document is valid for three years. This should be enough time to obtain a driver’s license.
Is a white license an identity document?
In Latvia, only a passport and ID card are considered official identity documents. In practice, however, a driver’s license, including the white license, is often accepted in many situations—if one is accepted, the other usually is as well.
White licenses do not exempt you from responsibility!
When driving with a learning permit, responsibility for the vehicle lies with the instructor or the experienced driver supervising the learner. Therefore, a learner with a white license cannot be used as a substitute driver if the main driver wants to drink alcohol—by law, the driver is considered to be under the influence.
Does a white license replace revoked licenses?
No. If your driver’s license has been revoked (e.g., for drunk driving or under the influence of drugs), you must first undergo an early health check, including an assessment by a narcologist and psychiatrist, before you can obtain a new learning permit. After that, you must retake the CSDD theory exam, and only then can you get a new learning permit.
Can you have passengers while driving with a white license?
Yes. The main requirement is that driving takes place under the supervision of an experienced driver sitting next to the learner.
The history of the white license design can be viewed here.