On Tuesday, the government approved the draft regulations prepared by the Ministry of Transport (MoT), which provides for the introduction of a fee for a theory exam for obtaining the right to drive a bicycle in the price list of the Road Safety Directorate (CSDD) services for adults, as well as setting a fee for a bicycle driver’s license.
A bicycle driver’s license will cost 6.84 euros including value added tax (VAT), while taking a theoretical exam to obtain a bicycle driver’s license will cost 7.74 euros including VAT.
Exemption from the fee for the theoretical exam and bicycle driver’s license will only be for minors.
The MoU explains that until now it was stipulated that the theoretical exam for obtaining a bicycle driving license is free of charge, as well as a bicycle driver’s license is issued free of charge, but in the future it is impossible to ensure this, taking into account the actual costs of providing these services.
The Road Traffic Law stipulates that a person who has reached the age of 18 and has received the right to drive a bicycle or any category of vehicle is allowed to participate in road traffic with a bicycle rickshaw. Also, a person aged 14 and over is allowed to participate in road traffic with an electric scooter, if he has the right to drive a bicycle or any category of vehicle.
CSDD representatives explained to the LETA agency that driving an electric scooter requires at least a bicycle driver’s license or a driver’s license of any other category. This also applies to adults and if no driving category has been obtained, it is forbidden to drive an electric scooter.
Also, the amendments provide that the registration number sticker of an electric scooter with included holographic sticker will cost three euros including VAT, while the registration sticker of a bicycle, rickshaw or shared electric scooter will cost 2.08 euros including VAT.
Simultaneously with the amendments, the prices for individual CSDD services have been updated in accordance with the actual prices of service performance.
It has already been reported that from Monday, April 1, it is forbidden to use unregistered electric scooters in road traffic in Latvia.
Amendments to the Road Traffic Law come into force on January 1 of this year, which stipulates that the registration of electric scooters and cycle rickshaws is mandatory, and a state registration sticker must be affixed to their structure. The existing vehicles had to be registered until March 31, 2024, but from April 1, it is forbidden to participate in road traffic with unregistered vehicles.
Amendments to the regulations also apply to self-made or rebuilt electric scooters. Likewise, electric scooters registered up to now must be registered in accordance with the new procedure and must receive a new registration sticker.
