Can you hold a phone while driving in Estonia?
You cannot — and the ban is wider than phone calls. A driver may not use a telephone without hands-free equipment and may not hold one while the vehicle is moving. The ordinary penalty is up to 20 fine units — €160, where no more specific offence applies. And here is what most people miss: the law prohibits the driver from any action that can interfere with driving or with the perception of traffic conditions — so messaging, filming, social media and entering navigation instructions are caught too. Where such conduct creates a traffic hazard, the penalty rises to 100 units — €800, or withdrawal of the right to drive for up to six months. Hands-free equipment lets you use the phone without holding it — but it does not override the general rule on distraction.
📋 The rules
- You may not hold a phone in a moving vehicle
- Use is permitted only hands-free
- Ordinary penalty: up to 20 units = €160
- Creating a hazard: up to €800
- Or loss of licence for up to 6 months
🔓 Exceptions
- A genuinely hands-free call is not automatically prohibited if it does not impair safe driving
- A passenger may operate the phone or navigation for the driver, provided they do not distract them
- The express ban on holding covers the moving vehicle, but the distraction rule runs throughout the drive
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The commonest misconception is that only making a call is prohibited. In fact the law bans any action that interferes with driving or with perceiving traffic conditions — writing messages, filming, scrolling social media, entering navigation instructions while under way. The offence is not limited to holding the phone against your ear. The second misconception concerns traffic lights: the express ban on holding the phone refers to the moving vehicle, but it does not grant free rein to use it at a red light — the broader distraction rule continues to apply throughout the driving process. And where the distraction causes an accident, separate liability for injury or property damage arrives on top of the phone offence — many times more expensive than €160.
📎 Official sources
- Riigi Teataja · Traffic Act →
- Riigi Teataja · Penal Code →
- Transport Administration · Driver attention →
❓ Frequently asked
What is the fine for a phone at the wheel?
The ordinary maximum is 20 fine units, which is €160. If the conduct creates a traffic hazard, the penalty rises to €800 or withdrawal of the right to drive for up to six months.
Is only calling prohibited?
No. Any action that can interfere with driving or with perceiving traffic conditions is prohibited — messaging, filming, social media and entering navigation instructions while under way.
Can I use the phone at a red light?
The express ban concerns the moving vehicle, but it grants no free rein. The general distraction rule applies throughout the driving process, including while briefly stopped in traffic.
Does hands-free solve everything?
Hands-free equipment lets you use the phone without holding it, but it does not override the general rule against activities that impair attention or the perception of traffic conditions.
May a passenger use the phone?
Yes. A passenger may operate the phone or the navigation device for the driver, provided they do not obstruct or distract the driver while doing so.
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