Introduction

Lithuania punches far above its weight in EU road haulage — it has one of the largest international truck fleets per capita. The Klaipėda port and the Via Baltica corridor support major freight flows, and Lithuanian operators are dominant in transit trade to Belarus and (formerly) Russia, now substantially reoriented.

Lithuania is part of the European Union and operates a driving licence framework that complies with EU Directive 2006/126/EC. Whether you are a domestic driver building a career in road haulage, an EU national relocating to Lithuania for work, or a non-EU professional looking to convert an existing licence into a recognised European credential, understanding the Lithuanian driving licence system is essential to operating legally and competitively on Lithuanian roads.

This guide explains everything that professional drivers, recruiters, and transport employers need to know about the Lithuanian driving licence — categories, requirements, conversion rules for foreign licence holders, Code 95 obligations, tachograph compliance, medical standards, renewal procedures, and current job opportunities. All information aligns with Lithuania’s transposition of EU Directive 2006/126/EC and the relevant national legislation enforced by Susisiekimo ministerija.

If you are an employer hiring professional drivers, you can Hire Professional Truck Drivers through FastDriver’s verified driver network. Drivers ready to work can complete Truck Driver Registration Europe to get started.

What Is a Lithuanian Driving Licence?

The Lithuanian driving licence is issued by Lietuvos transporto saugos administracija (LTSA) under the Lietuvos Respublikos kelių transporto kodeksas and LTSA orders on professional driver qualification, and uses the standard EU credit card format. It transposes EU Directive 2006/126/EC into national law and is fully recognised across all 27 EU member states and the EEA. For professional drivers, the Code 95 endorsement (known locally as Vairuotojo kvalifikacinė kortelė (95 kodas)) is either shown on the back of the licence or held on a separate Driver Qualification Card.

Lithuania Driving Licence Categories at a Glance

Lithuania uses the harmonised EU category system through its EU/EEA membership. The categories that matter for professional drivers are:

• Category B — standard car licence, prerequisite for all professional categories.
• Category C1 — rigid trucks 3,500–7,500 kg (urban distribution).
• Category C — rigid trucks above 3,500 kg (general haulage). Minimum age 21, or 18 with Code 95.
• Category CE — articulated combinations (long-haul). Requires Category C. Same minimum age as C.
• Category D1 — minibuses (9–16 passengers). Minimum age 21.
• Category D — full buses and coaches. Minimum age 24, or 21 with Code 95.

Category C vs CE — Quick Comparison

How to Get the Lithuanian Truck Driving Licence

The route to a Lithuanian Category C/CE licence runs through a registered driving school, a medical examination, the theory and practical tests, and licence issuance by the LTSA. The standard EU minimum vision standards apply: visual acuity of at least 0.8 in the better eye and 0.1 in the weaker eye (with or without correction), a horizontal field of at least 160°, normal traffic-signal colour recognition and no untreated double vision. Medical reviews are repeated at every renewal and more frequently after age 65.

Practical training under the Lietuvos Respublikos kelių transporto kodeksas and LTSA orders on professional driver qualification covers vehicle inspections, low-speed manoeuvring, road and motorway driving and, for Category CE, coupling and reversing trailer combinations. Examiners authorised by LTSA deliver the practical test, which typically lasts 60–90 minutes for Category CE.

Code 95 Integration

Holding the right driving licence category is only half of the requirement for commercial driving. All professional drivers must also hold a valid Code 95 (EU Driver CPC) under EU Directive 2003/59/EC, known locally as Vairuotojo kvalifikacinė kortelė (95 kodas). The Code 95 endorsement is typically shown on the back of the driving licence or on a separate Driver Qualification Card.

Code 95 requires an initial qualification followed by 35 hours of periodic training every five years. You can learn the full Code 95 Lithuania eligibility rules in detail.

Lithuania Licence Conversion for Non-EU Drivers

Non-EU drivers legally resident in Lithuania may, in some cases, exchange their existing national driving licence for a Lithuanian one without sitting a full theory and practical examination. Exchange eligibility depends on whether Lithuania has a bilateral recognition agreement with the country that issued the original licence.

Where no agreement exists, the foreign driver must complete the full Lithuanian licence acquisition process — including the theory examination, practical training and the practical driving test in a vehicle of the relevant category. To begin, register your interest through Truck Driver Registration Europe.

Tachograph & EU Driving Hours Rules

Every professional driver operating commercial vehicles in Lithuania is subject to EU-wide driving hours rules under Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and tachograph requirements under Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.

• Maximum 9 hours of driving per day (extendable to 10 hours twice per week)
• Maximum 56 hours of driving per week and 90 over two consecutive weeks
• 45-minute break required after 4.5 hours of continuous driving
• Minimum 11 hours of daily rest and 45 hours of regular weekly rest
• Regular weekly rest cannot be taken in the vehicle cab (EU Mobility Package)

For full guidance, see Check Tachograph Rules & Compliance.

Lithuania Driving Licence Renewal Rules

Professional categories must be renewed every five years, accompanied by a current medical certificate confirming continued fitness. Code 95 must also be renewed every five years through 35 hours of periodic training.

Lithuania Truck Driver Salary Insights

Lithuania has a chronic CE driver shortage despite being a major employer of Belarusian, Ukrainian and other non-EU drivers under the National D Visa route. HGV driving is on Lithuania’s shortage occupation list.

The Lithuanian Road Transport Sector

Lithuania punches far above its weight in EU road haulage — it has one of the largest international truck fleets per capita. The Klaipėda port and the Via Baltica corridor support major freight flows, and Lithuanian operators are dominant in transit trade to Belarus and (formerly) Russia, now substantially reoriented.

Notable Employers and Operators in Lithuania

Girteka Logistics (Europe’s largest road freight company by fleet — over 9,000 trucks), Hegelmann (German-Lithuanian), Vlantana, AD REM, Transekspedicija, Litcargus, ARS-IT, and dozens of mid-sized international operators.

Lithuania Freight Market Snapshot

Girteka alone employs over 20,000 drivers and operates one of the largest single-operator truck fleets in the world from its headquarters in Vilnius.

Industry Associations and Training Providers in Lithuania

Linava (Lietuvos nacionalinė vežėjų automobiliais asociacija) is the dominant operator association. Training is delivered through LTSA-approved centres including major Vilnius and Kaunas vairavimo mokyklos.

Cross-Border Routes from Lithuania

Kaunas-Warsaw, Vilnius-Riga, Klaipėda-Hamburg, and Vilnius-Minsk (severely restricted), via the Via Baltica, are the main Lithuanian corridors.

Recent Regulatory Updates in Lithuania

The LTSA administers driver and operator licensing. Lithuania has been at the centre of EU Mobility Package debates given its very large international fleet, and Lithuanian operators have actively challenged some Mobility Package provisions in EU courts.

Common Licence Pitfalls for Lithuanian Drivers

Even experienced professional drivers can fall foul of Lithuania’s regulatory environment. The most common errors LTSA sees are: driving a CE-class articulated vehicle on a Category C licence (a criminal offence that invalidates insurance); letting Code 95 expire while the underlying licence remains valid; missing the periodic medical examination required for professional categories; tachograph errors such as failing to insert the driver card or selecting the wrong activity mode; and overlooking country-specific extras such as first-aid certification where it is required.