How to Get a Category D Driving Licence in Latvia?

Latvia’s own Ministry of Transport called the country “the last in Europe” still requiring Category C and a two-year wait before Category D, a genuinely stark admission, backed by data showing just 2 active D-category licenses among drivers aged 21-24, compared to over 13,000 among drivers aged 55-64. This piece covers what Category D authorizes, the reform underway to address this, and the current requirements.

What Category D covers

Category D authorizes buses with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat, plus a trailer combination up to 750 kg, which is included automatically.

Minimum age

The standard minimum age is 24. Training itself can begin from 18.

The genuine driver shortage behind Latvia’s reform

This is worth understanding, since it shapes everything currently changing. Over two-thirds of Latvia’s bus drivers are approaching or past retirement age. The Ministry of Transport’s own data shows just 2 active Category D licenses among 21-24 year olds, compared with 963 among 25-34 year olds and more than 13,500 among 55-64 year olds, a genuinely severe demographic imbalance.

The proposed reform: removing the C1/D1 requirement

The Ministry of Transport has proposed regulations allowing Category B holders to access Category D training from 18, without first needing to obtain C1 or D1, removing a barrier that Latvia’s own public bus association (LSA) has called the last of its kind remaining in Europe.

What LSA is still pushing to remove

Genuinely worth knowing: LSA has also called for scrapping the requirement to hold a full Category C before Category D altogether, arguing that it specifically discourages women and younger people from pursuing bus driving as a career, since most have no interest in goods transport.

You need Category B first

Category D requires you to hold Category B already.

The proposed under-21 route

Under the reform framework, drivers under 21 with the appropriate code 95 professional certification would be limited to regional and local routes within Latvia not exceeding 50 km, with full, unrestricted access from age 21.

Documents and eligibility

• Your existing Category B licence
• Meeting the applicable minimum age
• A medical fitness assessment

Automatic transmission

Your transmission choice at testing time carries real weight: automatic vehicles only, if that’s what you tested on.

DE: adding a heavier trailer

DE requires you to hold Category D already and be at least 24. It’s granted automatically if you hold both Category D and Category CE.

Code 95: required separately for commercial work

Holding Category D alone doesn’t authorize commercial passenger transport. Code 95, confirming professional competence, is required separately, and a Category D license obtained in Latvia is valid for passenger transport work across the entire EU.

D1, for comparison

D1 authorizes smaller minibusses with up to 16 passengers, with a lower minimum age of 21 and training available from 19.

What Category D is genuinely used for

Most Category D holders go on to work in the public transport, intercity coach services, or tourist bus operations sectors, which Latvia is actively trying to make more accessible to younger entrants.

Real bus companies are funding Category D training entirely for C-holders

This is genuinely significant given the demographic crisis discussed earlier. Two of Latvia’s actual bus operators, AS “CATA” and Liepājas Autobusu Parks (LAP), the largest bus transport provider in Kurzeme, have launched programs covering the full cost of Category D training for candidates who already hold Category C, with guaranteed employment offered once you complete your training. LAP specifically covers both theoretical and practical training costs for candidates who commit to joining the company afterward and runs courses in Riga and Valmiera at least once per quarter. This is a genuinely practical route worth investigating directly if you already hold Category C and are considering Category D as a career move.

What Category D genuinely costs if you’re paying yourself

Outside sponsored routes, the full training process to obtain Category D can reach up to €750, covering theoretical and practical instruction, CSDD fees, and medical commission costs where required. Real published pricing from one driving school breaks it down as follows: a €50 registration fee covering the theory course, document processing, CSDD registration,, and your training car;s €15 per 45-minute driving lesso;, €35 for the medical commissio,n if neede;, and €60 for first-aid course,s if needed.

The minimum training structure

Category D training typically runs about 2 weeks, covering 6 theoretical lessons (30 academic hours total) and at least 6 driving lessons (12 academic hours), with theory sessions commonly scheduled on weekday evenings or weekends to accommodate candidates who are already working.

CSDD exam fees, for context

While exact fees for Category D’s specific CSDD exams weren’t uniformly published, related category fees offer a useful benchmark: the standard theory exam costs €11.40, and a practical driving exam for lighter categories runs around €43.79, with a trial exam option at €33.63. Category D’s own specific CSDD fees are worth confirming directly with your chosen driving school, since heavier categories typically carry somewhat higher testing costs than Category B.

Why comparing driving schools genuinely matters in Latvia.a

Latvia has several hundred driving schools and branches offering fundamentally the same core service, yet real price differences between them can run into several hundred euros for equivalent training. It’s genuinely worth being cautious of unusually cheap headline prices. If a school offers free or very low-cost theory instruction, checking what other costs might be added elsewhere, and whether you’re comfortable training in a large, less individualized group setting, is a sensible step before committing.

Following driving schools on social media for discounts

A genuinely practical tip worth knowing: Latvian driving schools frequently announce promotional campaigns and special offers through their social media channels, sometimes providing meaningful discounts on course enrolment during specific periods. Following your shortlisted schools online and asking about group discounts if you know others planning to pursue Category D at the same time are both worth trying before paying full price.

The wider EU validity of your Latvian Category D license

Once obtained, a Latvian Category D license is valid for passenger transport across the entire European Union, though for commercial passenger transport work anywhere in the EU, including Latvia itself, you’ll still need to obtain the separate 95-code professional competence certificate in addition to the driving category itself.

How to actually apply for sponsored training

If you’re interested in LAP’s sponsored Category D route, the company provides direct contact channels for inquiries, and it's worth reaching out via email or phone to get detailed information about compensation for training costs before assuming you know exactly what’s covered. Programs like this can change their terms over time, so confirming the current details directly with the sponsoring company, rather than relying on older published information, is the safest approach.

What Category D genuinely opens up professionally

Beyond the immediate driving license itself, Category D, combined with the 95-code certificate, opens doors to work not just within Latvia but also internationally, given the real cross-border demand for qualified bus drivers across the EU. Companies like LAP and CATA explicitly frame their sponsored training programs as pathways to both domestic and international bus-driving careers, reflecting a genuine strategic push within the industry to address the demographic gap in younger drivers discussed earlier.

Tips that actually help

• Confirm the current status of the C1/D1 prerequisite reform before planning your route, since regulations are actively changing.
• Check whether your specific plans fit the proposed under-21 route limited to local routes under 50 km.
• Factor in code 95 separately if you’re planning commercial passenger transport work.
• Follow updates from the Ministry of Transport if you’re planning to enter this field soon.

Where this fits going forward

Category D in Latvia is undergoing genuine, active reform aimed squarely at attracting younger drivers into a profession facing a real demographic crisis. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who’s hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, alongside our broader jobs guides. Our driving license in Latvia and license eligibility pages provide the broader picture.

Additional costs worth budgeting for

Beyond the core registration and lesson fees, it’s worth budgeting for potential extras: additional driving lessons beyond the required minimum if you don’t feel exam-ready after 6 sessions, retake fees if you don’t pass your theory or practical exam on the first attempt, and the medical commission and first-aid course fees if your existing documentation from a previous category has expired or doesn’t cover Category D specifically.

Why Latvia’s employer-sponsored routes matter beyond just the money

Programs like LAP’s and CATA’s genuinely represent more than a cost-saving opportunity; they’re a direct industry response to the demographic crisis in bus driving discussed earlier in this article, where companies would rather invest in training committed candidates than continue struggling with an aging workforce and insufficient new entrants. If you’re seriously considering Category D as a career, checking whether operators in your specific region offer similar sponsored routes is genuinely one of the most practical first steps you can take.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by driving school in Latvia; several of the changes described here were still at the stage of regulatory proposal. Always confirm current requirements with official Latvian sources before making decisions, such as the CSDD (Road Traffic Safety Directorate). FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.