The CSDD test in Latvian: which commands you must understand at the wheel

If you are preparing for the CSDD practical test and your Latvian is shaky, sort out two things in advance: which language you are actually entitled to take the test in, and which commands you need to understand at the wheel.

This is not a Latvian lesson. The examiner assesses safe driving, not grammar. But if you don't understand a basic command, your mind stalls at the worst possible moment — before a junction, on a roundabout, while changing lanes or parking. That is why a short set of phrases is worth learning ahead of time.

Which language the test is in

Since 1 October 2022 CSDD accepts the theory and driving tests from Latvian citizens and non-citizens only in the state language — Latvian. The exception is only for people who are not a Latvian citizen or non-citizen and do not know the state language well enough. And even then the rules differ for theory and for driving:

• in the theory test you may use the question tickets in English or Russian, or a certified interpreter you arrange yourself;
• in the driving test the language depends on the examiner: at their discretion and within their own command of foreign languages, the test may be held in another language. A bilingual format is also possible — the examiner speaks Latvian while the candidate answers in a language the CSDD officer understands. The route may additionally be set through the car's navigation or with the help of a certified interpreter.

Important: a driving test in another language is not the candidate's right, but a possibility at the examiner's discretion. It does not happen in Russian or English "by default". So before booking, check with CSDD exactly how the test will be arranged in your situation — this article does not replace an official consultation.

And one more thing: even if you are allowed to take it not in Latvian, there will still be Latvian signs, directions and notices around you. Understanding the basic words is useful in any case. If the route is set by navigation, the skill of driving by its prompts also comes in handy — there is a separate article on that, "Driving by navigation on the CSDD test".

Why it matters to understand commands, not "know words"

The examiner's directions must be timely and unambiguous, and if needed the examiner can repeat a direction. So you have the right to calmly ask again if you didn't understand a phrase. Asking again is always better than performing a dangerous manoeuvre on a guess.

Below is a practical glossary. This is not an official CSDD list, but the phrases that come up most often in lessons and on the test. The aim is to recognise them instantly and react without a pause.

Setting off

• Sagatavojieties braukšanai — get ready to move off.
• Sāciet braukt — start driving.
• Turpiniet braukt — carry on driving.
• Brauciet taisni — drive straight ahead.
• Brauciet uzmanīgi — drive carefully.
• Ievērojiet ceļa zīmes — obey the road signs.
• Ievērojiet ātruma ierobežojumu — keep within the speed limit.

Turns and directions

• Nogriezieties pa labi — turn right.
• Nogriezieties pa kreisi — turn left.
• Nākamajā krustojumā nogriezieties pa labi / pa kreisi — at the next junction turn right / left.
• Pie luksofora nogriezieties pa labi / pa kreisi — at the traffic lights turn right / left.
• Pirmajā iespējamajā vietā nogriezieties… — turn at the first place where it is allowed…
• Brauciet pēc navigācijas norādēm — drive by the navigation prompts.

Lanes and changing lanes

• Josla — traffic lane.
• Labā josla / kreisā josla / vidējā josla — right / left / middle lane.
• Izvēlieties pareizo joslu — choose the correct lane.
• Pārkārtojieties labajā / kreisajā joslā — change into the right / left lane.
• Turpiniet braukt pa šo joslu — carry on in this lane.
• Ieslēdziet virzienrādītāju — switch on the indicator.
• Pārbaudiet spoguļus — check the mirrors.

Roundabouts

• Aplis — roundabout.
• Iebrauciet aplī — enter the roundabout.
• Izbrauciet no apļa pa pirmo / otro / trešo izeju — leave the roundabout by the first / second / third exit.
• Dodiet ceļu — give way.
• Priekšroka — priority (the right to go first).

Stopping and parking

• Apstājieties — stop.
• Apstājieties drošā vietā — stop in a safe place.
• Novietojiet automašīnu stāvvietā — park the car in the parking space.
• Paralēlā stāvēšana — parallel parking.
• Perpendikulārā stāvēšana — perpendicular (bay) parking.
• Atpakaļgaita — reverse.
• Brauciet atpakaļgaitā — drive in reverse.
• Izbrauciet no stāvvietas — pull out of the parking space.

Turning around and special manoeuvres

• Apgriezieties braukšanai pretējā virzienā — turn around to drive the other way.
• Apgriešanās — turning around.
• Bremzēšana ar precīzu apstāšanos — braking to a precise stop.
• Avārijas bremzēšana — emergency braking.
• Šķērslis — an obstacle.
• Apbrauciet šķērsli — drive around the obstacle.

Pedestrians, signs, safety

• Gājējs — pedestrian.
• Gājēju pāreja — pedestrian crossing.
• Dodiet ceļu gājējam — let the pedestrian cross.
• Ceļa zīme — road sign.
• Ceļa apzīmējumi — road markings.
• Luksofors — traffic light.
• Galvenais ceļš — main road.
• Aizliegts / atļauts — forbidden / allowed.
• Slēgts ceļš — closed road.
• Pagaidu ceļa zīmes — temporary road signs.

What to tell the examiner if you don't understand

Don't stay silent — ask again politely. In short: you are at the wheel, and your job is to clarify and continue driving safely, not to hold a long conversation.

• Lūdzu, atkārtojiet — please repeat.
• Es nesapratu. Lūdzu, atkārtojiet — I didn't understand, please repeat.
• Vai es pareizi sapratu: pa labi? — did I understand correctly: right?
• Vai es pareizi sapratu: pa kreisi? — did I understand correctly: left?
• Vai es pareizi sapratu: braukt taisni? — did I understand correctly: straight ahead?
• Vai drīkstu pārjautāt? — may I ask again?

How to prepare if your Latvian is weak

The best way is to train the commands not separately, but right while driving. Ask your instructor to run part of the lesson in Latvian: first only turns and stops, then lanes and roundabouts, then parking, then a full test simulation.

A rough plan:

1. basic commands — straight, right, left, stop;
2. lanes, changing lanes, indicators, mirrors;
3. roundabouts and exits;
4. parking and special manoeuvres;
5. a full test simulation in Latvian.

Don't try to cram two hundred words. For the test it matters more to understand short commands quickly and without panic.

A short checklist before the test

• I understand "taisni", "pa labi", "pa kreisi";
• I understand the lane commands: "labā josla", "kreisā josla", "pārkārtojieties";
• I understand the roundabout commands: "pa pirmo / otro / trešo izeju";
• I understand the parking commands: "paralēlā stāvēšana", "perpendikulārā stāvēšana", "atpakaļgaita";
• I can politely ask for a repeat;
• I do not perform a manoeuvre if I didn't understand the direction and am not sure it is safe.

The bottom line

The test in the state language is a check of safe driving, not of fine speech. But you do need to understand the basic commands, otherwise the Latvian words turn into a riddle at the worst possible moment. So the best option is to drill the test phrases in advance — not in a notebook, but at the wheel. Then on the test they sound not like a foreign language, but like clear road directions.

Verified against official CSDD materials, July 2026. The test language depends on your status and the rules can change — check the current information at csdd.lv.