Driving, car rental and winter roads
Licences, car rental, Finnish road rules, winter driving and tyre rules, wildlife on the roads, where to fuel or charge, and what residents need to know about inspection and vehicle tax.
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What is a traffic penalty fee (liikennevirhemaksu) in Finland?
The European e-Justice portal explains that minor traffic offences in Finland usually bring a fixed traffic penalty fee of 20 to 200 euros.
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What should you do after a car accident in Finland?
Verkkouutiset quotes an insurer: first make sure the situation causes no further danger, stop as safely as possible, switch on the hazard lights and place the warning triangle well before the scene.
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What are the age and licence rules for snowmobiles in Finland?
The Lapland ELY Centre explains that a snowmobile driver must be at least 15 and have at least a T-class driving licence.
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Are road ferries free in Finland?
Yes.
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How do you check road conditions in Finland?
Fintraffic, the state traffic management company, runs the Traffic Situation service at liikennetilanne.fi and a mobile app.
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Are there reindeer on the roads in Lapland?
Yes.
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How common are moose collisions in Finland?
Fairly common.
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How often do cars need inspection (katsastus) in Finland?
Finland uses the 4-2-2-2-1 model for passenger cars, in force since 20 May 2018.
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Can you drive in Finland with a foreign driving licence?
Yes, in most cases.
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How much are speeding fines in Finland?
It depends on the limit and how fast you went.
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Are there toll roads in Finland?
No.
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What are the speed limits in Finland?
Liikenneturva lists a default speed limit of 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them, unless signs show otherwise.
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When are winter tyres required in Finland?
Winter tyres must be used from the beginning of November to the end of March whenever the weather or road conditions require them.
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Do foreign cars need a country sticker in Finland?
The Automobile and Touring Club of Finland says a nationality sign is required on foreign cars in Finland, unless the vehicle is registered in a country that is party to the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention and carries EU number plates with the country code.
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What colour are motorway and main road signs in Finland?
The Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (Autoliitto) says main roads in Finland have blue direction signs with white text, while motorways have green signs with white text.
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Does E10 petrol increase fuel consumption?
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland tested six used E10-compatible cars from model years 1999–2010 in laboratory conditions in 2011.