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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Which petrol should you use in Finland, 95E10 or 98E5?
Finnish pumps sell two main petrol grades: 95E10, with an octane rating of at least 95 and up to 10% ethanol, and 98E5, with at least 98 octane and up to 5% ethanol.
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How should you transport a dog in a car in Finland?
Taloustaito, interviewing the Finnish Kennel Club, says that under the Road Traffic Act a dog is treated like a load that must be secured so that it causes no danger, and it may not move freely in the car.
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How many people in Finland have a driving licence?
Moottori, reporting a Traficom study, says 82% of Finnish adults had a driving licence in 2024.
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What happens if you cheat in the Finnish driving theory test?
Traficom says that under the reformed Driving Licence Act, in force from 29 May 2026, cheating in the theory test results in a six-month ban on taking the test.
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What happens if you miss or cancel your driving test appointment late in Finland?
The driving examination price list says that if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must do it no later than the previous business day during the opening hours of Ajovarma's phone service.
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How much do the theory test and driving test cost in Finland?
The driving examination price list for Ajovarma service points gives the theory test at €40 and an oral theory test at €107, or €40 if it is oral for health reasons.
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Do you have to pay for the Åland archipelago ferries?
Visit Åland says passengers without a vehicle can ride the island ferries for free as much as they want, and bicycle tickets are cheap.
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Why are some Finnish roads weight-restricted in spring?
ELY Centres say road surfaces and structures can soften in spring as the frost melts, or when structures get wet in late autumn or a warm early winter.
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How long can you leave a car engine idling in Finland?
The Road Traffic Act says the engine of a combustion-engine vehicle must not be kept running for more than two minutes if the vehicle is standing for a reason other than an unavoidable traffic obstacle.
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Can you turn right on a red light in Finland?
In a 2010 answer to a parliamentary question, the Finnish Government said Finland had not considered it justified to adopt a general rule allowing right turns on red, mainly because pedestrians crossing on green would be put at risk.
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Can you drive an electric van of up to 4,250 kg with a B licence in Finland?
Traficom says that from 15 May 2026, goods vehicles powered wholly or partly by alternative fuels with a total mass of up to 4,250 kg may be driven with a category B licence under certain conditions.
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What can you drive with a category B car licence in Finland?
Traficom says a category B licence covers cars up to 3,500 kg designed to carry at most eight passengers plus the driver, so you can also drive a van.
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What is a B96 licence in Finland and how do you get it?
Traficom says a B/96 combination licence entitles you to drive a car or van with a trailer over 750 kg when the combination exceeds 3,500 kg but not 4,250 kg.
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What licence do you need to tow a trailer in Finland?
Traficom says a category B licence lets you drive a car with a trailer of up to 750 kg, or with a heavier trailer if the total mass of the combination is at most 3,500 kg.
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Is there a mobile driving licence in Finland?
Moottori reports that Traficom dropped its national mobile driving licence app in 2020 for financial reasons.
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Do you have to return your old driving licence to Traficom in Finland?
Traficom says expired driving licences no longer need to be returned and can be destroyed following the instructions provided.