Add organization

    What condition are Finnish roads in?

    Potholes, repairs and the repair backlog.

    Answered at: Checked at:

    Short answer

    Mixed. Väylävirasto's overall picture says the main road network works mostly well, while condition and passability problems stand out on low-traffic roads. A 2025 road network report put the length of roads in poor condition at about 12,000 km. The repair backlog of the whole road network was almost 4 billion euros in 2025. About 4,000 km of repaving a year would be needed just to keep roads in their current state.

    Transport, roads, car rental

    Why

    1. Väylävirasto says the main road network is mostly in working order.
    2. About 12,000 km of roads were in poor condition in 2025.
    3. The total repair backlog was almost 4 billion euros in 2025.

    Details

    Verkkouutiset reports that about 4,040 km were paved in 2024 and 3,240 km in 2025, while the target for 2026 is about 2,400 km.

    Tip

    Watch for potholes in spring, when frost damage shows, and slow down on rough surfaces.

    What may differ

    Road condition varies greatly by region and road class.

    Common misconception

    All Finnish roads are in excellent condition.

    What actually happens

    Main roads are mostly fine, but thousands of kilometres of smaller roads are in poor condition.

    People also ask

    • How long is the road network in Finland?
    • Are there gravel roads in Finland?
    • When does road paving season start in Finland?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules and fees change, so check Traficom, Liikenneturva or the police before you drive.

    Transport, roads, car rental

    • 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.

      Checked at:

    • 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.

      Checked at:

    • 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.

      Checked at:

    • 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.

      Checked at:
    Help